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Quoted

Ninth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship attracts 63 teams

27 countries from six continents in Cabo for prestigious catch-and-release tournament

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico Sixty-three boats with teams of anglers are set to blast away from the mouth of the Cabo San Lucas harbour early Monday morning signifying the start of the four-day IGFA Offshore World Championship, throughout the week of May 11 – 16.

“We have representation of teams from 27 countries on six continents,” said tournament director Mike Myatt as he and Alberto Trevino the Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, welcomed the international anglers to the premier fishing location. Considered the most prestigious catch-and-release billfishing tournament in the world, the event also draws the single largest contingent of international teams ever to compete in a fishing competition.

Countries and territories represented include teams from Angola, Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Spain, Sultanate of Oman, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, the United States, Vanuatu and Venezuela. Many of the teams in the ninth annual tournament will be represented by anglers from a number of additional countries.

The U.S. has 14 teams signed on. Both Mexico and Brazil are represented by five teams each; Italy and Angola each have four.

The teams previously qualified by winning one of 130 IGFA sanctioned tournaments held in 38 countries worldwide during 2007. It’s the seventh straight year Cabo San Lucas has been chosen as the championship location.

They’ll fish for marlin, sailfish and other billfish species with the top team winning engraved watches along with trophies and merchandise. Awards are presented through to the third place finishing team. The final results will be made on Friday at noon PDT.

At the IGFA OWC last year, a team representing its win in Spain’s Marina Rubicon Marlin Cup 2006 tournament leaped from the middle of the 62 boat field to a dramatic win by one release fish over a team from Cabo San Lucas. It was the second straight year that a team, on the final day of the four day competition, had an amazing 10 releases of striped marlin to win the championship. Using circle hooks, a total of 335 marlin were caught and safely released alongside the teams’ boats.

At a kickoff party Sunday at the Hotel Finisterra, each team participated in a drawing for their four different boats --- ones they hope will guide them daily to multiple bill fish releases. All of the boats are captained by local Cabo guides.

Partners and sponsors for the IGFA Offshore World Championship are Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, Costa Del Mar, Hotel Finisterra, Guy Harvey Inc., Shimano, Picante Sport Fishing and Yacht Sales, Cabo Yachts, K D & G Sea Life Masterpieces, Hook & Tackle, Momoi Hi-Catch, Murray Products, AFTCO BlueWater, Bodo Muche, Minerva’s Baja Tackle, Señor Greenberg’s, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Pompanette, Pisces Sportfishing, Corona and Modelo S.A DE C.V. Mexico, Don Tyson, Trans Cabo, Eagle Claw, MoldCraft Products, Inc. and API Dock.

Each morning the daily results along with photos of the previous day’s round will be posted on the IGFA’s home page at www.igfa.org . A list of registered teams can also be found on the web site under the fishing tab on the home page by clicking “tournaments.”

Quoted

Fishing action proves hot for Italians in Day One of
ninth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico --- The bite was hot for two teams from Italy as was the weather for all 63 teams on Day One of the four-day IGFA Offshore World Championship, a prestigious billfishing tournament sponsored in part by the Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur.

Leading the field and going seven for seven in attempts to catches was an Italian team from San Benedetto del Tronto. Team members include Sergio de Tommasis, Fabio Gieri, Daniele Tarroni and Carlo Pezzini representing their win in the La Sfida Trofeo M. De Nardis and are one of the four teams from Italy. They have 2100 points.

Each catch-and-release of a marlin (blue, black and striped) or a swordfish equals 300 points. The catches, all caught on circle hooks, are scored and released alive at the boat in accordance with IGFA tournament rules.

With 1800 points in second place catching and releasing six marlin was the Sultanate of Oman in Muscat, a team representing its win at the Sinbad Classic. Team spokesman Mohammed Al Jahwari said, “We've fished Cabo many times and this was the best day ever. We caught our last fish in the last twenty minutes.” His teammates include Pascal Richard, Kamal Al Busaidi, Saeed Al Hajri and Faisal Riyami.

At 1200 points in third place on four releases was another Italian team from Castel Volturno representing their win in the Trofeo Drifting Castel Volturno. Team members are Antonio Russomando, Giuseppe Gravante, Giuseppe Damiano, Maurizio Primavera and Mario Cosentino.

