The 2011 IGFA Offshore World Championship brought 59 teams and 282 anglers from more than 25 countries to the beautiful destination of Cabo San Lucas Mexico. The billfish were also in attendance with the anglers catching a grand total of 282 striped marlin, 6 sailfish, 2 blue marlin and 2 swordfish. The tournaments first ever swordfish, estimated at 250-pounds was caught on the first day of fishing by Fernando Garcia of Brazil. On the following day Jean Robin Dubouchet from Sengal released the second swordfish of the tournament estimated at 250 -pounds. The top game fish included a tournament record 262-pound yellow fin tuna caught by Flavio Campios Reis from Brazil. All catches are very impressive considering the anglers were using 30-pound IGFA class Momoi line and were required to video the catch and release to score points.
The tournament was extremely competitive with most teams scoring multiple releases. By the end of the first day the team from Senegal representing N’Gor Marlin Cup led all others with 1,000 points from five striped marlin releases for the family team of Eric, Jean Robin and Carole Dubochet. Eric caught three of the marlin earning enough points to hold third place angler position. Trailing close behind with 800-points was the 2008 IGFA Championship team from Florida led by Robert Collins Jr., the only angler to ever win the IGFA Offshore and IGFA Inshore World Championships. Robert’s teammates including Richard Black, Kenneth Longaker, Scott Salley and Erik Akins are no strangers to the tournament winners circle giving this team a great chance to contend for the Championship rings. Holding third with 800-points from four striped marlin releases was the VIII Desafio Mediterraneo team from Spain including Marc Casulleras, Arturo San Juan, Pedro Sierra and Omar Valles. The team spread the fishing wealth as each angler released one marlin for the day.
On day two the anglers once again descended on IGY Marina to board the boats in hopes of adding points to their score. Another day of fishing in Cabo San Lucas brought another 79 marlin releases and the second swordfish release for the international field of anglers. Some nice game fish were weighed including an impressive tournament record 226-pound yellowfin tuna caught by Flavio Campos Reis from the Brazilian team representing the Torneo De Marlin Azul. It takes a very skilled and fit angler to best a tuna using 30-pound IGFA class line loaded on a spinning reel. In the wahoo division, Jury Kozlov from Russia representing the 60th Ernest Hemingway Int. Billfish Tournament caught a nice 43.50-pound fish to take the lead in the category. In the Dorado division, Lorento Ferretti from Italy on the Trofeo Circolo Nautico Sambenedettese team moved into first with a 37.6 pound fish. Yesterday’s leading team, N’Gor Marlin Cup, and angler Jean Robin Dubouchet added a striped marlin release and the tournament’s second swordfish release adding 700 points to their score. The family team from Senegal sat in third place with 1700-points after day two.
The American team from Florida representing the Islamorada Fishing Club Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament was one of the top scoring teams catching 6 striped marlin. This team led by Kevin Clark currently held second place with 1800-points and was in great position heading into the third day of fishing. Another big move was made by the retuning 2010 IGFA Offshore World Championship team from Mexico. Led by angler Hernando Gonzalez the team released six striped marlin to move into first place with 1800-points on time. Another hot team that released 6 striped marlin was the 2010 IGFA Offshore World Championship Second Place Team from the Bahamas. They currently have 1600 points placing them in 4th place. Following the fishing the anglers were treated to yellowtail fish tacos, brick oven pizza and beer compliments of Capt. Tony’s bar and restaurant. Anglers enjoyed the great food and posed for pictures next to the huge blue marlin statue outside the restaurant. Anglers shared stories of the days fishing that included the tournament record yellowfin tuna and the tournaments second registered swordfish. A huge thank you to the crew at Captain Tony’s, a great time was had by all.
The third day of fishing continued to stay consistent with many anglers catching fish. The team from the Islamorada Fishing Club Captain Cup Sailfish Tournament continued to pour it on adding six striped marlin releases. The Lyford Cay Offshore Tournament team from the Bahamas and USA also had a hot hand with angler Dean Adler catching the tournaments second blue marlin and a striped with teammate William Stratton adding another striped marlin. Another team making a move with four striped marlin releases was the 2010 IGFA Offshore World Championship Second Place Team from the Bahamas led by Paul King.
