Broome Billfish Charters skipper Ash Pittard has put WA’s North West on the global angling map after being named the top overall release captain worldwide for 2025 by the prestigious Billfish Foundation.

Mr Pittard secured the international title after recording just shy of 500 billfish releases over a gruelling 78-day fishing season — averaging about five to six releases a day.

While the official awards ceremony took place in Florida in March, the trophy recently arrived at its rightful home in Broome.

For the Broome born-and-raised fishing fanatic, the global recognition came as a shock, despite the relentless work ethic he and his crew bring to the water.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting it,” Mr Pittard said.

“There are some pretty good boats around worldwide, so I didn’t think we would get more than them. It’s just great to see something come from the work we put in.”

Mr Pittard attributes the award win to the effort he and his crew put it while on the water.

“We make sure everything’s perfect. Every day is no different to a full fishing competition. Everything is perfect—every drag is set with scales every morning. We fish every single day like it’s a tournament,” he said.

“It speaks pretty highly of the fishery here in Broome. We’re lucky. We can go out and have days catching 20 sailfish on a charter. There are not too many places left in the world where you can do that.”

The official charter season typically runs from late April through to October, largely dictated by the tourist trade.

However, Mr Pittard revealed that Broome’s billfish population thrived well past the traditional peak season.

“Most people stop fishing around September because they think it’s over, but there’s definitely still fish here right up through December. The hardest bit then is just dealing with the weather,” he said.

With the 2026 season well under way, Pittard says the action isn’t slowing down and estimates they have already surpassed 200 releases for the current stretch.