INCREDIBLE NUMBERS FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW – Leg 1 of the 2016 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown achieves a phenomenal 1,961 billfish with a fish to boat ratio of 45:1
Los Sueños Resort and Marina, located at Playa Herradura on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, held the first leg of the 2016 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown billfish series, presented by Chantilly Air January 20-23. A total of 44 of the world’s most competitive billfishing teams comprised of 211 individual anglers challenged each other over three days of fishing, releasing a total of 1,961 billfish, including 1,946 sails and 15 marlin. This is the third highest number of fish ever caught during a single event since Los Sueños began hosting tournaments in 2004.
DAY 1
Nine minutes after lines in was called on Thursday, January 21st, the first day of fishing, Fish Tank was calling in the first release of the tournament. By 8:30 am, the teams had released three doubles, a quad by Dragin Fly giving them an early lead, and a combined total of 33 fish for over one fish a minute. It was Tranquilo who called in the first marlin release fish #101, at 9:41 am. Less than an hour later Sea Fly had bumped Dragin Fly out of the lead and stayed there with 1000 points until after 10:30 am. By 11:19 am though, Tranquilo was 200 points ahead of Sea Fly. By noon, it seemed clear that there were five teams battling for their place on the leaderboard – Tranquilo, Tijereta, Sea Fly, Sweet Dreams and Blue Eagle. By 2:23 pm Sea Angel threw their name in the ring taking first on the leaderboard and at 4:11 pm it was Fish Tank again to close the day with release #708. In first on the leaderboard was Sea Angel with 2,700 points (27 sails), Blue Eagle finished in second with 2,600 points (26 sails) and in third, coming out of nowhere, was Jaruco with 2,500 points (25 sails).
DAY 2
It was Xta Sea to call in the first fish of Day 2 at 8:06 am. Gunsmoke released a triple at 8:08 am and by 9:00 am, Dream Time brought the fleet to 789 fish over the first two days with a double. Tranquilo had everyone on edge with a marlin hook up at 9:16 am, which they released at 9:40 am. As of 11:20 am, a combined total over the first two days of the competition had reached 946 billfish, with Sea Angel still in first, now with 4,000 points. By 12:04 pm, the teams had reached a two-day total of 1,000 billfish. Sea Angel was on top, followed by Tranquilo. It was Tijereta who was on fire though, releasing 35 sails on Day 2 alone by 3:34 pm, and a combined two day total of 54 fish. Despite not catching a fish in the last half hour of the day, Tijereta finished in first for Day 2 with 3,500 points (35 sails). In the overall category was Tranquilo in first with 5,600 points (41 sails, 3 marlin), followed by Tijereta in second with 5,400 points (54 sails) and Sea Angel in third with 5,100 points (51 sails). Six hundred sixty three billfish were released on Day 2 (657 sails and 6 marlin) for a two-day combined total of 1,371 billfish were released, including 7 marlin and 1,363 sails.
DAY 3
Macushla called in at 8:03 am on Day 3 to report the first fish of the day. High Hook called in the first marlin at 8:24 am with Alpha Bravo reporting the second marlin of the day at 8:35 am. By 9:14 am Family and Friends had called in the sixth marlin of the day, two of which belonged to High Hook. Another wouldn’t be called in until Sea Angel reported in to tournament control at 12:58 pm. It was High Hook on the marlin streak though, with their third and the eighth and final marlin of the day at 3:30 pm. In the meantime, the other fish were on the sails, reaching a three day combined total of 1,596 billfish (13 marlin, 1,583 sails) by 11:31 am and by 3:16 pm the number grew to 1,894 billfish (14 marlin, 1,880 sails), with Tranquilo in first with a strong lead and 7,800 points, followed by Agitator with 7,500 points and Sea Angel in third with 7,300 points. Let it Ride finished the tournament off right, with a triple at 4:06 pm. It was High Hook to end on a high and take the day with an impressive 3,300 points after releasing 3 marlin and 18 sailfish. A combined three-day total of 1,961 billfish were released (15 marlin, 1,946 sails) by the 44 participating teams! Tranquilo finished at the top of the leaderboard with 8,100 points (3 marlin, 66 sails), followed by Agitator in second with 7,600 points (76 sails) and Fish Tank in third with 7,300 points (73 sails).
BACK STORIES
Team Tranquilo, aboard their 57’ Spencer, has been on a winning streak, taking home second at the second leg of the 2015 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crow, then going on to win well over $3 million at the Bisbee’s in October 2015. With Captain Victor Julio Lopez at the helm, anglers Ken Cofer, Amanda Cofer, Dwight Wolf, Bill Pino and Joxan Arrieta are in a strong position going into this year’s second leg.
