The dates for the 2012 Presidential Challenge Conservation Series have been announced and posted on the Series website at www.preschallenge.com.

The 2012 Series will kick off with the Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica, slated for March 1-4, 2012 (all tournaments feature three days of fishing with the first scheduled day set aside for registration, the rules meeting and welcome party. The awards ceremony is held the evening of the final day of fishing). The Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica also kicks off the competition for the Papagayo Cup Perpetual Trophy, an annual award that's presented to the team with the highest point total between the PCCA Costa Rica and Papagayo Cup.


The Papagayo Cup Perpetual Trophy on display at Marina Papagayo.
Next up will be the Presidential Papagayo Cup, June 6-9, 2012. Unlike other Presidential tournaments, the Papagayo Cup features a higher entry fee ($5,000 per team), optional jackpots and a sizeable cash purse for the participants. Now in its second year, this event is expected to continue to grow in popularity. It's held out of Marina Papagayo in northern Costa Rica and offers excellent mid-summer billfishing action.

The Series then moves to the Southern Caribbean island nation of Aruba for the Presidential Caribbean Cup, scheduled for October 11-14, 2012. This event showcases the island's outstanding billfishing in addition to the scenic natural beauty of Aruba. In just two short years, this tournament has become the most popular event on the Presidential schedule.

The 2012 Series wraps up with the Presidential Challenge of Guatemala, November 15-18, 2012. Always a great way to wrap up the competitive season, PCCA Guatemala showcases the nation's top-notch billfishing. The event is hosted by Casa Vieja Lodge, world-famous for their luxurious hospitality and fleet of historic gameboats captained by some of the best in the game.

In addition to the trophies and prizes for the Top Anglers, Teams and Boats in each tournament, Presidential anglers also compete for the titles of Costa Grand Champion Team and Eagle Claw Grand Champion Angler for the Series. These are among the most highly contested points races in the sport of billfishing and mark a truly outstanding achievement for the winners.

For more information on the Presidential Challenge, please visit www.preschallenge.com

Presidential Challenge Rules Updated


In keeping with the changes in tournament fishing as we move into the new year, the rules for the Presidential Challenge Tournament Series have been updated. Here is a brief rundown of the rule changes but to read the rules in the complete format, please visit www.preschallenge.com, click on the Tournaments tab, then Rules. Please also note there are three sets of rules for the PCCA tournaments, the Caribbean Cup and the Papagayo Cup.

The first change involves team members: for 2012, teams fishing the PCCA Costa Rica and PCCA Guatemala tournaments may now consist of three OR four anglers. This will allow teams to add a fourth member in order to further share the expenses of the tournament as well as to provide another person for double-occupancy hotel rooms. Three anglers will fish three rods in the water at all times, while four anglers will fish four lines in the water. The additional cost will be $500 for the fourth angler. Those teams fishing Papagayo and/or Aruba already have the option of a fourth angler included in the entry fee so this will not apply to those tournaments.

A second change involves the definition of a line in the water. After discussing this rule with several veteran PCCA teams, it has been decided that a mate may clear a line if necessary, which will then become "dead" as soon as it's touched by the crewmember allowing the angler to immediately pitch a bait without waiting for that line to be cleared from the water. The "dead" line must be cleared immediately and as rapidly as possible by the crewmember. This should allow for additional flexibility by the teams.

The 2012 rules have a few other minor tweaks but these are the major changes for the upcoming year.


Presidential News Briefs
2011 Charitable Contributions Announced
One of the many goals of the Presidential Challenge Charitable Foundation is to serve as an important fundraiser for marine conservation. Whether you're a sponsor, angler, observer or volunteer, it's important to keep in mind that the PCCA tournaments contribute tens of thousands of dollars annually to support various marine organizations, so here's a quick recap of this year's activity:

$26,263: The Billfish Foundation (this does not include other contributions made by Presidential Challenge anglers directly to TBF or additional TBF fundraising activities at Presidential tournaments during the year)

$3,250: Adopt-A-Billfish Program (this does not include "in kind" donations of hotel or boat time for the taggers, etc).

$1,000: African Billfish Foundation

$750: University of Miami Capt. Harrys Scholarship Fund

$250: National Coalition for Marine Conservation