(08/04/2001 - Dania Beach, FL)... The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has announced that their Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship will be held in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on May 18-25, 2002. This location replaces Kona, Hawaii where the championship tournament has been held for the past two years. Mike Leech, President of IGFA, said the move to Cabo San Lucas was prompted by several reasons. "Cabo San Lucas has a higher billfish catch rate year round and Cabo is noted for their experienced charter fleet, great weather, numerous tourism attractions and excellent accommodations." Leech said.Headquarters for the championship will be the oceanfront Finisterra Hotel located close to the harbor. The May dates were selected because it is prime time for striped marlin with plenty of other billfish plus big dorado, wahoo and tuna.
The Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship is the culmination of 77 qualifying tournaments being fished in 2001. The qualifying events are located in 25 countries and territories and 11 states and represent about 20,000 anglers. The winners of the qualifying events are invited to bring their teams to the championship. The tournament is 100% release for billfish and winners receive beautiful Rolex watches, bronze trophies and merchandise awards. Rolex has a 5 year sponsorship agreement with IGFA, who organizes the championship. The Mexico Tourism Promotion Board also was instrumental in attracting the championship to Mexico and is one of the events sponsors.
The winners of last years championship in Hawaii, the Torneio de Pesca Marlin Azul de Guarapari team, captained by Angelo Coutinho of Brazil, are automatically invited to return next year to defend their title. Their team released six billfish in Kona to win the top team award by a slim margin.
In order for a tournament to participate as a qualifying event in the prestigious, invitation only Rolex/IGFA championship, they must submit an indication of interest form and be approved by a committee. With 77 qualifying events, there are few places in the world that offer the combination of qualities needed to conduct a championship the size of IGFA’s. Mike Leech said "We need a location that has good accommodations, plenty of top quality charter boats, lots of fish, and enough other attractions to keep spouses entertained while their team is fishing. We have found all that in Cabo San Lucas."
IGFA is a non profit, membership supported conservation, education, and record keeping organization. They are located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida where they maintain their 60,000 square foot IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum.
For further information contact the International Game Fish Association, 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.