The final day of fishing saw another 68 striped marlin and two sailfish releases for the teams. The top team on day four was the Treasure Cay Billfish Tournament scoring six striped marlin releases. Angler Eddie Flack was the hot angler for the team scoring 2200 of the 2400 points scored by the team during the tournament. The team from South Africa representing the S.A.D.S.A.A. Billfish Classic had a fantastic day releasing five striped marlin. Other teams scoring critical points was the Bahamas team representing the 2010 IGFA Offshore World Championship Second Place Team who released four striped marlin earning them a repeat result and final standing of the 2011 IGFA Offshore World Championship Second Place Team. The 2008 IGFA Offshore World Championship team added three striped marlin releases which were enough to earn the team third place position. The Islamorada Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament team continued their consistency catching three striped marlin on the final day. The 2010 IGFA Offshore World Championship team added two striped marlin releases.
Some unforeseen circumstances and issues with communications on the charter boat assigned to the 2010 IGFA Championship team on the third day of fishing was reviewed by the tournament committee and all effected teams in contention were communicated to so everyone involved was informed. Recognizing the complexity of the situation and issues that were outside the written rules the tournament committee awarded the 2010 IGFA Offshore World Championship team enough points for their video verified releases on Wednesday to become co-championship winners with the Islamorada Fishing Club Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament Team. Both teams and the tournament committee accepted the resolution with both teams recognized at the awards banquet as 2011 IGFA Offshore World Champions. This was one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship ever witnessed in a tournament and the international group of anglers recognized the act with a resounding loud standing ovation for the Islamorada team.
The final results for the tournament are:
Third place crew – Capt. Antonio Romero and mate Luis Lucero on Picante Express
Second place crew – Capt. Ivan Gomez and mate Jesus Beltran on Chaos
First place crew – Capt. Frankie Abora and mate Arturo Montelongo on Go Deeper
Hard Luck Award to team-1 Roger Comstock from USA representing the International Roosterfish Tournament.
Only one Wahoo 43.50-pounds – Jury Kozlov from Russia representing the Ernest Hemingway Int. Tournament.
Third place Dorado-34.5-pounds Gianni Rizzo from Italy representing the Porto Rotondo Big Game 2010
Second place Dorado-37.6-pounds Lorento Ferreti from Italy representing the Trofeo Circolo Nautico Sambenedettese
First place Dorado-39.1-Carl Canossa from the USA representing the Falmouth Offshore Grand Prix
Third Place Tuna-27.7-Buddy Sowers from the USA representing the IGFA Offshore World Champions 2003
Second Place Tuna-29.2-Antonio Henriques from Angola representing the Big Blue Cup
First Place Tuna-226.20-pounds tournament record for angler Flavio Campios Reis from Brazil representing the Torneo De Marlin Azul do Rio
Sixth Place Angler- Robert Evans from Grenada representing the 30th Annual TTGFA Marlin Madness Tournament
Fifth Place Angler-Hunter Barron from USA representing the Islamorada Fishing Club Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament
Fourth Place Angler-Sam Worden from USA representing the Islamorada Fishing Club Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament
Third Place Angler – Jean Robin Dubouchet from Senegal representing the N’Gor Marlin Cup
Second Place Angler – Eddie Flack from USA representing the 27th Treasure Cay Annual Billfish Tournament
First Place Angler – Hernando Gonzalez from Mexico representing the IGFA Offshore World Champions 2010
Third Place Team – 2008 IGFA Offshore World Championship Team anglers Robert Collins Jr., Richard Black, Kenneth Longaker, Scott Salley and Erik Akins
Second Place Team- 2010 IGFA Offshore World Championship 2nd place team – Bahamas, Kristian Kweicinski, Jimmy Bernard, Keith Kelty, Tore Tumey and Paul King
CO-2011 IGFA Offshore World Championship Teams:
2010 IGFA Championship Team- Oscar Dacarett, Hernando Gonzalles, Jobe Villavicensio from Mexico, Mike Reiner USA and Sean Hayes South Africa,
Islamorada Fishing Club Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament from Florida USA- Hunter Barron, Sam Worden, Glen Miller, Frank Juliano, and Kevin Clark
