Three days, thousands of sailfish, and a front-row seat to tournament fishing at its best. There are trips you plan for. There are trips you dream about. And then there are trips that hit you all at once—early alarms, salt spray, radios crackling nonstop, and sailfish lighting up the wake...
The 10th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational was my first time in Guatemala and my first chance to observe a tournament. I really had no idea what to expect. From the pick up at the airport to the drop off, this was a trip for the books. On our ride to the resort, we rode with some of...
My first trip to Guatemala as an observer for the 10th annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational was truly an experience I will never forget from start to finish, I made memories and friends I will forever cherish. Starting Day 1, I was assigned to the boat Uno Má...
When I joined the IGFTO, I did not think that four years would pass before I would observe in my first tournament. Captain Barbara Evans, a longtime observer and team member of the Pink Ladies Breast Cancer Fishing Team provided me with the courage to overcome my nervousness about...
2025 Charleston Billfish Cup draws 15 IGFTO observers
Heavy weather forecast limits participating boats. The Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) was held in Charleston, South Carolina, June 4–7, 2025, for the HUK Charleston Billfish Cup, one of the stops on its national tournament...
This was the fourth year that IGFTO participated in the Costa Rica Aqua Inspiration Educational Program in Quepos, and our third year in Golfitio encompassing May 19 – 23, 2025. Events were held at both Marina Bahia Golfito in Golfito and Marina Pez Vela in Quepos.
This year’s...
GEOLOC: Marina Pez Vela, Quepos, Costa Rica
49 IGFTO Members attended and observed in the 2025 Pescadora Billfish Championship which was held February 20-22 at Marina Pez Vela, Quepos Costa Rica. The two-day tournament is the brainchild of Samantha Mumford who recognized...
Dec 4-9th saw 25 members of the IGFTO descend upon Buena Vista Fishing Resort in Iztapa, Guatemala for the 9th Annual Guatemala Billfish Tournament. Pacific Fins Resort played host to the actual tournament and provided a top notch experience for both observers and...
Year 71 of the IBT continued in the tradition begun way back in 1953 when a Club Nautico member, Chilo Bird, volunteered as the first chairman of what became known as the International Billfish Tournament.
The early years saw the event as primarily an interclub tournament for the...
Aqua Inspiration Three 2024
Golfito and Quepos, Costa Rica Golfito
A little over six weeks ago, Aqua Inspiration kicked off in Golfito, C.R., on Monday, May 27, 2024. Our second year in Golfito, the event was sponsored by the IGFTO, Junior Achievement-Costa Rica, Marina Bahia...
What a fantastic time observing in the 8th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational. From start-to-finish, it was an amazing experience.
The crews and hospitality at both Pacific Fins and Buena Vista (Jody’s) were very welcoming and top-notch.
The welcoming...
8th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational roll up departing from and returning to Marina Pez Vela, Puerto Quetzal Guatemala December 8-10, 2023. There were 27 total teams (18 Pro and 9 Amateur). 16 IGFTO Observers rotated amongst the Pro boats each fishing day; the tournament totals...
The first week of November provided almost twenty observers from the IGFTO an opportunity to explore Central America. The 29th annual El Salvador International Billfish Tournament started November 2nd-5th 2023. Hosted by the Bahia Del Sol Marina 30; boats prepared for this event.
...
The longest continually running salt water tournament, the San Juan International Billfish Tournament (“IBT”), concluded after three fishing days on August 27, 2023.
IGFTO provided 24 Observers to the tournament including Bob Smith, Adriana Vale, Alan...
16 September 2023
Location: Tacky Jacks
Orange Beach, AL
The Kenny Vines Memorial Billfish Tournament, more affectionately known as the "KV", was held on Friday and Saturday September 15 & 16th, 2023 in beautiful Orange Beach, Alabama hosted by the Orange Beach Sportfishing...
We spend a couple of months each year in Quepos, and in 2022, I met someone who was an Observer for the Pescadora Tournament. My husband said, “that’s something you should do”. So in 2023 when we found out the training was in Quepos, I signed up.
It was one of...
After months of planning, the International Game Fish Tournament Observers (IGFTO), Junior Achievement-Costa Rica, the Marina Bahia Golfito, and Marina Pez Vela Youth career days, titled Aqua Inspiration, year two, kicked off on Monday June 5th, 2023, in Golfito.
Monday June 5th, IGFTO...
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sharing from Junior Achievement Costa Rica.
sharing link to photos from Junior Achievement Costa Rica
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We were almost 50 miles out, with 18 boats around us, all driving in anything but a straight line. Somehow, each boat maneuvered through a maze of unrehearsed lanes and hooked up with billfish despite the congested traffic! Being a scuba diver, I could visualize the countless...