The teams, many of them fishing the Sea of Cortez faced 96 degree temps, light winds and calm seas. A total of 64 marlin and one sailfish were caught and released.

Four teams were tied at 900 points on three marlin releases each and 10 more with two marlin releases. Making up the rest of the Top 17 among the 63 teams in the Day 1 standings are:

• #4 – Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series II, Playa Herradura, Costa Rica; 900 points
• #5-- Miami Swordfish Tournament, Miami, Fla., USA, 900 points
• #6-- Outdoor Channel Offshore Classic, Islamorada, Fla., USA, 900 points
• #7-- Stu Apte Fly Fishing for Sailfish Tournament, Golfito, Costa Rica, 900 points
• #8-- 9th Int'l Big-Game Sportfishing Tournament, Jezera, Croatia, 600 points
• #9-- 28th Annual Bluewater Classic, Venice, La., USA, 600 points
• #10-- Desafio Mediterranea Faeton, Spain, 600 points
• #11-- GFA of PNG National Game Fishing, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 600 points
• #12-- IWFA Annual Billfish Tournament, Isla Mujeres, Mexico, 600 points
• #13-- IX Trofeu de Big Game Fishing Clube Nautico de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal, 600 points
• #14-- Jeff Alexander Memorial, Biloxi, Miss., USA,600 points,
• #15-- Presidential Caribbean Cup, La Guaira, Venezuela, 600 points
• #16 -- XI Torneio de Marlim Azul de Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 600 points
• #17 -- YCSS-IMD Fishing Tournament, Porto Santo, Italy, 600 points

Quoted from "Pargo Man"

Hi Dave,

thanks for the info. Imagining 63 yachts leaving Cabo Port... that should be some experience.

Slow start though for jet lagged Angolans, ey?

Thanks again for your top service, Dave.

Quoted

Italy and Oman teams tied for lead after Day Two of
ninth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship
27 countries on six continents represented in prestigious
all release billfishing tournament

By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications, IGFA-PR counsel

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico --- Two leading teams continued to find “the bite” in their pursuit of striped marlin as both, a team from Italy and one from the Sultanate of Oman, are tied for first place at the halfway point of the four-day IGFA Offshore World Championship.

The ninth annual event, sponsored in part by the Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, has brought together 63 teams from 27 nations on six continents, the single largest contingent of international teams to compete in a fishing competition.

Though catching and releasing only two marlin to add to its seven billfish from Monday the Italian team from San Benedetto del Tronto held onto its position at the top of the leaderboard. Team members include Sergio de Tommasis, Fabio Gieri, Daniele Tarroni and Carlo Pezzini representing their win in the La Sfida TroFeo M. De Nardis and are one of the four teams from Italy, all who are in the top 10 after Day Two.

Also with 2700 points releasing three marlin was the Sinbad Classic team from the Sultanate of Oman in Muscat. The anglers include Mohammed Al Jahwari, Pascal Richard, Kamal Al Busaidi, Saeed Al Hajri and Faisal Riyami.

Just one billfish release back in points are two teams tied for third place at 2400 points. They are the YCSS-IMD Fishing Tournament team from Porto Santo, Italy and a team representing the Miami (USA) Swordfish Tournament. The Italian team caught six marlin, the Americans five, to make one of the biggest jumps on Day Two.

In fifth place with 2200 points is a team representing the Outdoor Channel Offshore Classic held in Islamorada, Fla.USA. They scored with three marlin on Day One and increased the count with four marlin and a sailfish on Day Two.

Two other teams also made a huge jump with marlin to add to catches of weight fish on Monday. The sixth position is held by the Marina Rubicon Marlin Cup 2007 team from Lanzarote, Spain, catching six marlin for 1826.2 points. In seventh place is the Trofeo C.N. Sambenedettese team from San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy with 1527.6 points on five releases.

