Tres Pescados Winner at the World Championships

Press Release – Tres Pescados – July 19th, 2010 – When you’re fly fishing here in Belize and the wind is driving your fly the wrong direction and you wish you had more to show for a full day on the water than just 6 or 8 bonefish take a minute and think about what just happened at the 2010 IGFA Inshore World Championships event this past week.

On Tuesday, July 13th in Islamorada, Florida at the World Wide Sportsman marina all of the 23 competing anglers were charged up for the start of the 2010 IGFA Inshore World Championships and ready to hit the water in search of the 5 species needed to complete a grand slam and hopefully take home the World Grand Championship title. While waiting for the start, anglers looked out past the docks at the hot and calm weather. Not necessarily a good thing. Nice to cast in but not nice for catching.

As the first day of the Worlds wore on the 10 anglers in the Fly Division found the calm weather tough to get fish. The fish knew anglers were coming before they got with in range. Yet the anglers still managed to score with 7 of the 10 making it on the board and some with multiple species. Our angler that won the 2009 Tres Pescados Slam here in Belize, Thomas Reckling, scored 250 points giving him 4th place at the end of the first day.
With one of his “BELIZE” labeled El Pescador fishing shirts on he managed to get a few photos sent back of him with one of his 125 point redfish. I don’t think the guide had any problem remembering what tournament Thomas won.
The second day of the tournament brought a complete 180 degree turn around of weather. The sky was filled with big black clouds as the anglers headed out. In short order lightning soon was flashing as many of the anglers made their way north into the Everglade National Park looking for snook and redfish. Many of the 13 anglers in the Light Tackle Division had 4 of the 5 species and were looking to close out the slam with a redfish or a snook. Due to the weather most boats pulled in to get off the water as the storm flashed and clapped with Thomas and his guide, Eric Herstedt, taking several timeouts in a marina and even in someone’s garage. One final foray back on the water and Thomas hooks a tarpon but he breaks off before he can be counted.
The last day of the tournament showed an improvement in the weather but the fish had other ideas. The 10 anglers in the Fly Division had high hopes of closing out the slam but it was not be. Thomas Reckling hooked a tarpon but broke it off and other than that the day brought in no-releases from the 10 fly anglers this last day. The Light Tackle Division however, closed out the slam for 4 of the anglers. Just goes to show what a bit of bait will do.
Thomas Reckling ended up in 5th place out of the 10 Fly Division anglers and only 1 fish from taking the 2nd place trophy. The winner, Robert Collins, is a past 3 time winner of the World Championships and now a 4 time winner with 575 points.
So if you think saltwater fly fishing in Belize is any less world class than the rest of the world just remember the 2010 World Championships where one day was a no fish for 10 of the world’s top anglers and guides.
This year’s IGFA Inshore World Championships saw three new countries join the ranks: Belize, Sweden, and Trinidad/Tobago joined the ranks with Australia as the only countries outside the USA to receive an angler invitation.
Thomas Reckling is returning to defend his title at the 2nd annual Tres Pescados Slam Tournament this August 12th through 14th in San Pedro. The tournament will host 2 divisions of fly anglers, a Pro Division (requires a BTB licensed guide) and an Amateur Division (open to everyone and no guide is required). The payout for the Pro Division is $7,000 and the Amateur Division payout is $3,000 The payouts are divided among the top 3 winners in each division. From 3-6 PM daily in Central Park the tournament will host mini-rod casting for the kids with prizes; Casting Competition for men, women, and youth with a chance to win a custom Belize built fly rod; raffles; music; food; drinks and more.
Come out enjoy the fun in Central Park and enter the Pro or Amateur Division – you can’t win if don’t enter.
For more information on the 2nd annual Tres Pescados Slam Tournament please go to www.tres-pescado-tournament.org.