01-18-2007, 10:10 PM
DANIA BEACH, Fla. USA --- The two hugely popular International Game Fish Association's (IGFA) annual billfish and fly/light tackle competitions known as the Rolex/IGFA Offshore and Inshore Championship Tournaments, have taken on new names.
"The new titles for the invitational tournaments will reflect the continuing global growth of each beginning with the upcoming eighth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship (OWC) this May and the seventh annual IGFA Inshore World Championship (IWC) in July," said Mike Myatt the IGFA tournament director.<br />
"The title sponsorships of Rolex have come to an end. We've deeply appreciated their generosity since the beginning with the offshore championship in the year 2000 and the inception of the inshore championship in 2001. We'll be working with them in other events."<br />
Myatt said negotiations are underway for new presenting sponsors for each event. Announcements are expected to be made within a month.<br />
He said over the last several years the offshore event has become the world's most prestigious catch-and-release billfish competition hosting the single largest contingent of international teams ever to compete in a fishing tournament. And for the last several years the celebrated fly and light-tackle catch-and-release event has been hailed as the "super bowl of inshore fishing."<br />
"We're extremely pleased with not only the tremendous name recognition of the two championships from the publicity generated world wide for each but also with the growth of the IGFA sanctioned qualifying events that have evolved over the past seven years.<br />
Both championships invite the winners of the qualifying events to complete in the "tournament of champions" contest.<br />
"Last year the number of IGFA sanctioned qualifying offshore tournaments around the world grew to an astounding 117 events in over 40 countries on six continents. As many as 70 teams and 33 countries have been represented in the offshore championship each May in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. By mid-January nearly 50 teams from 20 countries had pre-registered.<br />
"And over six years the inshore championship has gained impact in not only locales on the continents of North and South America, but as far away as Africa and Australia. That growth translated to 55 qualifying inshore tournaments last year on four continents attracting some tremendous competitors among the 2,800 anglers represented. We expect 40 top fly and light-tackle competitors for the inshore tournament this July in the Florida Keys."<br />
For further questions regarding the IGFA Inshore World Championship, contact tournament coordinator Denise Hartman, at 954-924-4243, or email: DHartman@igfa.org.<br />
Questions regarding the IGFA Offshore World Championship should be directed to tournament coordinator Lesley Arico, at 954-924-4222, or email: LArico@igfa.org.<br />
Founded in 1939 the IGFA is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. IGFA members are located in over 125 countries and territories. The IGFA welcomes visitors to its 60,000-square-foot interactive Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Dania Beach, Florida.
"The new titles for the invitational tournaments will reflect the continuing global growth of each beginning with the upcoming eighth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship (OWC) this May and the seventh annual IGFA Inshore World Championship (IWC) in July," said Mike Myatt the IGFA tournament director.<br />
"The title sponsorships of Rolex have come to an end. We've deeply appreciated their generosity since the beginning with the offshore championship in the year 2000 and the inception of the inshore championship in 2001. We'll be working with them in other events."<br />
Myatt said negotiations are underway for new presenting sponsors for each event. Announcements are expected to be made within a month.<br />
He said over the last several years the offshore event has become the world's most prestigious catch-and-release billfish competition hosting the single largest contingent of international teams ever to compete in a fishing tournament. And for the last several years the celebrated fly and light-tackle catch-and-release event has been hailed as the "super bowl of inshore fishing."<br />
"We're extremely pleased with not only the tremendous name recognition of the two championships from the publicity generated world wide for each but also with the growth of the IGFA sanctioned qualifying events that have evolved over the past seven years.<br />
Both championships invite the winners of the qualifying events to complete in the "tournament of champions" contest.<br />
"Last year the number of IGFA sanctioned qualifying offshore tournaments around the world grew to an astounding 117 events in over 40 countries on six continents. As many as 70 teams and 33 countries have been represented in the offshore championship each May in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. By mid-January nearly 50 teams from 20 countries had pre-registered.<br />
"And over six years the inshore championship has gained impact in not only locales on the continents of North and South America, but as far away as Africa and Australia. That growth translated to 55 qualifying inshore tournaments last year on four continents attracting some tremendous competitors among the 2,800 anglers represented. We expect 40 top fly and light-tackle competitors for the inshore tournament this July in the Florida Keys."<br />
For further questions regarding the IGFA Inshore World Championship, contact tournament coordinator Denise Hartman, at 954-924-4243, or email: DHartman@igfa.org.<br />
Questions regarding the IGFA Offshore World Championship should be directed to tournament coordinator Lesley Arico, at 954-924-4222, or email: LArico@igfa.org.<br />
Founded in 1939 the IGFA is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. IGFA members are located in over 125 countries and territories. The IGFA welcomes visitors to its 60,000-square-foot interactive Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Dania Beach, Florida.