For Immediate Release:
Contact Dan Jacobs,
407-405-0102; dan.jacobs@bonniercorp.com
Returning Champs Jump to the
Lead on Day One of the IGFA Offshore World Championship
2008 champions, including
Robert Collins, John Timura, Kenny Longaker, Scott Salley and Taylor Walsh
released five striped marlin on the day to move to the top of the leader board.
With the marlin bite just a few miles off
Salley and Walsh both released two marlin for their team while
Longaker released one to help the returning champions take the lead.
Following behind the 2008
champs in a close second place for the day was the team representing the Presidential
Challenge of Guatemala. Team members Ebby Hall, Gary Tarpley, Michael Huling
and Michael Viveiros caught three sailfish and two marlin on the day to score
1,200 points and secure second place. The team found a concentration of
sailfish just after 10 a.m. and all of their sailfish were caught within 10
minutes of each other. The bite kept them busy, but they weren't alone.
Sitting in third place at the end of Day One was Sean Mendonca,
Derrick Tardieu, Mark Vilain and Clint Quong Sing, of the International Marlin
Madness Game Fish Tournament of Trinidad and
Rounding out the top five spots for the opening day action of
the IGFA Offshore World Championship were the Bermuda Anglers Club
International Light Tackle Tournament and the Torneio De Marlin Azul de Rio De
Janeiro, both with 700 points respectively.
The bite continued to rage as teams prepared for Day Two and
all teams were still in the hunt for the title of world champions. The
all-release billfish tournament represents the largest international field of
competitors in the world of offshore sport fishing. To qualify for the Offshore
World Championship teams must first win one of 120 qualifying tournaments held
around the globe. With such a wide international field of competitors, the
Offshore World Championship has earned the title of the "Olympics" of
offshore fishing.
For the first time in the history of the IGFA Offshore World
Championship, the scoring is broadcast live online. Follow all of the action by
visiting www.igfaowc.com and clicking on
"live scoring." Each catch is posted online immediately after release
so viewers can keep up to date on all the action.
Lynda L. Wilson
Assistant Tournament
Director
Bonnier Marine Group
P: 407-571-4517
F: 407-637-3531
C: 407-712-3373
Lynda.Wilson@bonniercorp.com