2025 – DRP International Tag and Release Award Winners
We would like to thank Penn Fishing, Costa Del Mar, AFTCO, and the Guy Harvey Foundation for providing strong incentives for fishermen to tag and release small, healthy dolphinfish for the Dolphinfish Research Program (DRP) in 2025. These premier fishing tackle companies and sponsors of the DRP have shown their commitment to the conservation of this important fishery by donating top-quality equipment and art for incentive awards to encourage fishermen to assist the DRP. For the 2025 tagging year, we distributed $5,562 worth of gear and art to 66 captains and their crews who collectively tagged and released 1,750 dolphin in 2025 generated 26 of the 43 recoveries produced in 2025! When the value of our year-end awards is combined with additional tagging and recapture awards distributed in 2025, our program, through the support of our sponsors, distributed $9,000 worth of fishing gear, products, and cash rewards to fishermen around the world as well as cash awards to international recapture reporters! A complete list of all 2025 award winners is below. Congratulations to our award winners!
Top Private Boat: Don Gates Killin’ Time II – 669 Tagged
2nd Private Boat: David WamerWam-Jam– 121 Tagged
Top Charter Boat: Jon ReynoldsDrop Back Charters– 138 Tagged
Top Boat in the SAB: Ed Kattel Cool Cat – 197 Tagged 2nd Boat in the SAB: Mike PrendergastReel Therapy – 37 Tagged Top Boat in the Tropics: Julien BrosselMadatet Fishing– 61 Tagged
2nd Boat in the Tropics: Luis Burgos CFA – 26 Tagged Top Boat in the MAB: Dr. Iyke BlackemoreMarlin Gull – 113 Tagged 2nd Boat in the MAB: No Qualifier – Needed 20 tagged and released to qualify
Top Boat in the GOM: Jimmy CrochetRising Sons– 30 Tagged 2nd Boat in the GOM: No Qualifier – Needed 20 tagged and released to qualify
Top Captain with the Scouts – Marshall Ruffo – 25 Tagged
Notable Mentions for Tagging >=10 Dolphin (received shirts, hats, tags, and art):
Angelo Masullo Levon (27); Chris Frost Lightning Strike(23); Gary York Mag E III (20); Daniel KubiakSouthern Run (20); Dane DellenbackKnot Workin’ (19); Tropic Star LodgeMiss Texas (19); Jimbo and Rick Thomas Thomas Flyer (18); Christian SanchezMiami Sailfish (17); Willie Howard Captain Willies Charters (17); Wilmer SanchezThe Big Deal (16); Todd FloydNemenches (16); Chris JobesPair of Docs (13); Jason and Casey HampsonEarly Retirement (13); Jim HenrichsenLucky Lady (14); Frank BetzLeviathan (11); John DudasSandman (11); David ClaeysHook n Cook (11); Joel NulmanSedative (10); Gregg SmithPatriot (10)
In order to qualify for 2026 Dolphinfish Research Program Year-End Awards, a minimum of 20 dolphinfish need to be tagged, released, and recorded with the DRP. We also issue recapture awards for taggers and the reporters. A special thanks to AFTCO, Costa Del Mar, the Guy Harvey Foundation, and Penn Fishing for their support of our tagging awards program.