November 2008, Preisdential Challenge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGE OF GUATEMALA
PRESENTED BY INGUAT

THREE IS A CHARM FOR A-FIN-ITY

DECISIVE SWEEPS FINAL TWO ’08 PCCA EVENTS

WHERE: Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
WHEN: November 21-22-23, 2008
TEAMS: 10 teams/30 anglers
CATCH: 210 sailfish/1 black marlin/1 blue marlin

The Presidential Challenge of Guatemala Presented by INGUAT historically provides red hot action which produces a close finish. This year we were not to be denied a final day of nail biting lead changes. Daniel Espinosa fishing aboard the Super Fly got the tournament started by releasing a sailfish at 8:44am on Day One. Unbeknownst to our anglers, an 5.9 earthquake hit off the coast of Guatemala which sent the billfish out of the area and made fishing very slow. Team A-Fin-Ity with anglers Davis Clapp, Henry Riggs-Miller and Gerber Chavez got off to a good start on the first day releasing a black marlin and some sails to top the daily leader board. A-Fin-Ity and Capt. Juanga Lopez earned top boat honors for the day.
Anglers arrived at Marina Pez Vela on the second day ready to get out to the fishing grounds and find the large schools of sails that make Guatemala famous. Team Decisive and anglers Bill Easum, Jimmy Taylor and Mike Vivieros made their move up the ladder by releasing thirteen sails by the 3pm lines out call. Capt. Brad Philipps led his team to the top spot for the day and claimed the tournament lead. Boats traveled far to find the fish and the long trip paid off for the Casa Vieja team fishing with Capt. Chris Sheeder on the Buddy Boy. Anglers Jim Turner, Roy Cronicher and Mike Wnek found the fish and started their upward climb. The IWFA team, Gwen Hahn, Diane Locke and Martha McNab made a move led by Diane’s blue marlin release.
At stake in the PCCA Guatemala was the prize for the Bertram/Evermarine Grand Champion Team and the Eagle Claw Grand Champion Angler Awards. Going into this event A-Fin-Ity had a sizeable lead due to an incredible catch in the Caribbean Cup tournament in Venezuela. Team Decisive was coming off a win in the PCCA –El Salvador and the luck was carrying over to Guatemala. On the final day of fishing, Decisive, was red hot. They added 2100 points to their total which gave them the win making them back to back PCCA champions. Decisive angler Bill Easum won the top angler honors with his 1300 points. Casa Vieja made it back to Marina Pez Vela just under the wire for scores to count. Their long run paid off and they claimed second place. Jim Turner accumulated 1200 points and took third place behind Henry Riggs- Miller from A-Fin-Ity on time. Not to be denied a top three team finish, A-Fin-Ity scored enough points to give them third place.
When the scored were tallied and recorded, scorekeeper Joan Vernon had to call in chief judge, Bill Boyce, to verifiy the results. Only one sailfish made the difference for the 2008 Grand Champion Team. After careful review, it was official – A-Fin-Ity won the Bertram/Evermarine Grand Champion Team award for the third consecutive year with a record 15,300 points. Decisive gave them a good run and was awarded second place with 15,200 points! The Costa Rica team, Maverick Sport Fishing with anglers Larry Drivon, Bim Lebo and Daniel Espinosa slid into the third place Grand Champion slot.
Anglers fish all year for points toward the Eagle Claw Grand Champion Angler honors. This year Henry Riggs-Miller won this prestigious award by accumulating 5300 points fishing in all four PCCA events. Jimmy Taylor also fished all of the PCCA tournaments and claimed second place angler with 3900 points. Right behind him as his teammate, Mike Vivieros, who fished three PCCA tournaments for a total score of 3750 points.
It was an exciting conclusion to an action packed Presidential Challenge Season. We conquered foreign governments, illnesses, earthquakes and weather but the Series Teams stuck it out to make this a successful year. The four tournaments raised $50,000 for various conservation projects. We thank our sponsors, anglers and observers for their loyal support of our Presidential Challenge Conservation Series events.

FINAL RESULTS
210 Sailfish / 1 Blue Marlin/1 Black Marlin
ALL ON CIRCLE HOOKS!
CONTENDER BOATS TEAM DIVISION
Trophies Sponsored by Marina Pez Vela, Quepos, Costa Rica
1ST PLACE TEAM: DECISIVE 3400 PTS – IGFA Offshore World Championship Invitation
2ND PLACE TEAM: CASA VIEJA 3100 PTS
3RD PLACE TEAM: A-FIN-ITY 2600 PTS
BAPTIST HEALTH INTERNATIONAL ANGLER DIVISION
1ST PLACE ANGLER: BILL EASUM 1300 PTS World Billfish Series Championship Invitation
2ND PLACE ANGLER: HENRY RIGGS MILLER 1200 PTS
3RD PLACE ANGLER: JIM TURNER 1200 PTS
KING SAILFISH MOUNTS BOAT DIVISION
TOP BOAT: DECISIVE 3400 PTS
2ND BOAT: BUDDY BOY 3100 PTS
3RD BOAT: A-FIN-ITY A-FIN-ITY 2600 PTS
BERTRAM EVERMARINE GRAND CHAMPION TEAM
1ST PLACE: A-FIN-ITY 15,300 POINTS
2ND PLACE: DECISIVE 15,200 POINTS
3RD PLACE: MAVERICK 6450 POINTS
EAGLE CLAW GRAND CHAMPION ANGLER
1ST PLACE: HENRY RIGGS-MILLER 5300 POINTS
2ND PLACE: JIMMY TAYLOR 3900 POINTS
3RD PLACE: MIKE VIVIEROS 3750 POINTS

THE 2009 PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGE CONSERVATION SERIES KICKS OFF
MARCH 20-21-22, 2009
IN CARRILLO, COSTA RICA