DANIA BEACH, Fla. – Top anglers from around the world are setting their sights this month on two major world championships in the Florida Keys and Mexico, title sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).
Pre-registered are over 60 of the best four-angler teams representing tournaments in nearly 30 countries to compete in the Fifth Annual Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship Tournament, May 16-21, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Earlier in the month some 50 anglers including 12 women and several celebrities will converge on Islamorada, Fla., for the Fourth Annual Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament, May 2-5.
The success and popularity of the “world championship tournament for tournament champions”, was immediate in 2000 as 38 teams representing tournaments in 15 countries, competed in the first Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship Tournament in Kona, Hawaii. The teams had advanced after winning one of the Rolex/IGFA qualifying events worldwide.
The following year, again with the backing of Rolex, the IGFA added an inshore championship made up of competitors who won a qualifying inshore or freshwater event held on four continents. Last year’s contest included 32 competitors.
The winning teams for the 2004 offshore championship are coming from nearly 100 IGFA qualifying tournaments around the globe. The inshore is represented by anglers’ wins in over 50 qualifying events.
For further information on the two world championships and the hundreds of tournaments in the IGFA family of qualifying events, contact the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004; phone 954-927-2628, fax: 954-924-4299, e-mail: IGFAHQ@aol.com, website: www.igfa.org.
