The Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament is an invitation only tournament. Invitees have a limited amount of time to RSVP with their deposit; the balance of the entry fee must be paid by July 15th. The optional Legacy Jackpot and 20-Year Jackpot may be entered any time up to the end of tournament check-in. Teams may request to be added to the waiting list at vbbt.com/waiting-list/. The waiting list does not carry forward to the following year; if you didn’t receive an invitation but still wish to be considered, you’ll need to add your name to the waiting list when it reopens each year on September 1^st.

TEAM CHECK-IN AND BAG PICK-UP
Teams must check in to verify team information, pick up event tickets, tournament forms and team merchandise. Team Check-In takes place Wednesday, August 23 from 2:00-8:00pm at Southside Marina. Each team receives eight event tickets and a team bucket or bag with sponsor gifts and eight tournament t-shirts. Merchandise and event tickets for additional team members and guests may be purchased at the event.

ENTRY FEE & PAYMENT
The mandatory entry is $10,500, which is broken down into nine cash award categories. A $2,500 deposit is required with your invitation RSVP and must be received by April 1st; the $8,000 balance due must be paid by July 15th. The optional Legacy Jackpot ($5,000) and 20-Year Jackpot ($2,000) may be entered any time up to the end of tournament check-in. Entry fees may be paid by cash, check or credit card. There is a 3.75% convenience fee on credit card transactions. Make checks payable to the “Virginia Beach Billfish Foundation” or “VBBF”. Mail checks to VBBT, PO Box 568, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.

CASH AWARD CATEGORIES

CATEGORY 1 – Top Boats………………………… $4,000
Awarded to the five teams accumulating the most overall billfish points—first through third place receive cash awards, fourth and fifth place are awarded trophies. The tournament retains a portion of this category for expenses, the amount allocated to cash awards is split 50-30-20.

CATEGORY 2 – Billfish Jackpot………………….. $1,000
Awarded to the three teams accumulating the most overall billfish points; split is 50-30-20.

CATEGORY 3 – High Rollers Jackpot……………. $1,500
Awarded to the three teams accumulating the most overall billfish points; split is 50-30-20.

CATEGORY 4 – Billfish Daily Jackpot……………. $1,500
The cash in this level is split evenly between each day of competition and is awarded to the top two teams that accumulate the most overall billfish points for the day. Cash allocation between the two winners is 70-30. At least 10% of the fleet must fish for the Daily Jackpot to be paid.

CATEGORY 5 – Gamefish Division…………………. $500
The cash in this level is split evenly between the three eligible gamefish species (dolphin, tuna, wahoo) and awarded to the teams weighing the single heaviest fish in each species category. If there are no winners in an entire species category, the cash award for that species rolls evenly into the remaining species categories.

CATEGORY 6 – Blue Marlin Jackpot…………….. $1,000
Awarded to the team weighing the single heaviest blue marlin. If no qualifying fish are weighed, the award goes to the team that accumulates the most billfish release points.

CATEGORY 7 – Charity Mystery Fish……………. $1,000
The cash in this level is split four ways with 25% going to the VBBF charities and 25% going to each of the daily winners based on a drawing. A “chip” is added to the bucket for each billfish the team caught that day. For example, if your team caught four billfish, you get four “chips” in the bucket. Drawings for all three days are done at the Awards Presentation. At least 10% of the fleet must fish for a drawing to take place for that day. Note: Everyone has a chance to win this category which normally pays out around $20,000 per day whether you released one fish or ten. But to win you must turn in your scorecard.

CATEGORY 8 – Legacy Jackpot OPTIONAL…….. $5,000
Awarded to the two teams accumulating the most overall billfish points; split is 80-20. Ten percent of this category goes to the VBBF charities.

NEW FOR 2023
CATEGORY 9 – 20-Year Jackpot OPTIONAL…….. $2,000
Awarded to the team accumulating the most overall billfish points; winner takes all.

OTHER TOURNAMENT AWARDS
Trophies, plaques, and/or merchandise are awarded in the following categories:

Top Overall Angler — Angler who accumulates the most total billfish points.

Top Release Angler — Angler who accumulates the most billfish release points.

Kitty Falk Memorial Top Lady Angler — Lady Angler who accumulates the most total billfish points. Sponsored by the Falk Family.

Top Crew — Captain and crew who accumulate the most total billfish points.

Bryan “Pick” Dalheim Memorial Top Junior Billfish Angler — Junior Angler (15 years or younger) who accumulates the most billfish points. Sponsored by the VA Pilots Association and comes with a $500 scholarship.

Bryan “Pick” Dalheim Memorial Top Junior Gamefish Angler — Junior Angler (15 years or younger) who catches the largest single dolphin, tuna or wahoo. Sponsored by the VA Pilots Association and comes with a $500 scholarship.

Wayne McLeskey Top Boat Perpetual Trophy — Trophy bears the names of the top boats from 2012 onward and is held in a place of honor throughout the year.

Wayne Sawyer Victory Lap Hard Charger Award — Awarded to the team that makes the hardest charge but doesn’t place in the top five. Sponsored by the Sawyer Family and comes with a $5,000 cash award.

Joel Webb “Tribute to Excellence” Top Mate — The “Webby” trophy is awarded to the top mate of the year who is chosen by a group of his or her peers.

CASH AWARD DISBURSEMENT

Disbursement Order—Before winnings are paid each team receiving a cash award must complete a Disbursement Order specifying how the funds are to be distributed. We suggest you decide how prize money is to be distributed before the tournament. Disbursement Orders are handed to the team at the Awards Celebration or emailed to the Team Contact. The Disbursement Order must be signed by the Team Contact as recorded on the Entry Form.

Cash Disbursement and Tax Documents—Cash awards are paid by check and mailed within two weeks after receiving the completed Disbursement Order and W-9(s). A 1099-MISC is issued to the person or company to whom the check is made payable.

TEAM CONTACT (Also relates to prize money distribution)
Please carefully read the following and choose your Team Contact accordingly.

The Team Contact is the designated team leader; there can be only one per team and you must provide the Contact’s mailing address, mobile phone number and email address. The Team Contact must know how to reach each member of the team. Any instructions, confirmations or requests for information are sent to the Contact and they are responsible for passing it on to the rest of the team. In addition, the Team Contact is the person who signs the Disbursement Order designating how cash awards are distributed.