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Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Teams from five continents set for the May 7 to 12, 2006 world offshore fishing championship.
64 teams from 33 countries prepare for seventh Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship.
DANIA BEACH, Fla., U.S.A. – April 28, 2006 - Sixty-four teams from 33 countries on five continents are making final preparations to compete in the seventh annual Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship Tournament, May 7 – 12, 2006, off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula.
Considered by blue water anglers as the “offshore fishing championship of the world,” the prestigious four-day catch-and-release tournament is believed to host the single largest contingent of international teams ever to compete in a fishing competition.
It’s attracting many of the world’s best angling teams who have won at least one of 110 IGFA sanctioned qualifying offshore events held in 40 countries across the globe during 2005. The number of IGFA qualifying tournaments continues to climb each year.
This is the fifth straight year Cabo San Lucas, Mexico will be the location for the four-day catch and-release event for marlin and other billfish.
“We again have teams registered from tournaments in more than 30 countries,” said Ms. Lynda Wilson, Rolex/IGFA offshore tournament coordinator. “Plus we have even more anglers on teams from additional countries coming.”
Teams signed up are representing tournaments in the countries and territories of Angola, Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, the Canary Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Galapagos, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kingdom of Tonga, Mauritius, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, the United States, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
Many other countries are represented with anglers coming from France, England, Ireland, Slovenia and South Africa. The United States is represented by 22 teams of anglers from 23 states.
Also pre-registered are four past Rolex/IGFA championship teams. Like the Masters tournament in golf past champions are invited perpetually.
According to Ms. Wilson, the abundance of billfish caught and released each year is an important factor in the large number of teams competing annually.
“Last year a record total of 517 billfish were caught and released among 70 teams. The year before 299 billfish were released among 66 teams,” she said. “In 2003, 250 billfish were released among 42 teams. Those are some excellent release figures and the anglers remember and get excited and the word spreads about the great fishing in Cabo.”
The teams will draw for different boats each day from the local guided Cabo fleet. They will be fishing for three species of marlin (blue, black and striped) and swordfish for 300 points each along with sailfish and spearfish for 100 point values each. The catches will be scored and released alive at the boat in accordance with the IGFA tournament rules. The team releasing the most billfish over the four days will receive bonus points.
The teams will also receive “weight” points (per pound) for tuna, wahoo and dorado up to two fish of each species per day above the minimum size limit of 25 lbs. Local charities receive the donations of all fish weighed at the Cabo docks. All anglers will use 30 lb. Momoi fishing line.
The team with the most points at the end of the four days of competition will receive engraved Rolex timepieces and trophies. Eighteen other prizes will be presented including ones to the three top male and female anglers, top three captains and top three places for the heaviest tuna, wahoo and dorado.
Updated information and a listing of the registered teams can be found on the IGFA web site at www.igfa.org and clicking on “tournaments” under the fishing tab on the home page. Besides title sponsor Rolex other major sponsors include IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Aftco Bluewater Sportswear, Bodo Muche Studio-Foundry, Mold Craft Products, Inc., Momoi Hi-Catch, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, Murray Products Fighting Chairs, Daiichi, Hotel Finisterra, Nautical Jewelry Originals, Outdoor Channel, Guy Harvey, Hook & Tackle, Penn Rods & Reels, Stidd Captain’s Chairs, Baptist Health South Florida, Picante, Minerva’s Baja Tackle, Pisces Sportfishing, API Dock, Grupo Ultrafemme and Transcabo.
The offshore championship is one of two world-class series fishing events that include the sixth annual Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament to be held July 9 -12, in the Florida Keys. In that tournament some 40 anglers representing 55 qualifying tournaments on four continents will be competing in light-tackle and fly-fishing competition for bonefish, tarpon, permit, redfish and snook in Islamorada, located in the middle of the Florida Keys.
Questions regarding the OCT can be directed to Ms. Wilson at 954-924-4233 or via e-mail at LWilson@igfa.org. Questions regarding sign-up of qualifying tournaments for the 2007 Rolex/IGFA OCT should be directed to Ms. Lesley Arico at 954-924-4222 or via e-mail at LArico@igfa.org.
Founded in 1939 the International Game Fish Association 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.
Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico May 7 to 12, 2006.