25 September 2021
Location: Tacky Jacks
Orange Beach, AL
The Kenny Vines (KV) Memorial Billfish Tournament was held on Friday and Saturday September 24 & 25th, 2021 in beautiful Orange Beach, Alabama hosted by the Orange Beach Sportfishing Club (OBSC) at Tacky Jacks Orange...
Well, the 68th San Juan International Billfish Tournament is in the books – and what a great time was had by all. 14 IGFTO Observers (Mark Tobias, Walter Rowan, Derwood Roberts, Marvin Badler, Ron Teke, Ed Hails, Pat Moore, Greg Moore, Barbara Evans, Mike McCorkel, Karen Nix, Ollie Bass,...
In its 27th year, this tournament is a real sleeper among the Central American tournament circuit. Held November 9-12, 2021, it was mostly-attended by local boats, and a few boats traveling from Guatemala. It has proven to be outstanding in the catch quality, hospitality, and friendliness...
Los Sueños 2021 Leg III Well Worth Over Doing!
I have often thought that anything worth doing is worth over doing. Mr. Bill Royster, the visionary founder of the Los Sueños resort, had that same thought when he created a place where men and women from around the world...
Hola amigos e amigas
Due to Covid we had a short and simple zoom meeting for all participants and observers. Very convenient. I arrived at 5am to find our observers already lined up with masks on and socially distanced.
Soon Ashley arrived with boat assignments. I greeted everyone and...
It’s [currently] mid October in Virginia Beach,VA. The sky is gray and a stiff breeze out of the north is rocking the trees outside. Leaves are already falling and the summer heat and humidity are gone. Time to start planning for travel and tournament lodging this winter in Los...
The longest continually running offshore salt water tournament in the world, at 69 years, kicked off on August 16, 2022 with a great Registration Party at Club Nautico de San Juan. 25 IGFTO members (Bob Hicks, Robert Smith, Derwood Roberts, Barbara Evans, Mike Gordon, Julio Colomba, Mike...
Proud Sponsor of Aqua Inspiration Youth Career Day
After months of planning, the International Game Fish Tournament Observers, Inc. (IGFTO), Junior Achievement-Costa Rica , and Marina Pez Vela Youth Career Day, titled Aqua Inspiration, kicked off on Wednesday,...
Vessel Agitator wins the 2021 Pescadora Billfish Championship
February 18, 2021, Marina Pez Vela, Quepos, Costa Rica: The Pescadora Billfish Championship kicked off with a meeting of captains and observers, followed by a welcoming party. The ladies only tournament donated a...
19 January 2021
Location: Los Sueños Resort and Marina
Playa Herradura
Costa Rica
GeoLoc: 9.6569° N
84.6610° W
...
22 February 2020
Location: Pez Vela Marina
Quepos
Costa Rica
GeoLoc: 9.25.35° N
084.10.22° W
This was my first trip to Quepos, Costa Rica and the first time IGFTO Observers were invited to participate in the Second Annual Pescadora Ladies Tournament.
Expectations...
19 January 2020
Location: Los Sueños Resort and Marina
Playa Herradura
Costa Rica
GeoLoc: 9.6569° N
84.6610° W
This was my second trip to Costa Rica in two years; expectations were very high given the first time last year. Departing Pensacola, FL...
22 October 2019 Location: Varadero Marina/Boatyard
The Fish House Island Bar and Restaurant Oranjestad, Aruba GeoLoc: 12.4983° N
70.0172° W Departing Pensacola, FL outbound for Oranjestad, Aruba takes a little coordination. For this Observer, a short hop...
15 August 2019 San Juan, Puerto Rico 18˚33.15N/066˚17. 24W
Left Long! Left Long! The Captain shouted down from the bridge.
I saw it at the same time – a big dorsal fin slicing...
In a tournament marked by rough seas, windy squalls, and seaweed – god, was there seaweed, Captain Brent Gaskill from North Carolina guided his team aboard the 64’ custom Jarrett Bay, Builders Choice , to a comfortable victory during the three days of fishing in the prestigious Casa...
Aruba, Jamaica, oh I wanna take you to Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama….. oh, sorry, I got carried away (Beach Boys circa 1989). Aruba, one of the jewels of the Caribbean with it’s beautiful beaches, friendly people, laid-back lifestyle, Dutch heritage and, oh, by...
Los Sueños, Costa Rica - Just the name fills your mind with exotic settings, luxury accommodations, world class food, and, oh, some of the most outrageous fishing on the Planet!
The First Leg of the Los Sueños Triple Crown Series kicked off at the Rules Party the late afternoon...
And the brochure reads:” Cap Cana is a tropical paradise located on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, facing the rising sun, where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic, and the Mona Passage embraces the shore” – which is all fine and dandy. What they don’t...
