The 2025 Costa Offshore World Championship (OWC) has once again solidified its reputation as the premier event in international sport-fishing tournaments. Taking place from April 6 to 10 at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, Costa Rica, this world-class location provides anglers with unparalleled access to some of the Pacific’s most fruitful fishing areas.
This year’s Costa Offshore World championship attracted an impressive lineup of 34 teams, featuring 158 anglers from 19 different countries, including Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Peru, Saba, Spain, St. Maarten, Turkey, the UAE, and the United States. These passionate competitors traveled over 1.1 million miles to participate, each having qualified through outstanding performances in tournaments around the globe. Following stringent IGFA rules, participants were required to catch their own fish and switch boats each day, promoting a fair competition that highlighted both skill and sportsmanship.
The tournament kicked off with a spectacular opening at the opulent Parador Resort & Spa, establishing a sophisticated atmosphere for the upcoming days. As the lines were cast into the water, the Pacific Ocean delivered an impressive array of catches. In perfect tropical weather, the fleet recorded outstanding results: 183 billfish releases on the first day, 210 on the second, and 198 on the third. Overall, anglers celebrated a total of 591 billfish releases, which included 568 Pacific sailfish and 23 blue marlin, averaging an impressive 17.38 billfish per team.
Claiming the title of 2025 OWC champions, Team Fish for Holly demonstrated exceptional skill and consistency. Under the leadership of Captain Robert Collins from Islamorada, Florida—who previously won the OWC title in 2008—the team featured anglers Audrey Koocher, Ritchie White, Roy Godinez, and John Timura. Their journey began on the Top Notch, where they released 12 sailfish on the first day. On Day Two, they switched to Monkey Shine, adding nine more sailfish to their tally. By the final day, fishing from Vuelto Loco, they achieved seven sailfish and one blue marlin, bringing their total to 29 billfish releases and earning 6,100 points.
Ritchie White, a South African angler, was the team’s best scorer with 2,200 points, making him the top scorer on the team. Reflecting on the victory, White shared, “When I was 13, I missed an opportunity to fish in the OWC with my father, and I have dreamed of fishing this tournament ever since. After we realized that we had won, I called my dad and told him what happened. We both had a good cry, and I can’t tell you what this means to me.” Beyond their success on the water, the team’s participation paid tribute to the legacy of the Fish for Holly Sailfish Tournament—an event founded in memory of Holly Given to support the Florida Keys community through outreach and domestic abuse prevention efforts.
Team Rake & Scrape proudly secured second place, showcasing the Bahamas’ fishing prowess. They qualified through the Lyford Cay Invitational Offshore Tournament, featuring anglers Kyle Ferguson, Mark Holowesko, Sean Evans, and Vado Pinder. Their impressive performance included eight sailfish releases on the first day aboard Super Fly, ten on the second day with Double Nickel, and nine on the final day on Sueltalo II, culminating in a total of 27 sailfish releases and 5,400 points.
Claiming third place was the Team Sunshine Coast Game Fishing Club Classic from Australia. Anglers Shaun Whale, Mark Lilley, Mitchell Whale, and Sam Hitzke displayed remarkable talent by releasing 25 billfish—24 sailfish and one blue marlin—over the three-day event. Their score of 5,300 points tied them with the Bermuda Big Game Classic team, but the Australians secured the podium position based on time. Additionally, Shaun Whale’s individual score of 2,500 points earned him the award for second-place angler.
In a historic milestone, Catherine “Cat” Bartels from Team Yellowfin received both the Top Angler and the first-ever Top Lady Angler awards. Over the course of three days, Bartels successfully released 16 sailfish and one blue marlin, earning a total of 3,500 points—almost all of her team’s 3,700 points. Her impressive performance featured nine sailfish on the first day, a blue marlin on the second, and seven sailfish on the final day, highlighting her extraordinary skill and commitment.
Shaun Whale from the Sunshine Coast Fishing Club Classic in Australia secured the second position among anglers with eleven sailfish releases, while Alonso Araya took third place with seven sailfish and two blue marlin releases for team Dorado Derby Dos from Costa Rica.
Junior Bustos Abarca of Gamefisher II received the Top Captain award for his outstanding leadership and navigation, which helped his team release 29 sailfish. Mainor Oporta Downs of Pacific Fly got second place with 24 sailfish and two blue marlin releases, while Geovanny Leal of Super Fly took third place with 28 sailfish releases.
Every day, the team that outperformed the others was named the Costa Daily Top Team. With 12 sailfish releases, Rooster Rodeo (Costa Rica) won on Day 1, Bermuda Big Game Classic won on Day 2 with 13 sailfish and one blue marlin, and Jebel Sifah International Fishing Championship (United Arab Emirates) won on Day 3 with 12 sailfish.
Vinicius Gomes de Faria of Team Torneio de Canavieiras in Brazil also won the Heaviest Dorado prize for his 26.86-pound dorado.
Reflecting on the event’s success, Tournament Director Jennifer Dudas remarked, “The Offshore World Championship embodies the spirit of international camaraderie and sportsmanship. We are deeply grateful to all participants who journeyed from around the globe to represent their homelands with such passion and integrity. Your dedication enriches this tournament’s legacy, and we eagerly anticipate welcoming you back for another unforgettable competition next year.”
The 2025 Costa Offshore World Championship solidified its reputation as the pinnacle of competitive sport fishing, where outstanding skill, rich tradition, and global camaraderie unite in the quest for angling excellence. This prestigious tournament was brought to life thanks to the generous backing of title sponsor Costa Sunglasses.
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