Band the Billfish 2026: Sailfish and a Damn Good Time With Reel Priority

68 boats. 160 billfish released. A $444,253 total purse. This year’s North Carolina Ducks Unlimited Band the Billfish tournament gave the fleet plenty to fish for—and ECSL was aboard Reel Priority for a piece of the action.

We spent our time offshore releasing sailfish, capturing the action, and having a damn good time with the crew. Competition gives every bite a little more weight, but sharing it with good people makes the trip.

Two Sailfish on the Board

Reel Priority finished with two sailfish releases and 300 points. Getting those fish on the board added to the excitement of being part of a tournament that brings serious fishing and a good crowd together.

That’s what keeps the camera close. A fish shows in the spread, the cockpit gets moving, and everyone has a job. Getting to capture those moments with Reel Priority made this another highlight of ECSL’s summer offshore.

A Busy Scoreboard

Across the tournament’s three fishing days, the fleet released 37 blue marlin, 12 white marlin, and 111 sailfish. The second day produced the most releases, with 85 billfish recorded by the 64 boats fishing.

Double B topped the Level 3 and Level 4 total-points standings with 2,050 points, releasing four blue marlin and three sailfish. Free Ranger followed with 1,900 points, and Sunday Funday rounded out the top three with 1,650.

Those numbers tell the competitive side of the story. Aboard Reel Priority, the fun was getting to be part of it—watching the spread, putting releases on the board, and enjoying the time with the crew.

From the Duck Blind to the Cockpit

Since its start in 1989, Band the Billfish has connected tournament sportfishing with Ducks Unlimited’s conservation work. The event’s history includes promoting billfish tagging and supporting habitat projects in North Carolina and surrounding areas.

It’s a fitting crossover. The same willingness to put in the hours in a duck blind carries offshore: show up, pay attention, and be ready when the opportunity comes.

A big thanks to Reel Priority for having ECSL aboard this year. Two sailfish releases and plenty of fun with the crew made this one worth revisiting.

A First Blue Marlin for the Wound Up Crew

Our friends aboard Wound Up had a tournament worth celebrating. William Freeman released his first blue marlin with his father, Captain Jeffery Freeman, at the helm. Catching your first blue is a milestone. Doing it with your dad running the boat makes that fish mean even more.

The crew also took first place in the Level 7 Gamefish Total Aggregate division, weighing a 52.8-pound wahoo and earning $29,100.

A first blue marlin, a winning wahoo, and a check to take home. Hell of a tournament for the Freeman family and the Wound Up crew.

Browse the gallery below for a look at our time on the water at Band the Billfish.

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Tournament statistics and results: NC Ducks Unlimited Band the Billfish leaderboard.