Making up the rest of the Top 16 among the 63 teams in the Day 2 standings are two teams tied in the eighth position with 1500 points and seven teams tied for the 10th spot at 1200 points. They include:
8T TTGFA Tobago Int'l Game Fish Tournament, Tobago, West Indies, 1500 points
8T Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series II, Playa Herradura, Costa Rica, 1500 points
10T Falmouth Offshore Grand Prix, Falmouth, Mass., USA, 1200 points
10T Trofeo Drifting Castel Volturno, Castel Volturno, Italy, 1200 points
10T Caicos Classic Release Tournament, Turks and Caicos, 1200 points
10T Cantina Cup Int'l Gamefish Tournament, San Carlos, Mexico, 1200 points
10T TAA Eastcape Billfish Tournament, Ixtapa, Mexico, 1200 points
10T Desafio Mediterranea Faeton, Spain, 1200 points
10T XI Torneio de Marlim Azul de Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1200 points

“The first boat in had five releases and so did the last so we knew the bait is starting to move in,” said IGFA tournament director Mike Myatt. “As usual the anglers are getting use to pitching bait. We're looking forward to a high count on Wednesday.”

A total of 94 striped marlin and one sailfish were released, most caught from the Sea of Cortez. Eight teams have yet to score any points at the midway point. The same conditions of 96 degree weather, light winds and calm seas continued into Day Two.

Each catch-and-release of a marlin (blue, black and striped) or a swordfish equals 300 points. Sailfish count for 100 points. The billfish, all caught on circle hooks, are scored and released alive at the boat in accordance with IGFA tournament rules.

Quoted from "Pargo Man"

Angolans dont score so well. I know: Its a Corona-Intoxication plus jet lag!

Quoted from "Pargo Man"

Hi BIG Dave,

cannot find anything on the third day in Cabo. Can you?

Looking forward. Thanks for your effort.

Quoted

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico --- Before the start of the day officials predicted there would be more billfish on Day Three of the IGFA Offshore World Championship. It was just that as teams from Croatia and Australia emerged from the back of the pack with double digit release figures to top the leaderboard.

The ninth annual event, sponsored in part by the Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, has drawn 63 teams from 27 nations on six continents, the single largest contingent of international teams to compete in a fishing competition.

Taking the lead with 10 striped marlin releases for 3000 points on Wednesday were the 9th Int'l Big-Game Sportfishing Tournament, from Jezera, Croatia. Team members Dario Marijan, Davor Pliso, Jakov Begovic, and Vinko Radetic collectively have a three-day total of 3900 points.

In second place with possibly a new one day tournament record was the Mooloolaba, Australia team with 11 releases of striped marlin and a sailfish.

Like the Croatians, the Australians had one of those rare moments every angler hopes for in their lifetime and they took full advantage of it to score 3400 points. That brought their three day total to 3700 points after a lackluster two previous days.

Anglers Scott MacDonald, Darren Malaquin, Darren Spackman and Paul Leaman representing their win at the Springwood Marine Sailfish Shootout had 18 attempts at the fish. They were fishing on the Bill Collector skippered by Julio Gonzalez.

“We were on a huge bait ball and there were bills every where,” said Malaquin describing the unique sight. “It was an unbelievable scene. Once we lost the bait we lost the marlin.”

They are tied with an Italian team from San Benedetto del Tronto who dropped one position from the top of the leaderboard releasing three marlin and a sailfish for 1000 Day Three points. Team members include Sergio de Tommasis, Fabio Gieri, Daniele Tarroni and Carlo Pezzini representing their win in the La Sfida TroFeo M. De Nardis, and are one of the four teams from Italy.

In fourth place with 3400 points is the Islamorada, Fla., USA, Outdoor Channel Offshore Classic team. The Miami (Fla.,USA) Swordfish Tournament team has 3334.6 for fifth place.

With only one billfish release on Wednesday, the Sinbad Classic team from the Sultanate of Oman in Muscat dropped from a tie for first to a tie for sixth place with a team from the Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series II in Costa Rica. They both have 3000 points.

Making up the rest of the Top 17 among the 63 teams in the Day 3 standings are:

8th Trofeo C.N. Sambenedettese, San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy - 2727.6 pts.
9th Marina Rubicon Marlin Cup 2007, Lazarote, Spain - 2726.2 pts.
10th YCSS-IMD Fishing Tournament, Porto Santo Stefano, Italy - 2700 pts.
11th TTGFA Tobago Int'l Game Fish Tournament, Tobago, West Indies - 2400 pts.
12th 13th Annual Top Gun Marlin & Tuna Shootout, Oak Bluff, Mass., USA - 1837.9 pts.

t-13th Falmouth Offshore Grand Prix, Falmouth, Mass., USA - 1800 pts.
t-13th 35th Annual Bluewater Tournament, St. Augustine, Fla., USA -1800 pts.
t-13th XL Campeonato de Pesca Costeira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 1800 pts.
t-13th Brits vs. Yanks Shark Tournament, Montauk, N.Y., USA - 1800 pts.
t-13th Desafio Mediterranea Faeton, Spain -1800 pts.

