The “Olympics of Sportfishing” is back. The IGFA Offshore World Championship is just around the corner, and we at ScaleMaster, the Official Weigh Station for the tournament, couldn’t be more excited to see what all you fishermen hook in those warm waters down off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Anglers come from far and wide to participate in this event.
Here is a message from our President, expressing her continued enthusiasm for this fishing competition. “IWS ScaleMaster is thrilled to be a sponsor of the annual IGFA Offshore World Championship where our ScaleMaster II has been used to weigh all fish brought to the docks over these many years. Many friends and World Records have been made around the world since we started in 1984 and we look forward to our continued partnership with a keen eye on conservation, catch and release and sustainable fishing. Thanks to Dan Jacobs and Lynda Wilson for their tireless efforts and continued support along with the IGFA and many, many others. To all the teams, good luck fishing!”–Giesela Muccillo.
LOS CABOS – IGFA Offshore World Championship
Time: May 13, 2012 at 6pm to May 18, 2012 at 7pm
Location: Los Cabos
City/Town: Los Cabos BCS
Organized By: IGFA
Photo courtesy of http://www.igfaoffshorechampionship.com/offshore_championship
It’s time to gear up for the TTGFA Marlin Madness Tournament out of Pigeon Point, Tobago. The tournament will take place April 18th to the 21st, 2012. The winner of this tournament will receive TT$1,000,000 and an invitation to the 2013 IGFA Offshore Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. With the other prizes up for grabs, the turnout is sure to be outstanding.
This tournament not only earns money for the small island of Tobago, but is also a poster tournament for conservation thanks to the hard work of the Trinidad & Tobago Game Fish Association.
“The principle objectives for which the Association is formed are to encourage the development of fishing as a sport; to assist in the conservation of marine resources, to co-operate with other organizations with similar objectives; to assist in the dissemination of knowledge in marine and fishing matters; to promote; legislation for conservation of piscatorial and other maritime affairs and to promote all such causes as are incidental or conducive to the above.”
Information and quotes courtesy of http://ttgfa.com/ctives.
The Presidential Challenge in Costa Rica has come and gone with team High Hook taking the win this year, reeling in 1500 points. This tournament, which is in its 16th year, took place March 1-4, with the other tournaments to follow in June, October, and November throughout Central America. This tournament is a qualifier for the IGFA Offshore World Championship, and the proceeds help conservation efforts in Costa Rica. Tournament Director Joan Vernon had this to say about the event:
“The Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica presented by the ICT is one of the few fishing events that truly give back to the resource. While promoting tourism in the Guanacaste Region, we are also raising money to give to The Billfish Foundation for continued conservation work in Costa Rica. This makes everyone participating in this event a ‘partner in conservation’ with TBF.”
The 2012 dates for the Presidential Challenge Conservation Series are: PCCA Costa Rica, March 1-4; Presidential Papagayo Cup, June 6-9; Presidential Caribbean Cup (Aruba), Oct. 11-14; and PCCA Guatemala, Nov. 15-18, 2012.
For additional information about this tournament or others in this series, please go to www.preschallenge.com.
Picture and tournament information courtesy of www.preschallenge.com
On January 27, 2012, the Annual IGFA International Auction & Banquet will take place at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Florida. As is customary every year, there is an auction full of a wide range of items, with some bidding already taking place online. Included in the auction, is a ScaleMaster MiniPro, so go check out all the fun fishing gear and place your bid. Along with the auction will be “the prestigious Conservation Awards, recognizing those who have made outstanding contributions to the conservation of sport fish, will be accompanied by a multi-media production of highlights.”
For more information on ticket prices, please go to http://www.igfa.org/Events/Intl-Auction.aspx
And for a complete list of auction items, go to http://igfa.quillsite.com/
All information, pictures and quotes courtesy of http://www.igfa.org/events/main.aspx
Want to know what winning over a million dollars feels like? Ask the boys from the boat Tiger Spirit. Although their blue marlin was not the biggest in the Bisbee’s Black & Blue Tournament a couple of weeks ago, we don’t think they are complaining about the 14 lb differential between their blue marlin and the marlin caught by the winners of the tournament, Bad Medicine.
“It earned a whopping $1,162,842 since it was the only fish entered in all three daily $5,000 and $10,000 jackpots. Tiger Spirit owner Ned Wallace of Newport Beach, California, has been a long-time participant in the Black & Blue, but this is the first time his team has scored the tournament’s top cash prize.”
Not a bad day at the office for the boat Tiger Spirit.
Bad Medicine had a great run at this tournament also, reeling in a 409 lb blue marlin to kick off the first day of fishing netting them $394, 090.
This tournament never fails in the thrills and excitement category, and tournament Director Wayne Bisbee knows this competition brings a great experience for anglers every year. “Even second place can win a million bucks in the Black & Blue. So thanks to all our anglers and crews, plus our fantastic sponsors, we are the big enchilada of sportfishing. We’re the World Series, Super Bowl, and Triple Crown all rolled into one wet–and wild–ride.”
All quotes and pictures are courtesy of www.bisbees.com
