WBS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDERWAY IN COSTA RICA

LOS SUENOS—The first day of fishing in the 2008 World Billfish Series Grand Championships is now complete, and what a day it was. Thirty-two anglers fishing aboard 16 boats accounted for just over 90 billfish releases, including a half-dozen marlin releases.

Amid perfectly blue skies, temperatures in the low 80s and light winds, the fleet set off for the not-so-distant fishing grounds off Los Suenos Resort and Marina in central Costa Rica. In fact, several boats overran the fish, thinking a longer run to deeper waters would be necessary. Just the opposite was true, with the majority of billfish releases taking place around 35 miles from the marina’s entrance.

Taking an early lead was Californian Larry Drivon, fishing aboard the 42-foot Maverick, Dragin Fly. Drivon was able to release a blue marlin as well as six sailfish during the tournament fishing hours. With any species of marlin worth 400 points and sailfish worth 100 points each, Drivon amassed an insurmountable total of 900 points.
The WBS Grand Championships format pits two qualified anglers per boat, each fishing as individuals and not as a team. Across from Drivon in the Dragin Fly’s cockpit would be a formidable opponent: the 2007 WBS World Champion, Mainor Oporto. The young Costa Rican angler nearly topped Drivon’s score, releasing a marlin along with five sails to tally 800 points.

In third place would be Floridian James Vaughan, fishing aboard the 74-foot Viking, Reel Screamer. Vaughan, from Lake Wales, FL, released a marlin early in the day and followed up the initial success with a pair of sailfish, good for 600 points. Vaughan has competed in the WBS Grand Championships on several occasions and certainly has the experience to take home a title this year.

Another WBS Grand Championships veteran is James Kontos, from Crested Butte, Colorado. Kontos, fishing aboard the Tuna Bite, had to work hard throughout the day to remain in contention. There would be no high-scoring marlin for the young angler; instead, he would be forced to make the most of the more numerous sailfish bites, and by the call for lines out he had released six, good for 600 points the hard way.

Rounding out the top five would be another highly experienced tournament veteran, Port Aransas, Texas’ Bill Easum. Fresh off a tournament victory in El Salvador and the 2008 WBS Pacific Division winner, Easum also worked hard for his points today, tallying six sailfish for 600 points but falling just short based on the time of his last release against Easum.

The boats will take to the water again on Friday for the second day of the WBS Grand Championships, with the top five anglers moving on to the third and final day of competition on Saturday. At stake is the title of WBS World Champion of Billfishing as well as the keys to a new Mercedes C-300 and a custom bronze trophy by marine artist Geoffrey Smith. It’s sure to be an exciting event right up until the very end.
For more information, please visit www.fishWBS.com.