Tournament officials said most boats fished right outside the harbor. The bite was reported strong all day with many of the teams had double and triple hookups.

“The marlin were thick right outside the harbor,” reported local dockmaster Mario Banaga. “There were more than 40 boats fishing Gray Rock.”

“Amazing fishing in an amazing fishery,” smiled IGFA OWC tournament director Mike Myatt. “If the fish remain out there it could be any team’s tournament to win.”

Each catch-and-release of a marlin (blue, black and striped) or a swordfish equals 300 points. Sailfish count for 100 points. The billfish, all caught on circle hooks, are scored and released alive at the boat in accordance with IGFA tournament rules.

IGFA Conservation Director Jason Schratwieser said, “The IGFA Offshore Championship proves that you can have a prestigious and competitive tournament without killing billfish. Our mandatory use of circle hooks, with natural baits, demonstrates that they are beneficial to fish and angler alike. As evidenced by the number of fish caught in our tournament.”

A total of 118 striped marlin and two sailfish were released on Wednesday.

Most of the anglers experienced rough seas, mild temps of 90 degrees and light winds.

The top male angler after three days with 3000 points is Dario Marijan with the Croatia team. Randy Towe of the Miami Swordfish team has 2700 points. Leading the women is Joan Vandergriff of the IWFA Billfish Tournament team with 1200 points.

The top boat captains after three days are Julio Gonzales on the Bill Collector of the Pisces Fleet at 4300 points, and Victor Sandes on the Dream of the Picante Fleet with 3900 points. Seven boats are tied for third at 2700 points.

Quoted

Steady fishing and karma helps USA team to win in
IGFA Offshore World Championship
Previous leaders go scoreless on final day of prestigious all-release billfishing tournament

By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications, IGFA-PR counsel

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico --- They held the same position -- fourth place -- the previous three days but the steady paced fishing of team members from Islamorada, Fla. USA, paid off in the end as they captured the title in the IGFA Offshore World Championship.

Despite a “slow bite” for most of the 63 teams of anglers in the fourth and final day, the five men representing their win in the Outdoor Channel Offshore Classic in the Florida Keys released two marlin and a dorado as a weight fish totaling enough points to win. The ninth annual event sponsored in part by the Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, hosts competitors from 27 nations on six continents, the single largest contingent of international teams to compete in a fishing competition.

Four teams that had been in close contention atop the leader board the previous three days – from Italy, Australia, Croatia and the Sultanate of Oman -- found the final day less forgiving as each went scoreless.

The Florida Keys’ team was made up of John Timura, Robert Collins and Taylor Walsh, all of Islamorada, along with Scott Salley, Naples, Fla., and Ken Longaker of Seattle, Wash.

Collins said the group which has fished numerous occasions together, had two practice days in Cabo, enough time to put the mistakes behind them.

“We fished near perfect for the conditions presented to us,” said Collins. “On day two the boat had engine troubles and we weren’t able to back down on the fish or manoeuvre properly, but we still overcame those problems and did well.

The Outdoor Channel Offshore Classic team had an unbroken chain of days in scoring: Day 1 with three marlin – 900 points; Day 2 four marlin and a sailfish—1300 points; Day 3 with four marlin -1200 points and the final day two marlin and a 25 lb 6 oz dorado for a weight fish as insurance of 625.6 points for a four day total of 4025.6 points.

“We just fished steady,” said Collins. “Every one of the team members gets along great and that’s part of the success; our personalities are pretty much easy going. In general we all have great karma,” he laughed.

Collins, who has Florida homes in both Islamorada and Naples, is also a two time winner of the IGFA Inshore World Championship, an annual event held over three days in July to test the best in fly and light tackle fishing for five species in the Florida Keys.

Previous leaders Croatia, Italy and Australia in the top four

Coming in second with 3900 points were Day 3 leaders the 9th Int'l Big-Game Sportfishing Tournament team from Jezera, Croatia. Members included Dario Marijan, Davor Pliso, Jakov Begovic, and Vinko Radetic who the previous day had 10 marlin releases, but went zero in the final round.

