2026 VBBT Tournament Winners
23rd Annual | August 19-22, 2026 | 61 Teams | $943,450 Cash Awards
2026 Tournament Champs
Sarah Jean, 58′ Spencer Yacht with Capt. Kurt Ward
2026 Catch Statistics
161 Billfish Caught, 161 Released—18 blue & 30 white marlin, 113 sailfish
16 Gamefish Caught—5 dolphin, 8 yellowfin tuna, 3 wahoo
2026 Photo Gallery
2026 Team Winners
| TOP FIVE TEAMS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH | AWARD |
| 1 | Sarah Jean | Kurt Ward | 830 pts / 9 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $45,750 |
| 2 | Kimberly Dawn | George Powell | 740 pts / 2 sf, 3 blue (all verified) | $27,450 |
| 3 | The General | Max Weaver | 740 pts / 2 sf, 3 blue (all verified) | $18,300 |
| 4 | Bi-Op-Sea | Jesse Granitzki | 490 pts / 7 sf (on time) | trophy |
| 5 | Geddy Up | Wade Fehlig | 490 pts / 7 sf | trophy |
| BILLFISH DAILY | ||||
| DAY | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH | AWARD |
| 1-1st | The General | Max Weaver | 410 pts / 3 sf, 1 bm (verified) (on time) | $21,350 |
| 1-2nd | Sarah Jean | Kurt Ward | 410 pts / 3 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $9,150 |
| 2-1st | Sarah Jean | Kurt Ward | 420 pts / 6 sf | $21,350 |
| 2-2nd | Kimberly Dawn | George Powell | 400 pts / 2 bm (verified) | $9,150 |
| 3-1st | Outnumbered | James Breen | 350 pts / 4 wm / 1 sf | $21,350 |
| 3-2nd | Kimberly Dawn | George Powell | 340 pts / 2 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $9,150 |
| BILLFISH JACKPOT | ||||
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH | AWARD |
| 1 | Sarah Jean | Kurt Ward | 830 pts / 9 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $30,500 |
| 2 | Kimberly Dawn | George Powell | 740 pts / 2 sf, 3 blue (all verified) | $18,300 |
| 3 | The General | Max Weaver | 740 pts / 2 sf, 3 blue (all verified) | $12,200 |
| HIGH ROLLERS JACKPOT | ||||
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH | AWARD |
| 1 | Sarah Jean | Kurt Ward | 830 pts / 9 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $45,750 |
| 2 | Kimberly Dawn | George Powell | 740 pts / 2 sf, 3 blue (all verified) | $27,450 |
| 3 | The General | Max Weaver | 740 pts / 2 sf, 3 blue (all verified) | $18,300 |
| BLUE MARLIN JACKPOT (WINNER TAKES ALL) | ||||
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH | AWARD |
| 1 | Sarah Jean | Kurt Ward | 830 pts / 9 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $61,000 |
| LEGACY JACKPOT | ||||
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH | AWARD |
| 1 | Sarah Jean | Kurt Ward | 830 pts / 9 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $122,400 |
| 2 | Kimberly Dawn | George Powell | 740 pts / 2 sf, 3 blue (all verified) | $30,600 |
| 20-YEAR JACKPOT | ||||
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH | AWARD |
| 1 | Sarah Jean | Kurt Ward | 830 pts / 9 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $61,200 |
| FULL THROTTLE JACKPOT | ||||
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH | AWARD |
| 1 | Sarah Jean | Kurt Ward | 830 pts / 9 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $103,500 |
| 2 | Cheryl Anne | Will Austin | 480 pts / 4 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $62,100 |
| 3 | On Time | Cameron Morrow | 470 pts / 1 wm, 2 bm (verified) | $41,400 |
| LAY DAY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH | AWARD |
| 1 | On Time | Cameron Morrow | 480 pts / 1 wm / 3 sf, 1 bm (verified) | $34,650 |
