Discounting blow boats and Christopher Cross’ signature tune, it’s shaping up to be a sailin’ week for the 23rd annual Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament. Not the billowy, canvas cloth type of sail, but rather Istiophorus platypterus or Atlantic sailfish. The normal collection of white marlin have been sparse lately in the offshore Mid-Atlantic waters, at least so far. But sailfish, that acrobatic member of the billfish family with the rapier-like bill and the distinctive fan dorsal fin, are here in big numbers. They often travel in ravenous packs, too. So like their white counterparts, double, triple and even quad-headers of hooked fish are possible. Which could lead to hot scoring and a fluid leaderboard this week.
“Fishing has gotten better and better the last few weeks,” says Capt. Russ Kostinas, who runs the 58 Blue Devil Boatworks, Top Notch. Top Notch is a local charter boat based at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center and will be competing with a team in the tournament again this week. “Marlin have been no where and everywhere. It’s been good, yet spotty. During the Ladies tournament Sunday, half the boats didn’t catch a fish. But one fishing south released one white and 16 sails. Two years ago we had a lot of sailfish around and that’s the case again this year. It’s also a good time for Grand Slams (blue and white marlin, plus sailfish released in one day).
“There aren’t many pronounced weed lines but dolphin have been plentiful,” Kostinas adds. “The water is just so warm, there are flying fish everywhere. It’s a big ocean. These fish have tails and no addresses, so we’ve just got to go find ‘em.”
The marine forecast this week calls for lighter winds from the south and northeast. There’s a chance of pop-up thunderstorms every day—typical for August. Fishing begins Thursday and continues through Saturday. Teams choose which two days to compete.
“The weather is definitely looking better than last year,” says Tournament Director Paula Davis. “Fishing is decent. I haven’t heard of a smoking hot white marlin bite, but that could change any minute. There have been a lot of sailfish caught down south.”
There are two rule changes on tap for this year’s fleet. Blue marlin brought to the scales will earn 1/2 point per pound up to 499 pounds. Those 500 pounds and heavier will score a point per pound. The VBBT has historically been a catch and release contest. Only six blue marlin have been weighed in the preceding 22 years. The tournament’s blue marlin record was 801 pounds, caught in 2017 by Craig Revere, fishing with Capt. Fin Gaddy aboard Qualifier.
Davis says the Lay Day Tournament has been modified as well. Teams can enter up to 8:30 on their designated lay day, through Saturday. “This gives teams more opportunities to fish and have fun,” Davis explained.
The fleet of 61 boats will be competing for a new tournament record payout of more than $938,000. Fishing begins at 8:30 am Thursday accompanied by puffs of marine diesel smoke with not a jib or mast in sight.
Photos courtesy of The Buckskin Billfish and John Wright Photography