- When
- Usually August
- Host port
- Virginia Beach
- Organizer
- Virginia Beach Billfish Foundation
- Species
- Blue marlin, White marlin, Sailfish, Spearfish, Tuna, Mahi-mahi, Wahoo
- Format
- Invitation-only billfish tournament open to private and charter boats. Teams are scored in points. Blue marlin must be at least 110 inches or 400 pounds to be weighed; all other billfish are released. Billfish Daily competition over three days, plus a Gamefish Division for top dolphin, tuna and wahoo.
- First held
- 2004
The Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament is a multi-day billfish tournament in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Teams are scored on billfish releases in points, with daily competitions and a gamefish division for dolphin, tuna and wahoo. The 2025 edition (22nd annual, August 21 to 24) had 39 teams and $453,750 in cash awards, per the organizer page.
Organizer's siteOfficial results
Results
| Year | Category | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Dolphin (gamefish division) | Weldor's Ark (angler John B. Roberts) | 35.4 lb; $10,167 |
| 2026 | Overall standings, 1st (billfish points) | Sarah Jean (58 ft Spencer), Capt. Kurt Ward | 830 points; 1 blue marlin, 9 sailfish; $500,599 |
| 2026 | Top team, final standings (billfish points) | Sarah Jean, Kurt Ward | 830 pts / 9 sf, 1 bm (verified). 61 teams; $943,450 in cash awards |
| 2026 | Tuna (gamefish division) | Fender Bender (angler Bobby Whelan) | 65.9 lb; $10,167 |
| 2026 | Wahoo (gamefish division) | Saga (angler Randy Abbitt) | 54.5 lb; $10,167 |
| 2025 | Overall standings, 1st (billfish points) | Waterman (Capt. Ben Horning) | 2,310 points; 33 white marlin; $298,500 (boat, jackpots and top tuna) |
| 2025 | Top Junior Angler (Bryan Pick Dalheim Memorial) | Sutton Paul, aboard Sea Escape (Capt. KP Paul) | 1 white marlin released |
| 2025 | Top Lady Angler | Whitney Simmons, aboard Sea Toy (Capt. Bull Tolson) | Released 10 marlin (per Marlin magazine) |
| 2025 | Top dolphin (gamefish division) | Sniper (angler Wayne Enroughty Jr.) | 25.6 lb; $9,750 |
| 2025 | Top team, final standings (billfish points) | Waterman, Ben Horning | 2310 pts / 33 wm. 22nd annual, August 21 to 24, 2025 |
| 2025 | Top tuna (gamefish division) | Waterman (angler Tony Huerta) | 74.1 lb; $9,750 |
| 2024 | Kitty Falk Lady Angler | Stacy Allen, aboard Wall Hanger (Capt. Brian Allen) | Released 3 blue marlin |
| 2024 | Overall standings, 1st (billfish points) | Sea Toy (Capt. Bull Tolson) | 750 points; $52,500 team award (cash by team total $452,400) |
| 2024 | Top dolphin (gamefish division) | Mister Pete (angler Bob McClam) | 34.3 lb; $11,667 (cash-by-team table lists $17,500) |
| 2024 | Top team, final standings (billfish points) | Sea Toy, Bull Tolson | 750 pts. 21st annual, August 21 to 24, 2024; 70 teams; $837,000 in cash awards |
| 2024 | Top tuna (gamefish division) | Spiros (angler Jeff Brown) | 62.6 lb; $11,667 (cash-by-team table lists $17,500) |
| 2021 | Overall, 1st (18th annual) | Seven (Capt. Jimmy Hardee) | 9 white marlin, 1 sailfish, 700 points; $409,500 |
| 2020 | Overall, 1st (17th annual) | Sea Toy (Capt. Bull Tolson) | Boat winnings $281,333; 1 blue and 12 white marlin released (points not stated) |
Winners as the organizer or the cited results publish them.
The 2024 edition (21st annual) paid $837,000 in cash awards to 70 teams per the organizer page; Marlin magazine reports $500,599 for the 2026 overall winner, Sarah Jean.
Captains in published results
- Capt. Kurt Ward, 2026
- Capt. Ben Horning, 2025
- Capt. Bull Tolson, 2024
- Capt. Kurt Ward, Sarah Jean, 2026
- Capt. George Powell, Kimberly Dawn, 2026
- Capt. Max Weaver, The General, 2026
- Capt. Jesse Granitzki, Bi-Op Sea, 2026
- Capt. Wade Fehlig, Geddy Up, 2026
- Capt. Colin Oxnard, Fender Bender, 2025
- Capt. Dale Britt, Weldor's Ark, 2026
- Capt. Ben Horning, Waterman, 2025
- Capt. Bryan Peele, Don't Panic, 2025
- Capt. James Breen, Outnumbered, 2025
- Capt. John Adams, Griffin, 2025
- Capt. Chris Raiford, Sniper, 2025
- Capt. KP Paul, Sea Escape, 2025
- Capt. Bull Tolson, Sea Toy, 2020
- Capt. Barry Daniels, End Game, 2024
- Capt. Jesse Granitzki, Bi-Op-Sea, 2024
- Capt. Brian Allen, Wall Hanger, 2024
- Capt. Neil Sykes, Mercenaria, 2024
- Capt. Jimmy Hardee, Seven, 2021
- Capt. Daniel Davis, Katherine Anne, 2021
- Capt. Daniel Spencer, Bullwinkle, 2021
- Capt. Brent Gaskill, Builder's Choice, 2020
- Capt. Carl Beale, Don't Panic, 2020
- Capt. Ryan Riggs, Full Pull, 2020
- Capt. Dave Grubbs, Grand Slam, 2020
