| Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, May 15, 2007 — It’s been called the most prestigious catch-and-release billfish tournament in the world as anglers on 64 teams from more than 30 countries on six continents will gather in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, May 20 – 25, to compete over four days in the eighth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship.
“The diversity of countries has increased each year as have the skill levels of the anglers and teams who are competing,” said IGFA OWC Tournament Director Mike Myatt who is now in Cabo.
It’s the single largest contingent of international teams ever to compete in a fishing competition converging in one of the world’s most prolific billfish regions. The teams previously qualified by winning one of 132 IGFA sanctioned tournaments held in 40 countries worldwide during 2006.
Five qualifying tournaments held across Mexico last year will be represented with teams.
A total of 16 teams are registered from the United States. Three more teams are past Rolex/IGFA champions including defending back-to-back 2005 and 2006 winners Tom Schramm of Roselle, Ill., fellow Chicago-land teammate Scott Segal, Libertyville, Ill., and Ray Rosher of Miami, Florida.
There will also be 40 teams representing tournaments in the countries and territories of Angola (3), Australia (3), the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda (2), Brazil (2), Canada (2), Costa Rica (2), England, Italy (4), Jamaica (2), Kenya (2), Kingdom of Tonga, New Zealand, Panama, Portugal, St. Lucia, Senegal, Spain (3), Sultanate of Oman, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
Anglers on a number of teams are coming from additional countries such as Holland, Singapore, the Canary Islands and Ireland.
Each day the teams will fish on a different boat; all guided by 64 local Cabo captains and mates for marlin, sailfish and other billfish species. The top team will win engraved watches along with trophies and merchandise. Awards are presented through to the third place finishing team.
Sponsors and partners 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.
Updated information and a listing 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 on “tournaments.”
Each morning the daily results along with photos of the previous day’s round will be posted on the IGFA’s home page.
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