Offshore World Championship Won by Narrow Margin
The battle for the coveted world title came down to the wire.
After four action-packed days, the 2021 Costa Offshore World Championship came to a thrilling conclusion, with a single sailfish release separating the three leading teams in a field of top international anglers who had to win one of the qualifying tournaments to earn a spot in the event.
Held April 11-16 out of Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, Costa Rica, a location renowned for its world-class offshore fishing, the championship required all teams to fish aboard a different charter boat each of the tournament days, following IGFA rules and using video verification to amass billfish release points, and also targeting tuna, dorado and wahoo for extra points.
Michael Moretti, Dwight Wolf, JP Rodrigues and Dell Dembowsky, who punched their ticket to the big dance by winning the Presidential Flamingo Fishing Rodeo, took top honors, scoring 3,500 points by tallying one blue marlin and 15 sailfish releases. For their feat, they received championship rings by Vanmark Jewelry Designers, Bodo Muche Studio trophies, Guy Harvey limited-edition prints and championship apparel, Costa sunglasses, Yeti Rambler tumblers, Garmin Quatix watches, Shimano reels, Flor de Caña rum, Big T lures, AFTCO tackle and Soundview Millworks custom cutting boards, along with the opportunity to defend their world title next year, and the right to continue to compete for several more. Dembowsky, who
accounted for the marlin and eight of the team’s sailfish releases, was crowned the tournament’s top angler.
Jason Ford, Josh Cloke, Troy Grasseth and Chris Mayeda, who won the Oregon Tuna Classic to earn their team’s spot at the Offshore Championship, claimed second place— after heeding the sage advice of the 2019 champs—scoring 3,433.32 points by releasing 14 sails and one blue marlin, and weighing in a 54.44-pound tuna and dorado of 47.9 and 30.98 pounds. The team was awarded gold pendants by Vanmark Jewelry Designers, Guy Harvey limited-edition prints, Costa sunglasses, Yeti Rambler tumblers, Garmin Quatix watches, Penn reels, Flor de Caña rum, Big T lures, AFTCO tackle and Soundview Millworks custom cutting boards, as well as an invitation to compete again in 2022.
The third-place team won the San Carlos Hammer Down tournament in Mexico to qualify. Pete Finocchiaro, Alex Hammer, Frank Kastl and Capt.
Gilberto Lachica, who skippered the team to victory at the qualifier event in Mexico, managed to release four blue marlin and seven sailfish for 3,400 points, with Lachica and Kastl taking second- and fourth-place angler honors, respectively. The team members received silver pendants by Vanmark Jewelry Designers and Guy Harvey limited-edition prints, plus products from Costa, Yeti, Garmin, Penn, Flor de Caña rum, Big T lures, AFTCO and Soundview Millworks, along with an invitation to the 2022 championship.
The best boats and crews were also recognized. Frenzy, the 42 Maverick Express with Capt. Jose Fernandez and mate Marcos Solano, were declared Top Boat and Crew of the tournament, with two blue marlin and 12 sailfish releases, plus a 47.9-pound dorado weighed in. The 42 Maverick Convertible, Dragin’ Fly, with Capt. James Smith and mate Alberto Ramos, took second place with five blue marlin and seven sailfish releases. The 38 Bertram Express,
Raven, with Capt. Marcos Obando and mates Angel Duvan and Johnny Salas, came in third with one blue marlin and 11 sails.