Italy and Oman teams tied for lead after Day Two of ninth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship
27 countries on six continents represented in prestigious
all release billfishing tournament

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico --- Two leading teams continued to find “the bite” in their pursuit of striped marlin as both, a team from Italy and one from the Sultanate of Oman, are tied for first place at the halfway point of the four-day IGFA Offshore World Championship.

The ninth annual event, sponsored in part by the Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, has brought together 63 teams from 27 nations on six continents, the single largest contingent of international teams to compete in a fishing competition.  

Though catching and releasing only two marlin to add to its seven billfish from Monday the Italian team from San Benedetto del Tronto held onto its position at the top of the leaderboard. Team members include Sergio de Tommasis, Fabio Gieri, Daniele Tarroni and Carlo Pezzini representing their win in the La Sfida TroFeo M. De Nardis and are one of the four teams from Italy, all who are in the top 10 after Day Two.

Also with 2700 points releasing three marlin was the Sinbad Classic team from the Sultanate of Oman in Muscat. The anglers include Mohammed Al Jahwari, Pascal Richard, Kamal Al Busaidi, Saeed Al Hajri and Faisal Riyami.

Just one billfish release back in points are two teams tied for third place at 2400 points. They are the YCSS-IMD Fishing Tournament team from Porto Santo, Italy and a team representing the Miami (USA) Swordfish Tournament.  The Italian team caught six marlin, the Americans five, to make one of the biggest jumps on Day Two.

In fifth place with 2200 points is a team representing the Outdoor Channel Offshore Classic held in Islamorada, Fla.USA.  They scored with three marlin on Day One and increased the count with four marlin and a sailfish on Day Two.

Two other teams also made a huge jump with marlin to add to catches of weight fish on Monday.  The sixth position is held by the Marina Rubicon Marlin Cup 2007 team from Lanzarote, Spain, catching six marlin for 1826.2 points. In seventh place is the Trofeo C.N. Sambenedettese team from San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy with 1527.6 points on five releases.

Making up the rest of the Top 16 among the 63 teams in the Day 2 standings are two teams tied in the eighth position with 1500 points and seven teams tied for the 10th spot at 1200 points.  They include:

8T TTGFA Tobago Int'l Game Fish Tournament, Tobago, West Indies, 1500 points

8T Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series II, Playa Herradura, Costa Rica, 1500 points

10T Falmouth Offshore Grand Prix, Falmouth, Mass., USA, 1200 points
10T Trofeo Drifting Castel Volturno, Castel Volturno, Italy, 1200 points
10T Caicos Classic Release Tournament, Turks and Caicos, 1200 points
10T Cantina Cup Int'l Gamefish Tournament, San Carlos, Mexico, 1200 points
10T TAA Eastcape Billfish Tournament, Ixtapa, Mexico, 1200 points
10T Desafio Mediterranea Faeton, Spain, 1200 points
10T XI Torneio de Marlim Azul de Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1200 points

“The first boat in had five releases and so did the last so we knew the bait is starting to move in,” said IGFA tournament director Mike Myatt.

“As usual the anglers are getting use to pitching bait.  We're looking forward to a high count on Wednesday.”

A total of 94 striped marlin and one sailfish were released, most caught from the Sea of Cortez. Eight teams have yet to score any points at the midway point.  The same conditions of 96 degree weather, light winds and calm seas continued into Day Two.

Each catch-and-release of a marlin (blue, black and striped) or a swordfish equals 300 points. Sailfish count for 100 points. The billfish, all caught on circle hooks, are scored and released alive at the boat in accordance with IGFA tournament rules.

The final results of the four-day event will be made on Friday at noon PDT.

Countries and territories represented include teams from Angola, Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Spain, Sultanate of Oman, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, the United States, Vanuatu and Venezuela. Many of the teams in the ninth annual tournament will be represented by anglers from a number of additional countries.

The teams previously qualified by winning one of 130 IGFA sanctioned tournaments held in 38 countries worldwide during 2007. Each team fishes from four different boats captained by local Cabo guides. The teams also receive “weight” points (per pound) over 25 lbs. for tuna, wahoo and dorado.  Local charities receive the donations of all fish weighed at the Cabo docks. 

The top team wins engraved watches along with trophies and merchandise.  Awards are presented through to the third place finishing team.  

Partners and sponsors for the IGFA Offshore World Championship are Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, Costa Del Mar, Hotel Finisterra, Guy Harvey Inc., Shimano,  Picante Sport Fishing and Yacht Sales, Cabo Yachts, K D & G Sea Life Masterpieces, Hook & Tackle, Momoi Hi-Catch, Murray Products, AFTCO BlueWater, Bodo Muche, Minerva’s Baja Tackle, Señor Greenberg’s, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Pompanette, Pisces Sportfishing, Corona and Modelo S.A DE C.V. Mexico, Don Tyson, Trans Cabo, Eagle Claw, MoldCraft Products, Inc. and API Dock.

Daily results of the previous day’s round are posted each morning on the IGFA’s home page at www.igfa.org .  A list of registered teams can also be found on the web site under the fishing tab on the home page by clicking “tournaments.”

Founded in 1939 the IGFA is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping.  IGFA members are located in over 125 countries and territories. The IGFA welcomes visitors to its 60,000-square-foot interactive Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Dania Beach, Florida.