The YOLARAY was the Overall winner of the 2000 ESPN World Bill fishing Tournament and this event is 100% Catch and Release.  The subject of 'Catch and Release' is controversial and some extremists are so righteous in their beliefs that they miss some very important facts. 

Enzo, owner of the YOLARAY is very sensitive to this issue and has researched the subject in depth and feels very strongly about the safe release of Billfish.  The competitors in the ESPN tournament were very experienced and used circle hooks so that the billfish were released within minutes and the hooks disappeared within days.  This is educated catch and release. 

Yes, every boat claims to practice catch and release, but how many of them are educated in the techniques, have the proper equipment and understand the survival rate of billfish.  What is the point of releasing a fish that will not survive?  Enzo tells us that if a marlin is brought in gill or gut hooked, if it has been fought for several hours and it's color is bad, then it's chance of survival is almost nil and it is better to feed Vallarta and the local orphanage rather than call it a catch and release. 

The 'Catch and Release' extremists are very quick to call someone a Killer of Billfish, but who is to say how many billfish feed the shrimp in the Bay of Banderas while the children go hungry?

Check back for more information about successful Catch and Release techniques.