It’s hard to find a Caribbean resort that beats Casa de Campo…. A 7,000-acre Ponderosa-style tropical seaside resort that stands as second to none in ambiance, services, luxury, amenities, golf…. And, oh yeah, OUTSTANDING Blue Marlin Fishing. One of the first areas to...
15 IGFTO Observers were present for the third leg of this Triple Crown Tournament. Held in the beautiful Los Suenos resort in Costa Rica, you will not find a better place to be an observer. I really appreciated the excellent planning and organization of tournament directors...
Cap Cana Shootout Cap Cana, Dominican Republic June 20-26, 2016
As Yogi Berra said… “it ain’t over until it’s over!” – and, truer words couldn’t have been more prophetic in this year’s Cap Cana Shootout. 13 IGFTO Observers checked...
43rd Annual USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament – AKA: Boy Scout Tournament August 26 – 30, 2015 St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Story by IGFTO Observer Art McDonald
Historically, few Blue Marlin places in the world can compare to the August moon on the...
LOS SUENOS SIGNATURE SERIES – LEG 2 February 25-28, 2016 Picture yourself fishing one of the multiple Sailfish Tournaments in South Florida – you are one of 43 boats fishing..…. and at the conclusion of the 3-day event, you had tallied a whopping 28 releases. I’ll...
PALM BEACH, FL – Fifty years after legendary billfish captains and crews met in this famous Palm Beach landmark, ten International Game Fish Tournament Observers gathered around a large round table in the Buccaneer Restaurant receiving boat assignments for the first day of the Palm Beach...
By J Godwin Angler on Tijereta It was a record year for the Los Suenos Billfish Tournament--1412 billfish--1406 sailfish and 6 marlin. This is the 10th anniversary of this tournament and during that time 10,709 billfish have been caught and released. There were 38 boats participating. The...
"Hey Chama" wins the Chevis Regal Caribbean Cub in Aruba in October 2012 Winners: Boats: 1st Place – Hey Chama – 700 Points 2nd Place – Teaser – 600 Points 3rd Place - Balkan – 600 Points Anglers: Rafael Menetes (Hey Chama) – 600 points Natessa Mansur (Teaser)...
PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - The 47th edition of the Club Nautico de Santo Domingo White Marlin Tournament was held May 30 May through June 3 in marina Cabeza de Toro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The tournament is held on the western coast of the island of Hispaniola which DR...
I spent the winter anticipating and dreaming about going to Cap Cana. All those long months, I was staring at picture postcards of The Fishing Lodge and the boats in the Cap Cana Marina. When I arrived in May for the International Cap Cana Billfish Shootout, I found the facilities were better...
Three days, thousands of sailfish, and a front-row seat to tournament fishing at its best. There are trips you plan for. There are trips you dream about. And then there are trips that hit you all at once—early alarms, salt spray, radios crackling nonstop, and sailfish lighting up the wake...
The 10th Annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational was my first time in Guatemala and my first chance to observe a tournament. I really had no idea what to expect. From the pick up at the airport to the drop off, this was a trip for the books. On our ride to the resort, we rode with some of...
My first trip to Guatemala as an observer for the 10th annual Guatemala Billfish Invitational was truly an experience I will never forget from start to finish, I made memories and friends I will forever cherish. Starting Day 1, I was assigned to the boat Uno Má...
When I joined the IGFTO, I did not think that four years would pass before I would observe in my first tournament. Captain Barbara Evans, a longtime observer and team member of the Pink Ladies Breast Cancer Fishing Team provided me with the courage to overcome my nervousness about...
2025 Charleston Billfish Cup draws 15 IGFTO observers
Heavy weather forecast limits participating boats. The Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) was held in Charleston, South Carolina, June 4–7, 2025, for the HUK Charleston Billfish Cup, one of the stops on its national tournament...
This was the fourth year that IGFTO participated in the Costa Rica Aqua Inspiration Educational Program in Quepos, and our third year in Golfitio encompassing May 19 – 23, 2025. Events were held at both Marina Bahia Golfito in Golfito and Marina Pez Vela in Quepos.
This year’s...
GEOLOC: Marina Pez Vela, Quepos, Costa Rica
49 IGFTO Members attended and observed in the 2025 Pescadora Billfish Championship which was held February 20-22 at Marina Pez Vela, Quepos Costa Rica. The two-day tournament is the brainchild of Samantha Mumford who recognized...
Dec 4-9th saw 25 members of the IGFTO descend upon Buena Vista Fishing Resort in Iztapa, Guatemala for the 9th Annual Guatemala Billfish Tournament. Pacific Fins Resort played host to the actual tournament and provided a top notch experience for both observers and...
Year 71 of the IBT continued in the tradition begun way back in 1953 when a Club Nautico member, Chilo Bird, volunteered as the first chairman of what became known as the International Billfish Tournament.
The early years saw the event as primarily an interclub tournament for the...
