Angolan Team Wins 2014 Offshore World Championship

Anglers participating in the 15th Annual Offshore World Championship (OWC) in Quepos, Costa Rica, this past week set a new world record for most billfish released in a tournament. By the final weigh in, anglers had logged 2,735 billfish releases. Participating anglers boated 2,724 sailfish, seven blue marlin, one black marlin, and one striped marlin. Tournament rules indicated that for a dolphin to qualify in the tournament, it must weigh over 25-pounds; there were 79 qualifying dolphin registered.

An Angolan team won the overall tournament recording 76 sailfish and two qualifying dolphin, earning 1,5263.6-points. The team had qualified for the championships by winning the Luanda Sailfish Classic. Team anglers include Jan Jongschaap, Roderick Jongschaap, Kevin Jongschaap and Jose Manuel Cardoso.

The winning team won custom Championship rings from Vanmark Jewelry, Geoffrey Smith Bronze Trophies, Shimano Reels, Garmin Elite Virb Cameras, Guy Harvey limited edition prints, AFTCO Championship Apparel, Flor De Cana Premium Rum and a Yeti Cooler.

The second place team from Brazil, which qualified for the OWC by winning the Torneio Marlin Azul do Rio de Janeiro Brazil, scored a total of 13,400 points from 67 sailfish releases. Teammates included Evandro Soares and his father, Eliseu — both have qualified to fish the OWC for 11 of the past 15 years. Eduardo Castro, Gustavo Santos and Paulo Picarelli Lucas also competed in previous years. Their experience paid off this year and earned them second place honor and prizes that include Geoffrey Smith Bronze trophies, Guy Harvey limited edition prints, Flor de Cana Rum, Costa del Mar Sunglasses, Garmin Virb Cameras, Tycoon Tackle custom rods, Shimano Reels and a Yeti Cooler. The second place team will be eligible to apply to compete in the 2015 Championship.

In Third Place, a team of American anglers from North Carolina qualified by winning the Presidential Challenge of Guatemala. For the OWC, they scored a total of 13,263.6-points from 66-sailfish releases and two weighed dorado. Anglers Bill Pino, Kenneth Cofer Sr., Dennis Barbour and Amanda Cofer relied on their experience of catching pacific sailfish and took advantage of their shots each day. The team’s prizes include Geoffrey Smith bronze trophies, a Garmin Virb camera, Guy Harvey limited edition prints, an Accurate Reel, Flor de Cana Rum and a Yeti Cooler. The third place team will be eligible to apply to compete in the 2015 Championship.

Overall Standings

Top Teams

1st Place 15,263.6-points, Luanda Sailfish Classic

2nd Place 13,400-points, Torneio Marlin Azul do Rio de Janeiro

3rd Place 13,258.2-points, Presidential Challenge-Guatemala

Top Boat/Captain

1st Place Frenzy – Captain Jose Fernandez and Mates Marco Solano Jimenez and Alonzo Jimenez Montero , 13,800-points wins King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Guy Harvey Print, Flor De Cana Rum, Yeti Cooler, AFTCO Belt.

2nd Place Dragin Fly – Captain James Smith and Mates Albert Ramos and Mardonio Obando Obando, 12,777.6-points wins King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Guy Harvey Print, Flor De Cana Rum

3rd Place Dream Girl – Captain Pedro Caballero and Mate Brainer Gonzalez, 12,200-points wins King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Guy Harvey Print, Flor De Cana Rum

Based on best three days of fishing out of four.

Top Six Anglers

1st Rafael Brigham, Billfish Kifofo Express of Angola, 8,625.4-points from 43-sailfish releases and a 25.4-pound dolphin. Prizes: Accurate Reel, King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Costa del Mar Sunglasses, Guy Harvey Limited Edition Print.

2nd Dario Marijan, Kup Prvaka-Vodice of Croatia, 6,645.6-points from 33-sailfish and one 45.6-pound dolphin. Prizes: Accurate Reel, King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Costa del Mar Sunglasses, Guy Harvey Limited Edition Print.

3rd Roderick Jongschaap, Luanda Sailfish Classic of Angola, 5,630.9-points from 28-sailfish and a 30.9-pound dolphin. Prizes: Accurate Reel, King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Costa del Mar Sunglasses, Guy Harvey Limited Edition Print.

4th Kevin Jongschaap, of Luanda Sailfish Classic of Angola, 5,600-points from 28-sailfish releases. Prizes: King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Costa del Mar Sunglasses, Guy Harvey Limited Edition Print, AFTCO Rod Belt.

5th Michal De Fritas, of Trinidad & Tobago Game Fishing Association Marlin Madness Tournament, 5400-points from 27-sailfish releases. Prizes: King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Costa del Mar Sunglasses, Guy Harvey Limited Edition Print, AFTCO Rod Belt.

6th Marco Roberto De Silva Couto of Big Blue Cup of Angola, 5200-points from 26 sailfish releases. Prizes: King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Guy Harvey Limited Edition Print, Costa del Mar Sunglasses, AFTCO Rod Belt.

Top Three Dorado

1st Place Dorado with 55.6-pounds is Brendan Bernard representing the Tobago Int’l Game Fishing Tournament Team. Prizes: King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Guy Harvey Print.

2nd Place Dolphin with 52.7-pounds is Igor Franceschi representing the Kup Prvaka-Vodice of Croatia. Prizes: King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Guy Harvey Print.

3rd Place Dolphin with 50.6-pounds is Rocky Steven Franich representing International Roosterfish Tournament held in Mexico. Prizes: King Sailfish Mounts Trophy, Guy Harvey Print.

The tournament is presented by the Costa Rican Tourist Board (ICT) and Marina Pez Vela, along with many sponsors including Accurate, AFTCO, Costa del Mar, Eat Me Lures, Flor de Cana, Garmin, Geoffrey Smith Galleries, Guy Harvey, Hidden Bay Realty, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Lazer Sharp Eagle Claw, Marlin, Maverick Sport Fishing Charters, Maverick Yachts, Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, Ocean LED, Parador Resort and Spa, Salt Water Sportsman, Shimano, Sport Fishing, Toyota Rent a Car, Tycoon Tackle, Vanmark Jewelry, and Yeti Coolers.