DANIA BEACH, Fla., USA – Four North Carolina men on two teams will compete in the eighth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship, May 20 – 25, off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula at Cabo San Lucas.In less than a decade the event has become the most prestigious catch-and-release billfishing tournament in the world hosting the single largest contingent of international teams ever to compete in a fishing competition.
Anglers on a record 68 teams from 30 countries on six continents are expected. Also pre-registered are three past Rolex/IGFA championship teams.
The four men from North Carolina include Mark Frazier, Thomasville, who was among the winning team of Bermuda’s 33rd Annual Seahorse Angler’s Club Bermuda Billfish Tournament.
Also qualified to compete in Mexico are the winners of the Presidential Challenge of Venezuela which include Elson Myers, Nags Head, along with Ron Stevens and Mike Viveiros, both of Manteo.
There will be 49 teams representing tournaments in the countries and territories of Angola (4), Australia (3), the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda (2), Brazil (2), Canada (2), Costa Rica (2), Ecuador, England, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy (4), Jamaica, Kenya (2), Kingdom of Tonga, Mexico (6), New Zealand, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Senegal, Spain (3), Sultanate of Oman, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Vanuatu and Venezuela. There are 20 teams coming from the United States.
Each of the four days the teams will fish on a different boat, all guided by local Cabo captains, for marlin and other billfish. The top team will win engraved watches along with trophies and merchandise. Awards are presented through to the third place finishing team.
This year’s registered teams qualified by winning one of the132 IGFA sanctioned tournaments held in 40 countries worldwide during 2006.
Partners and sponsors for the IGFA Offshore World Championship are Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, Costa Del Mar, Hotel Finisterra, Momoi, Guy Harvey, Inc., Mold Craft Products, Picante Sport Fishing and Yacht Sales, Cabo Yachts, Outdoor Channel, K D & G Sea Life Masterpieces, Shimano, Hook & Tackle, Murray Products, AFTCO Bluewater, Bodo Muche, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Stidd Systems, Corona and Modelo S.A. de C.V. Mexico, Trans Cabo Group, API Dock, Daiichi, Minerva’s Baja Tackle, Pisces Fleet Sportfishing and UltraJewels.
Founded in 1939 the IGFA is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. IGFA members are located in over 125 countries and territories. The IGFA welcomes visitors to its 60,000-square-foot interactive Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Dania Beach, Florida.
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