| 2 | Sea Four | Matt Bailey | 340 pts / 2 wm / 1 bm (verified) | $14,850 |
| CHARITY MYSTERY FISH (DRAWING) | ||||
| DAY | BOAT | CAPTAIN | "WINNING CATCH" | AWARD |
| 1 | The General | drawing | $15,250 | |
| 2 | Geddy Up | drawing | $15,250 | |
| 3 | Marshall Line | drawing | $15,250 | |
| GAMEFISH DIVISION | ||||
| SPECIES | ANGLER | BOAT | WEIGHT | AWARD |
| TOP DOLPHIN | John Roberts | Weldor's Ark | 35.4 lbs. | $10,167 |
| TOP TUNA | Bobby Whelan | Fender Bender | 65.9 lbs. | $10,167 |
| TOP WAHOO | Randy Abbitt | Saga | 54.5 lbs. | $10,167 |
2026 Angler, Crew & Memorial Awards
| TOP ANGLER & CREW AWARDS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AWARD | ANGLER | BOAT | WINNING CATCH |
| PICK DALHEIM TOP JUNIOR (billfish) | Bruce Ash (12) fishing with Capt. Jordy Croswait ($1,000 Scholarship) | Strokin' | released 1 white marlin |
| KAREN FELLER MEMORIAL TOP LADY ANGLER | Shelley Summerville fishing with Capt. James Breen | Outnumbered | released 2 white marlin & 2 sailfish |
| TOP OVERALL ANGLER | Georgie Powell fishing with Capt. George Powell | Kimberly Dawn | released 2 blue marlin & 2 sailfish |
| TOP CREW | Sarah Jean, Capt. Kurt Ward with Mate Jake Keech | ||
| MEMORIAL AWARDS | |||
| WAYNE McLESKEY TOP BOAT AWARD | Sarah Jean | ||
| WAYNE SAWYER VICTORY LAP HARD CHARGER AWARD | Mister Pete | ||
| JOEL WEBB MEMORIAL TOP MATE | Bryce White on Fender Bender | ||
2026 Cash Awarded by Team
| BOAT | AWARDS | TOTAL PURSE |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Jean | 1st Top Boat + Jackpots | $500,600.00 |
| Kimberly Dawn | 2nd Top Boat + Jackpots | $122,100.00 |
| The General | 3rd Top Boat + Jackpots | $85,400.00 |
| On Time | 1st Lay Day Tournament + Jackpots | $76,050.00 |
| Cheryl Anne | 2nd Full Throttle Jackpot | $62,100.00 |
| Outnumbered | 1st Daily Jackpot (Day 3) | $21,350.00 |
| Geddy Up | Day 2 Mystery Fish | $15,250.00 |
| Marshall Line | Day 3 Mystery Fish | $15,250.00 |
| Sea Four | 2nd Lay Day Tournament | $14,850.00 |
| Fender Bender | Top Tuna | $10,167.00 |
| Saga | Top Wahoo | $10,167.00 |
| Weldor's Ark | Top Dolphin | $10,167.00 |
| Mister Pete | Wayne Sawyer Victory Lap Hard Charger Award | $5,000.00 |
| Strokin' | Top Junior Angler (billfish) | $1,000.00 |
2026 Tournament Fleet
All In/Kimbobway (Kimbobway)
Blackwell 58
Capt. Daniel Caison
Home Port: Manteo NC
Anticipation
Viking 62
Capt. Harvey Shiflet
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Bi-Op-Sea
Spencer Yachts 59
Capt. Jesse Granitzki
Home Port: Oregon Inlet NC
Bobojo
Ritchie Howell 61
Capt. Patrick Byrd
Home Port: Oregon Inlet NC
Builder's Choice
Jarrett Bay 64
Capt. Brent Gaskill
Home Port: New Bern NC
Bull Pen
Bayliss 62
Capt. Cordes Lucas
Home Port: Charleston SC
Cheryl Anne
Rybovich 65
Capt. Will Austin
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Citation (Matrix)
Island Boat Works 57
Capt. Gerrad Otto
Home Port: Wanchese NC
Courtney Beth
Viking 42
Capt. Ryan Dickerson
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Cuervos
Tribute 58
Capt. Foz Gibson
Home Port: St. Augustine FL
Cuttin' Up
Viking 64
Capt. Nick Jones
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Desperado
Viking 70
Capt. Travis Brown
Home Port: Palm Beach FL
Don't Panic
Viking 64
Capt. Bryan Peele
Home Port: Manteo NC
End Game (Barry Daniels)
Buddy Cannady 58
Capt. Barry Daniels
Home Port: Oregon Inlet NC
Evelyn Kennedy
Ricky Scarborough 48
Capt. Kevin Pankoke
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Fender Bender
