The championship, the first of its kind ever held, is being sponsored by the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism to promote the sport of bonefishing with a fly rod in the 700 islands and 2,500 cays that make up the Bahamian archipelago. After the championship's second day, Buck Buckenroth of Jackson, Wyoming, led the scoring with three bonefish over 22 inches long brought to the boat, measured, photographed, and released by official scorers. Buckenroth was followed by Bahama national bonefish champion Henry Roberts, a professional guide from Grand Bahama Island, with two fish over 22 inches boated and John Wilson of England with one fish. The rules of the tournament require all contestants to fish only to sighted fish using no heavier than 8-pound test IGFA tippets.
Fishing is done from flats skiffs handled by professional Bahamian bonefish guides.
The weight of qualifying bonefish runs from around 5 pounds and up to between 13 and 15 pounds. All fish are released after recording. Fish average 3 pounds and abundant schools of them mean that fishermen average about six fish landed per day, with trophy fish ranging up to 13 pounds. The fish come up onto the flats with the incoming tide and feed their way toward the mangroves. As the tide floods the mangroves, the fish enter and feed on crabs and snails in and around the mangrove roots.