The Club Pesca Del Caribe’s Honduras International Billfish Open Fishing Tournament was held on Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, 2019, out of Omoa, Honduras. This tournament is one of the largest in the Western Caribbean, and this year’s edition saw 50 boats compete for over US$50,000 in cash and prizes!
Over the past 4 years, the Belize Game Fish Association has been developing a strong relationship with its counterparts from Honduras, and this year nine Belizean Teams headed to Omoa to compete in this prestigious competition.
Target species for this tournament included the three major Billfish species that live in the Western Caribbean, namely Blue Marlin, White Marlin and Sailfish. Points are granted to boats that successfully bring the fish to the boat, video the fish along with the Tournament Flag and then release the fish. The tournament also included a Rodeo Category for non-billfish species including Wahoo, Dolphin fish and Tuna.
At the end of the two days of fishing, Belize Team Bobby Captained by Bobby Codd out of Belize Citytook First Place with a Sailfish release on Day One and a Blue Marlin release on Day Two! Other Belizean boats that placed in the tournament included Tam Full Strike captained by Allen Valdes who finished in 6th place and Team Jollymon captained by Brandon Bowen who finished in 8th Place.
First place in the Rodeo Category was taken by Belizean Team Reel Challenge out of San Pedro captained by Ricky Marin. The team weighed a massive 69lb Wahoo on the First Day which captured them the title of Rodeo Champions for the Heaviest Non-Billfish.
The Belize Game Fish Association thanks the organizers of the tournament who did an incredible job at accommodating its members. Congratulations to everyone from Belize who made the journey to Omoa to compete in this prestigious event.