Spencer Yachts 62
Capt. Colin Oxnard
Home Port: Manteo NC
Fin Planner
Buddy Harris 58
Capt. Chris Gornell
Home Port: Oregon Inlet NC
First Look
Weaver Boat Works 60
Capt. Alan Scibal
Home Port: Atlantic Beach NC
Fly'n Fish
Jim Smith 54
Capt. Jake Boltz
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Freestyle
Spencer Yachts 61
Capt. Kenny Sexton
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Gaucho
Tim Winter 63
Capt. Jeff Tyler
Home Port: Morehead City NC
Geddy Up
Caison 58
Capt. Wade Fehlig
Home Port: Charleston SC
Haulin' Gas
Blackwell 57
Capt. JT Roehrs
Home Port: Oregon Inlet NC
Honky Tonk
Ricky Scarborough 57
Capt. Kyle Fisher
Home Port: Manteo NC
Just Right
Viking 56
Capt. Robbie Brown
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Kimberly Dawn
Sportsman 61
Capt. George Powell
Home Port: Hatteras NC
Marshall Line
Weaver Boat Works 65
Capt. CR Russell
Home Port: Atlantic Beach NC
Mimi
Garlington 61
Capt. Billy Carroll
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Mister Pete
Spencer Yachts 60
Capt. Alan Neiford
Home Port: Charleston SC
More Bills
Gary Davis 60
Capt. Pete Rae
Home Port: Morehead City NC
Nailed It
Viking 56
Capt. Bo Dobson
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Obsession
Sheldon Midgett 55
Capt. Jeff Ross
Home Port: Manteo NC
On Time
Spencer Yachts 60
Capt. Cameron Morrow
Home Port: Morehead City NC
Outnumbered
Viking 65
Capt. James Breen
Home Port: Wrightsville Beach NC
Pipe Layer
Gwaltney 55
Capt. Pancho Gonzales
Home Port: Charleston SC
Qualifier
Paul Mann 57
Capt. Fin Gaddy
Home Port: Oregon Inlet NC
Rare Breed
F&S 67
Capt. Bubba Simmons
Home Port: Sullivan's Island SC
Reel Slick
Hatteras 60
Capt. Johnny Savage
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Reelin N Dealin
Blackwell 62
Capt. Taylor Christian
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Rigged Up
Omie Tillett 54
Capt. Charles Haywood
Home Port: Manteo NC
Saga
Ricky Scarborough 63
Capt. Randy Abbitt
Home Port: Manteo NC
Sally Girl
Ricky Scarborough 57
Capt. Jason Krahenbill
Home Port: Manteo NC
Sarah Jean
Spencer Yachts 58
Capt. Kurt Ward
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Sea Four
Viking 46
Capt. Matt Bailey
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Sea I Sea
Spencer Yachts 75
Capt. Backlash Davis
Home Port: Manteo NC
Sea Toy
Spencer Yachts 59
Capt. Bull Tolson
Home Port: Manteo NC
Simple Man
Viking 68
Capt. Carl Beale
Home Port: Cardinal VA
Sniper
Paul Mann 58
Capt. Chris Raiford
Home Port: Manteo NC
Spiros
Jim Smith 63
Capt. Ben Horning
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Stream Weaver
Spencer Yachts 60
Capt. Timmy Kidwell
Home Port: Wrightsville Beach NC
Strokin'
Bobby Croswait 57
Capt. Jordy Croswait
Home Port: Oregon Inlet NC
Summer Girl
Sea Island Boatworks 57
Capt. Stevie Leasure
Home Port: Charleston SC
Tailwalker
Buddy Davis 65
Capt. Corbett Johnson
Home Port: Atlantic Beach NC
Tenacity
Paul Mann 56
Capt. Lucas Jolly
Home Port: Oregon Inlet NC
The General
Buddy Cannady 55
Capt. Max Weaver
Home Port: Morehead City NC
Top Notch (Chance Price)
Blue Devil Boatworks 58
Capt. Russ Kostinas
Home Port: Virginia Beach VA
Triple 'S'
Garlington 61
Capt. Carson Ruffin
Home Port: Morehead City NC
Wall Hanger
Spencer Yachts 57
Capt. Brian Allen
Home Port: Morehead City NC
Waste Knot
Sunny Briggs 56
Capt. Barry Sawyer
Home Port: Manteo NC
Weldor's Ark
Jarrett Bay 55
Capt. Dale Britt
Home Port: Morehead City NC
Widespread