Costa Rica team releases most sailfish on day three of the 2019 Costa Offshore World Championship.
Team Sarasota Slam (USA) and family take a picture with angler Doug Moore's 30.6-pound dorado caught on day three of the 2019 Costa Offshore World Championship.
A slow morning off Quepos, Costa Rica turned hot in the afternoon on day three of the Costa Offshore World Championship. Sixty of the 137 billfish caught on day three were landed in the final two hours of fishing. In total, teams released one black marlin, eight blue marlin and 128 Pacific sailfish. Team Mauritius International Billfish Release Tournament is the lone fishing team to release a black marlin in the tournament.
Team Marina Pez Vela Open (Costa Rica) topped all other teams on day three, landing 10 Pacific sailfish for 2,000 points. Seven of their sailfish were caught in less than an hour, from about 2 - 3 p.m. The team fished aboard Amy’s Dream, captained by Cristian Calvo.
The Torneio de Peixes de Bico team (Brazil) was close behind with 1,900 points. They turned heads at the marina after releasing three blue marlin and two Pacific sailfish. Their team fished aboard Sea Hag, captained by Ronald Mejia Arce. Marlin releases were up on days two and three of fishing, with a total of 19 released. Team Tuna Classic (South Africa) came in third on day three, releasing eight sailfish for 1,600 points. The team had their best day of the tournament fishing aboard Super Fly, a 36-foot Maverick captained by Geovany Leal.
Two dorado scored on day three, with both fish weighing near 30 pounds. Doug Moore, of Team Sarasota Slam (USA), landed a 30.6-pounder. Andrei Brodnick, of Team Tuna Fever Rogoznica 2018 (Croatia), landed a 29.6-pounder. Both dorado weights were added to the respective team’s point totals.
Overall, the top team after three days of fishing is Oregon Tuna Classic (USA). Anglers Matti Olson, Dan Sullivan, Matt Rowland, Stan Brogdon and Erik Jutila released 28 Pacific sailfish and one blue marlin, totaling 6,100 points. Next up are teams Mauritius International Billfish Release Tournament (Mauritius), with 4,700 points, and 2008 OWC Champions (USA), with 4532.2 points. Team 2008 OWC Champions, based out of the Florida Keys, jumped up the leaderboard from fifth place to third after a strong performance aboard Muy Caliente, captained by Miles Stamper. The team released seven Pacific sailfish, with four fish caught by angler John Domanic.
Top angler after three days of fishing is Fernando Pessoa, of Team Yacht Club Ilhabela Annual Billfish Tournament (Brazil). His 2,500 points from 10 Pacific sailfish and one blue marlin beat out all other individual performances. Pessoa released six Pacific sailfish on day three. Close behind are anglers Matti Olson, of Team Oregon Tuna Classic (USA), and Brandon Hopper, of Team 2008 OWC Champions (USA), each with 2,200 points.
James Smith, of Dragin Fly, holds the lead for top captain with 5,100 points after three days of fishing in the 2019 Costa Offshore World Championship.
The top boat captain after three days is James Smith, of Dragin Fly, with 5,100 points. In three days of fishing with three different teams, his boat released 23 Pacific sailfish and one blue marlin. Close behind are Mardonio Obando, of Raven, with 4,700 points, and Rudy Arguedas, of Top Fly, with 3930.2 points. Boat captains score their best three days of fishing.
The last day of the 2019 Costa Offshore World Championship fishing occurs Thursday, May 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Final awards for top teams, anglers and boat captains—plus prizes for heaviest fish—will be presented during the awards gala on Friday, May 3 at Marina Pez Vela.
The Offshore World Championship is the world's premier saltwater fishing championship and has been held in Costa Rica since 2013. In 2019, the Offshore World Championship is celebrating its 20th anniversary.