Calendar of ROLEX/IGFA 2005 Offshore Championship Qualifying Tournaments

Sponsors of the Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship

First of all, thank you to all our sponsors and anglers who made the 2005 Offshore Championship the biggest and best ever. We had 68 teams from 31 countries and territories. All the teams put points on the board thanks to the great fishery of Cabo San Lucas , Mexico , world class anglers and captains and crews of the Cabo fleet.

The 2005 champions were The Mayor's Cup team, coming in 2nd place the 2003 Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship team and in 3rd place Islamorada Sailfish Tournament. The top three anglers were Martini Arostegui of the Miami Beach Rod & Reel Club Tournament, William Blount of the 64 th ILTTA Tournament and John Domanic of the 2003 Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship team.. The top three female anglers were Heather MacDonald of the Treasure Cay International Billfish Tournament, Gene DuVal of the IWFA Annual Billfish Tournament and Regina Lindo of the 41 st Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament. Tournament anglers released a record 503 striped marlin plus 14 sailfish. For complete details of the 2005 Championship results go to www.igfa.org.

Looking forward to the 2006 Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship we currently have over 100 qualifying events. Last year our qualifying events were in 38 countries and territories. We would like to welcome six new countries to our list of qualifying events for the 2006 championship. They are Sultanate of Oman, Sinbad Classic; Galapagos, Salinas-San Cristobal International Billfish Tournament; Vanuatu, Vanuatu Marlin Classic; Kenya, The Sunset Kingfisher Cup and Malindi International Festival; Thailand, Phuket International Sportfishing Classic.

We have confirmed dates reserved for the 2006 championship with the beautiful Finisterra Hotel, which is our headquarters in Cabo San Lucas , Mexico . The dates will be May 7-12, 2006 . The kick-off party will be Sunday, May 7. Fishing days are May 8, 9, 10 and 11 with the awards party on Friday, May 12 with guests departing at their leisure on Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14. To make reservations for the Finisterra Hotel, please call Baja Resorts Sales Office at (520)529-4529 or e-mail them at Yvette@bajaresorts.com . The rate is $109 USD per night not including taxes. There are also one-bedroom suites available for $265 USD plus applicable taxes.

Confirmed sponsors are Rolex, Chevrolet, Costa Del Mar, Momoi, Finisterra Hotel, Guy Harvey Inc, Eagle Claw, Mold Craft, Nautical Jewelry Originals, King Sailfish Mounts, Hook & Tackle, Aftco Bluewater, Bodo Muche (sculptor for gorgeous bronze trophies) and IWS Scales, the official scale of the Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship. We encourage all of our participants to support these generous partners. We are in the process of renewing all our other corporate sponsors and will keep you posted on our website.

Once again this year all anglers will be required to use only Momoi IGFA class 30-lb Hi-Vis line. Do not confuse Momoi IGFA class line with Momoi “Diamond” line which has a higher breaking strength than stated on the label. We have found this line to be very reliable, and received many compliments about the line at the 2005 championship. It also insures that all anglers are on an even playing field as far as their line is concerned. We encourage anglers to fill their reels with the official Momoi line prior to arrival in Cabo San Lucas if you plan to bring your own tackle. However, if you can't obtain the line in your area, Minerva's Tackle in Cabo (a short walk from the Finisterra Hotel) will have a supply of the line. If you don't plan to carry your personal rods and reels to Cabo, every charter boat in the tournament will have four 30-lb rods aboard with the official Momoi 30-lb IGFA line.

Registration Fee and Boat Draw - The registration fee for a team of up to four anglers is $6000. This includes the cost of four days fishing aboard local charter boats selected for the Championship. Teams will be assigned a different charter boat each day as determined at the boat draw at the kick-off party on Sunday, May 7. Additional anglers can be added for $600. Only 4 anglers per team are permitted to be on the boat each day, but team members may rotate days. The registration fee also covers angler bags for each team member as well as all official social events and continental breakfast in the hotel lobby on each fishing day. The registration fee for non-fishing guests is $350 which covers the social events and the Shotgun “Bloody Mary” start boat trip and photo op on the first morning of fishing.

Registration fees are fully refundable up to April 1, 2006 after which no refunds will be made.

Also back again for the third year will be a half-day Roosterfish Tournament for guests on Tuesday May 12, 2006 , from pangas on light tackle close to shore. Last year 67 roosterfish, with several over 50 pounds, were caught and released. Trophies will be awarded to the winners. Price is $350 per boat, with 3 anglers maximum per boat.

Fishing in Cabo San Lucas is done by trolling lures or dead bait. Often, marlin are seen tailing on the surface at which time a live bait may be cast to them, or dropped back in front of the fish. IGFA will be addressing specific bait issues in the future updates. It would be a good idea for anglers to practice flipping baits to fish if you are not familiar with the technique. A seminar during the team registration will take place on May 7 at the Finisterra Hotel. Circle hooks are required for all live or dead baits and will be provided in the angler and captains bags.

See you in Cabo!

Don't forget our great sponsors.

Rolex

IWS Scales

King Sailfish Mounts

Aftco Bluewater Sportswear

Bodo Muche Studio-Foundry

Mold Craft Products, Inc.

Momoi Hi-Catch

Costa Del Mar Sunglasses

Murray Products Fighting Chairs

Eagle Claw Nautical Jewelry Originals

Finisterra Hotel

Outdoor Channel

Guy Harvey

Hook & Tackle Penn Rods & Reels

Transcabo

Stidd Systems

Baptist Health

Picante Sport Fishing

Penn Rods

Pisces Sportfishing Luxury Yachts

Daiichi Premium Fishing Hooks

Corona

Minerva's Baja Tackle