Agitator, a 51’ Scarborough, is participating in Los Sueños for the first time at the first leg of the 2016 Triple Crown. Captain Jon Duffie took his anglers, Jonathan Duffie, Judith Duffie, Danny Gough and Charles Gerlach straight to the top at the very beginning. Could it be because there was no cameraman on the boat?
Fish Tank started fishing the Los Sueños tournaments for the first time in 2015 and have already scratched off their first win, timed perfectly with this leg’s dock show filmed and produced by Rich Christensen and Michael Butler, which features them for the Angler Profile. This 63’ Hatteras, captained by Ben Horning, still has two more legs to go in the race for the Series Championship and anglers Chris Jessen, Laura Jessen, Kitt Toma, Brett Cannon and Dave Dalfo have their work cut out for them!
On behalf of the tournament committee, a heartfelt congratulations to all of the participants!
CASH PRIZES & AWARDS
The night could not have been any more perfect for the awards ceremony on Saturday night, held under the stars on the white sand in front of the Los Sueños Beach Club. Over 550 guests enjoyed a phenomenal buffet dinner and a live musical performance by Tribeca. Immediately preceding the presentation of trophies, prizes and checks to the tournament winners, guests enjoyed the highly anticipated dock show filmed and produced by Rich Christenson and Michael Butler. The ceremony was closed out by a spectacular fireworks display by Faisa and a jam-packed after party with DJ Charlie Stevens was hosted at the Terrace Lounge in the Los Sueños Marina Village. Tournament winners took to the stage to receive a total of $150,000 in cash, as well as other prizes provided by tournament sponsors.
1st $75,000 Tranquilo: 8,100 points, 66 sails and 3 marlin
2nd $45,000 Agitator: 7,600 points, 76 sails
3rd $30,000 Fish Tank: 7,300 points, 73 sails
Trophies by Gray Taxidermy
Other prizes and awards by: Tunaskin- apparel; Steve Goione- framed prints of the 2016 Triple Crown tournament art; Vanmark, Inc.- gold pendants; Costa– sunglasses for the winning anglers; and Flor de Caña- aged rum for winning teams and top angler.
TOP ANGLER
Congratulations to Carlos Gonzalez of Gunsmoke on releasing 33 sails for an individual total of 3,300 points, 700 points ahead of the closest runner up.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The entire tournament organizing committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who came together to support this event. Our gratitude goes out to all the anglers, captains, mates, observers, technical advisors, cameramen and videographers, Los Sueños staff and of course, our sponsors (in alphabetical order): Bristol Marine Supply, Canvas Designers, Caterpillar/Gregory Poole, Chantilly Air, Clinica Biblica, Costa Sunglasses, Costa Rica Dreams Sport Fishing, Costa Rica Luxury Rentals & Tours, CR Primo Fishing Tackle, Cummins, Flor de Caña, Galati International Yacht Sales, Gato Gordo golf cart rentals and sales, Gray Taxidermy, Los Sueños Resort and Marina, Moto Desmo Costa Rica (Ducati and Vespa), MTU/Tractomotriz, Poms & Associates, SeaDream Finance and Insurance, Sevenstar Yacht Transport, Steve Goione Marine Artist, Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel, Vanmark Inc., Viking Yachts, Weather Routing Inc. For more about our sponsors, please visit www.LStournaments.com and click on Sponsors.
OWC QUALIFYING EVENT
The top team from each leg of the Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown will be eligible to compete in the 2016 Offshore World Championship. For further information, please visit www.offshorechampionship.com.
ABOUT THE LOS SUENOS SIGNATURE TRIPLE CROWN
2016 marks the 3rd Annual Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown billfish tournament series. The Triple Crown consists of three annual tournaments, in January, February and March each year, and is fished out of the world class Los Sueños Resort and Marina in Costa Rica. The dates for 2016 are Leg I: January 20-23, Leg II: February 24-27, and Leg III: March 30-April 2.
ABOUT LOS SUEÑOS RESORT AND MARINA
Los Sueños Resort and Marina is the premier luxury real estate resort in Costa Rica. Nestled on the Central Pacific Coast, Los Sueños is an 1,100-acre oasis offering incredible ocean, rainforest and golf course view properties; a gorgeous waterfront Marina Village commercial area with restaurants, shops and lively entertainment; a large private beach club for residents; an 18-hole championship golf course; a superb 201-room Marriott Hotel; and much more – all within close proximity to world record-setting sport fishing waters. Information on Los Sueños Resort and Marina is available online at www.lossuenos.com.
For further information, please contact Ashley Bretecher, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, Los Sueños Resort and Marina, Toll-free: 1-866-865-9759, Direct Tel: 011-506-2630-4005, Fax: 011-506-2630-4010, or e-mail: a.bretecher@lossuenos.com.
