The bite gets even better on day two for the IGFA Offshore World Championship teams.

After a blistering start of 139 striped marlin releases on day one, the fleet improves to 152 releases on day two followed by 102 releases on day three. Anglers from around the world enjoyed one of the best bites the tournament has seen in the 13 year history.   The team representing the 2010 IGFA Champions equaled their first day performance adding another eleven striped marlin releases to their score on day two and an outstanding 15 releases on the third day giving the team 7400 points and an insurmountable lead in the tournament.  Another team making a big move on day two with eleven releases was the Masters Dolphins Fisherman team from Spain.  The team added three releases on the third day to jump into the second place team division with 3600 points.  The multinational team representing the 7th Campeonato International de Peca Grossa de Portimao in Portugal took advantage of the bite catching nine stripped marlin on day two and three on the third day to move up the board into third place with 3600-points.  There were no qualifying game fishing coming to the scales at the IGY Marina weigh gantry so the tuna and wahoo divisions remained open.  Anglers thirst were quenched by our good friends at Baja Brewing Company every afternoon after fishing.

Heading into the final day of fishing the weather changed with the wind picking up and temperatures dropping that may have been due to tropical depression Aletta to the south of Cabo.  The result was a four degree sea surface temperature change, 15 knots winds and almost a complete shut down on the bite with the fleet releasing only 8 striped marlin.  The XVIII Open De Baleares De Pesca De Altura team from Spain managed to release three of the fish giving them 3400 points and 4th place team in the Championship.  The team representing the 7th Campeonato International de Peca Grossa de Portimao in Portugal did not add any points on the final day but their 3600 points earned on the first three days of fishing was enough to keep them in 3rd place overall.

The awards ceremony took place Friday May 18th on the pool deck of the Finisterra Hotel.  Anglers were treated to a dinner buffet, door prizes, entertainment video, live band and fireworks. The winning team received gold and diamond championship rings crafted by Mark Lloyd of Vanmark Jewelry, bronze sculptures designed by Geoffrey Smith, custom embroidered apparel fighting belts and release gloves from Aftco, hand held chart plotter from Garmin, Fin-Nor rod & reel combos, Guy Harvey artwork, Costa sunglasses and Momoi line.  The second and third place teams received Geoffrey Smith bronze sculptures, Costa sunglasses, Fin-Nor rod & reel combos, Guy Harvey artwork and Momoi line.  The Top Six anglers received King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Guy Harvey artwork with the first place angler also receiving a pair of Costa sunglasses, Accurate Reel and Steiner Binoculars.  Game fish division winners receive beautiful King Sailfish Mounts Trophies, Guy Harvey Artwork, and Melton International Tackle lures. 

The final standings are:

3rd Place Portugal based 7th Campeonato International de Pesca Grossa de Portimao Tournament
Third Place Team Norby Anglers 3600 total points from 18 striped marlin releases

The team representing the Masters Dolphins Fisherman Series from Spain stayed very consistent with their second day being the best with 11 releases. The team added one release on the final day giving the team a total 3800-points and second place finish.

2nd Place Spain based Masters Dolphins Fisherman Tournament Series
Second Place Team Anglers 3800 total points from 19 striped marlin releases

 
The Mexico team representing the 2010 Champions did not add any releases on the final day but their impressive 7400 points from the first three days was more than enough to win the Championship. This team is anchored by Hernando Gonzales who has established himself as the top angler in the Baja winning his 4th top angler award in the Championship. 

1st Place Mexico based IGFA Offshore World Champions
First Place Team Anglers 7400 total points from 37 striped marlin releases

 

Top Three Dolphin

1st Place 38-pounds, angler Allen Gagnon fishing for the Falmouth Offshore Grand Prix Tournament Team Massachusetts U.S.

2nd Place 30.50-pounds, angler Fernando Santos fishing for the Grand Slam Sportfishing Tournament Team Angola.

3rd Place 26.00-pounds, angler Mike Potts fishing for the Oregon Tuna Classic Team Oregon U.S.

 

Top Six Anglers

1st Place Angler 4800-points, Hernando Gonzales fishing for the 2010 IGFA Offshore World Championship Team Mexico

2nd Place Angler 2800-points, Luis Lorenzo Arballo fishing for the Master Dolphins Fisherman Series Tournament Spain

3rd Place Angler 2200-points, Julian Liquidano Garcia fishing for the Herbie Paul International Festival Tournament Kenya

4th Place Angler 2,200-points, Jose Plasencia Muro fishing for the Open Pesca Altura Port Torredembarra Tournament Spain

5th Place Angler 2,000-points Arturo Montelongo fishing for the 2012 IGFA Offshore World Champions Team Mexico

6th Place Angler1600-points Robert Rowe fishing for the 39th Annual Bluewater Tournament Florida USA

 

Top Three Captains and Mates

1st Place Go Deep 4600-points from 23 striped marlin releases. Captain Luis Abaroa and mate Jose Torres Chavez

2nd Place Yahoo 4200-points from 21 striped marlin releases. Captain Ricardo Escamilla and mate Jose Escamilla

3rd Place Listo 4,000-points from 20 striped marlin releases. Captain Eduardo Cesena and mate Alberto Garcia