[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ennis Barbour, local owner and operator of Island Tackle and Hardware, along with Team Tranquilo members Ken Coffer, Amanda Coffer and Bill Pino, placed third out of 67 qualifying teams from 31 countries in the 15th Annual 2014 Offshore World Championship held April 6-11, 2014. Team Tranquilo scored a total of 13,258.2 points from 66 sailfish releases and had two weighed dorado. The team of American anglers from North Carolina qualified for the Offshore World Championship by winning the Presidential Challenge of Guatemala.
Traveling to international locations to fish for billfish and offshore species at world- renowned locations at the worldwide tournament level can be both fun and challenging. In order to have an opportunity to fish in the Offshore World Championship, a team must finish in first place at a qualifying event. Last November, Team Tranquilo did just that at the Presidential Challenge of Guatemala by releasing 73 sailfish, with the margin of victory being just one sailfish release.
Team Tranquilo has been fishing together for a number of years and is sponsored by Mojo Sportswear, Squidnation, AFTCO and Salt Life Sunglasses. The team has worked diligently over the years to increase their bite-to-catch ratio. Dennis states, “We will spend 75- to 80-percent of the time with rod and reel in hand, set to free spool in order to maximize our bite-to-hookup ratio.” During the Offshore World Championship, this is very important because teams must fish on four different boats with four different crews that are chosen by a lottery-type system. The team even took its own gear and tackle to fish each boat, with the goal of maintaining higher bite-to- catch ratios. Additionally, the team members must capture clear video of each release during the tournament.
Team Tranquilo demonstrated its versatility and strength in teamwork and came home winners. Tranquilo also recently took first place in the Quepos Billfish Cup in Costa Rica held February 19-22 of this year. The team is now already qualified to fish in the 2015 Offshore World Championship. Congratulations Team Tranquilo!