Anglers aboard the Reel McCoy, skippered by George McElveen, released 27 sailfish during two days of fishing to garner top honors at the inaugural Billfish Bowl that ended Saturday off the Florida Keys.

McElveen's team -- consisting of Tom and Dottie Swift of Dallas, and Taylor Walsh, Robert Collins, Kierian Serrer and Eric Ehlers of Islamorada -- began Saturday leading after posting 14 releases Friday.

But things were slow for McElveen's anglers during the first hour Saturday. They only released one fish, and second-place finisher Viva la Vida scored five releases and closed in on the lead.

``We were a bit worried, but things got better after that first hour,'' McElveen said.

McElveen credited his crew and detailed preparation for the win against 19 other teams that competed in the event hosted by former NFL coaches Jimmy Johnson and Mike Ditka.

``A good crew is most important, especially when you are fishing six lines,'' McElveen said. He kept his team off north Key Largo both days, fishing with live threadfin herring, cigar minnows and even goggle eyes acquired off Key West.

Viva la Vida, captained by Nick Ewald, finished with 24 releases with Upper Keys anglers John Cole, Lane Kina, Martin Formetto, Paul Fotterman and Freddy Viceus. In third place was captain Mike Levy's Sweet Release with Joseph Krawczynski, Jennifer Copeland, Sarah Hoog White, Hays Davis and Rene Dunn, all from Homestead.

-- ANDY NEWMAN

TRAPS PROPOSAL NIXED

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, meeting last week in Mobile, nixed a controversial proposal to return fish traps to Gulf federal waters. Commercial longliners had proposed being allowed to resume using the gear -- prohibited since 2007 -- as a trade-off for removal of longlines blamed for sea turtle mortality. Recreational anglers spoke out about the environmental destruction and overfishing caused by fish traps. Council members agreed and voted to remove the gear from Amendment 32 to their gag/red grouper management plan up for adoption later this year.

In other action, the council approved an increase in the total allowable catch for red snapper from five million pounds to just under seven million. A scientific stock assessment showed that overfishing is ending and that rebuilding is underway. The measure now goes to NOAA Fisheries for final approval. But the good news does not mean that the red snapper fishing season will be longer in the Gulf this year. Fisheries managers are expected to shorten it to between 51 and 60 days because recreational anglers last year exceeded their quota by 1.7 million pounds.

-- SUSAN COCKING