Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica
Sea Angel Emerges Victorious

As the fifteenth annual Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica prepared to get underway in beautiful Playa Carrillo, the fishing reports indicated that the marlin had arrived. Usually, Costa Rican billfishing is dominated by the Pacific sailfish, but with any marlin species worth 300 points compared to just 100 for the smaller pez velas, a blue, striped or black marlin would be a game-changer in the event.

In the end, the Sea Angel would emerge victorious. The team is led by owner/angler Greg Angel, his son, Capt. BC Angel at the helm, and anglers Arturo Moreno and Frederico Ortega sharing cockpit duties with Greg, whose wife "Mama Lou" Angel oversees the entire operation.

In second, Team Las Ventanas del Mar (Gary Carter, John Richardson and Earl Engel) fished aboard the Permit III with Capt. Chepe Santana and finished second in the tournament. Their event was highlighted by a personal Grand Slam, a blue marlin, striped marlin and sailfish, by John Richardson. They let go several other marlin to score 2,100 points. There were three boat Grand Slams recorded for the tournament.

Team OBX, Mike Viveiros, Dell Dembosky and Craig Johnson, made a big move on Day Three to wrap up the event in third on the Gamefisher II with 1,800 points.

In the Maverick Yachts Angler Division, Richardson's Grand Slam boosted him to a final score of 1,300 points, followed by Sea Angel anglers Arturo Moreno with 1,100 points (two blue marlin on the final day alone) and Greg Angel, 1,100 points.

The Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica also kicks off the season-long competition for the titles of Costa Grand Champion Team and Eagle Claw Grand Champion Angler for the Presidential Challenge Tournament Series.

The Series Top Angler has their name engraved on the PCCA Perpetual Trophy, a beautiful bronze sculpture that resides in the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame in Dania, FL. The 2010 Top Angler, Mike Viveiros (right), is the most recent name to be added to this beautiful perpetual trophy on behalf of the Presidential Challenge Series.

Coming up in just a few short months is the next leg of the series, the Presidential Papagayo Cup, to be held June 22-25, 2011 out of Marina Papagayo in northern Costa Rica. From there the series heads over to the Caribbean Sea for the Chivas Regal Aruba Caribbean Cup in October, then back down to the Pacific coast of Central America for the always-popular Presidential Challenge of Guatemala in November. Please visit www.preschallenge.com for more information on these great Presidential events!