2/25/08

Spring is already in the air when an angler’s fancy turns to fishing tournaments. The most unique blue marlin tournament in the world is the 24th annual World Cup Blue Marlin Championship or “World Cup.” This one day, winner take all competition takes place annually on the Fourth of July. The 2007 winner from Bermuda took home $343,400 for his 728 lb blue marlin.

The tournament web site is www.bluemarlinworldcup.com . It contains rules, application form, and list of the previous 23 winners and where they caught their big marlin. Anglers can register on line with a credit card and will be assigned a confirmation number. In 2007 the unique World Cup had anglers fishing from 15 countries and territories around the world from Angola to Tahiti. Each angler fishes from 8:30AM to 4:30PM in their time zone.

The World Cup rules have changed slightly for 2008. There is a list of approved fishing lines on the tournament web site which will be expanded as information is received from the line manufacturers. The list includes lines that test close to, but not necessarily within, the IGFA 130 Lb line class.

Once again there will be an optional “Big Blue Challenge” for anglers wishing to participate in the $5,000 pool that includes anglers on the registered boats. If no angler registered in the “Big Blue Challenge” catches an eligible blue marlin, the money will be returned less tournament expenses. Minimum size for a marlin to be eligible is 500 Lb.

U.S. citizens must heed a new regulation that went into effect on January 1, 2008. All U.S. anglers fishing in a billfish tournament in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean Sea must use non offset circle hooks when fishing with live or dead bait. Artificial lures are not subject to the circle hook rule.

For complete information on World Cup go to www.bluemarlinworldcup.com or contact tournament director, Mike Leech at (954) 566-2813, fax 954-566-3059, or email mike@bluemarlinworldcup.com . Mailing address is P.O. Box 4350, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33338