IGFA Offshore World Championship Attracting Over 60 Teams

With just three months away, the 2008 IGFA Offshore World Championship has already attracted over 60 teams to compete at Cabo San Lucas off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula May 11-16. 

Considered the most prestigious catch-and-release bluewater fishing tournament in the world, the event also draws the single largest contingent of international teams ever to compete in a fishing competition.

We could again have representation of teams from nearly 30 countries,” said tournament coordinator Ms. Lesley Arico. 

Countries and territories from five continents represented so far include teams from Angola, Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, the United States, Vanuatu and Venezuela.

With six teams signed on, Brazil is second only to the United States in the number of teams represented. The United States has 19 teams signed on.

  Many of the teams in the ninth annual tournament will be represented by anglers from a number of additional countries.

 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 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 among the teams entered.

This year’s pre-registered teams accepted invitations after winning one of 130 IGFA qualifying tournaments held in 38 countries worldwide during 2007. It’s the seventh straight year Cabo San Lucas has been chosen as the championship location.

Teams fish from a different boat each day based on a drawing before the competition begins. All are guided by local Cabo captains for marlin and other billfish. The top team with the most marlin and billfish releases wins watches, along with trophies and merchandise.  Awards are presented through to the third-place finishing team.

Partners and sponsors for the IGFA Offshore World Championship are Secretaria de Turismo of Baja California Sur, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, Hotel Finisterra, Momoi Hi-Catch, Guy Harvey, Inc., Picante Sport Fishing and Yacht Sales, Cabo Yachts, Shimano, Hook & Tackle, Murray Products, AFTCO Bluewater Sportswear, Bodo Muche Studio-Foundry, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Minerva’s Baja Tackle, Trans Cabo, API Cabo San Lucas, and Illusion Diamond.

Updated information and a growing list of the registered teams can be found on the IGFA Web site at www.igfa.org under the fishing tab on the home page by clicking “tournaments.”

Questions regarding the 2008 IGFA OWC should be directed to Ms. Arico at (954) 924-4222 or via e-mail at LArico@igfa.org