Finishing third, also with 3900 points based on last fish caught first was the team from Porto Santo Stefano, Italy. The team representing the YCSS-IMD Fishing Tournament fished steady gathering 1200 points in the final round. Anglers included Stefano Desideri, Paolo Viscogliosi, Domenico Scopelliti and Sandro Onofaro.
The fourth and fifth place finishers who had been among the top teams on the leader board also blanked on the final day. Both the team from Mooloolaba, Australia representing the Springwood Marine Sailfish Shootout, and Italy’s San Benedetto del Tronto representing their win in the La Sfida TroFeo M. De Nardis scored 3700 points, with the Australian’s winning on time.

Finishing the rest of the Top 15 places among the 63 teams were:
6th Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series II, Costa Rica - 3644.7 points
7th Miami Swordfish Tournament, Miami, Fla., USA -- 3634.6 points
8th Marina Rubicon Marlin Cup 2007, Lazarote, Spain - 3358.3 points
9th Sinbad Classic, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman – 3000 points
10th Trofeo C.N. Sambenedettese, San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy - 2727.6 points
11th 5th Annual Salmon Masters Tournament, British Columbia, Canada - 2466.2 points
12th TTGFA Tobago Int'l Game Fish Tournament, Tobago, West Indies – 2400 points
13th Desafio Mediterranea Faeton, Spain – 2400 points
14th Torneo Tropic Star 2006, Pinas Bay Panama – 2254 points
15th 13th Annual Top Gun Marlin & Tuna Shootout, Oak Bluffs, Mass., USA - 2137.9 points

(Complete scores are posted on the IGFA.org web site).

IGFA OWC tournament director Mike Myatt said, “Cabo san Lucas has the greatest striped marlin fishery in the world. We're thrilled with the numbers and we had a great dorado bite. These fish put our champion anglers to the test and the winners are truly world champions.”

IGFA President Rob Kramer, added “Day four was an exciting day with several teams in the hunt for the top spot. Once again we had a spectacular year here in Cabo San Lucas.”.

Each catch-and-release of a marlin (blue, black and striped) or a swordfish equals 300 points. Sailfish count for 100 points. The billfish, all caught on circle hooks, are scored and released alive at the boat in accordance with IGFA tournament rules.

On Thursday 69 marlin and one sailfish were released, with one tuna and six dorado brought to the weight scale. Seas were calm with mild temps of 90 degrees and light winds.

Wednesday was the biggest day for most of the teams with118 striped marlin and two sailfish released in the only day of rough seas.

Other top winners
The top male angler of the tournament with 3000 points was Dario Marijan on the Croatia team based on time of his last catch caught first. Also with 3000 points was Italy’s Paulo Viscogliosi on the YCSS-IMD Fishing Tournament. He added 900 points to his total in the final round. Randy Towe of the Miami Swordfish team finished third with 2700 points.

Leading the women is Joan Vandergriff of the IWFA Billfish Tournament team with 1200 points. In second place and with the largest weight fish in the tournament a 54.3 lb tuna was Julia Campbell of the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament with 654.3 points. Third went to Betsy Bullard on the Costa Rica, Stu Apte Fly Fishing for Sailfish Tournament who had 600 points.

Day 3 leading boat captain Julio Gonzales on the Bill Collector of the Pisces Fleet held onto win with a total of 4900 combined points of the four teams he guided. He had skippered the Mooloolaba, Australia team to 3400 points in Day 3 and added another 600 points on Thursday to his tally. Victor Sandes on the Dream finished second with 4500 points catching his last fish first by just three minutes over fellow Picante fleet captain David Lieras who ended in third place.

The final results of the four-days were announced on Friday at noon PDT.

Countries and territories represented include teams from Angola, Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Spain, Sultanate of Oman, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, the United States, Vanuatu and Venezuela. Many of the teams in the ninth annual tournament will be represented by anglers from a number of additional countries.

The teams previously qualified by winning one of 130 IGFA sanctioned tournaments held in 38 countries worldwide during 2007. Each team fishes from four different boats captained by local Cabo guides. The teams also receive “weight” points (per pound) over 25 lbs. for tuna, wahoo and dorado. Local charities receive the donations of all fish weighed at the Cabo docks.

The top team won engraved watches along with trophies and merchandise. Awards are presented through to the third place finishing team.