In less than 60 days the 31st annual World Cup Blue Marlin Championship (World Cup) will take place around the world. This unique blue marlin tournament allows teams world wide to fish for 8 hours in their time zones to see who can land the biggest blue marlin of 500 pounds or more. It’s one day only and there is only one winner, no second place. The prize money last year totaled $561,600.

Teams can enter with a credit card on the World Cup web site, www.bluemarlinworldcup.com. Entry fee is $3000 which covers everyone on the boat. There is also an optional $5,000 Big Blue Challenge for teams wishing for a chance at an even higher payout. Checks and wire transfers are also accepted until June 19.

The World Cup has been won in ten widely diversified locations in the Atlantic, Pacific, Caribbean and Gulf Of Mexico. Still, there are many marlin hotspots where huge marlin have been caught that have yet to be represented on the list of World Cup winners. Maybe this will be the year it happens.

On Saturday, July 4, the leading blue marlin will be posted on the World Cup web site in real time compliments of Black Bart Lures, the official lure of the World Cup. In this way, all teams will know what size marlin they have to catch to beat the leader. All smaller marlin may be released alive. Up to the minute reports will also be relayed on the World Cup Twitter and Facebook pages so folks at home can follow the action.

The World Cup is a qualifying tournament for the Offshore World Championship so the winning team will be invited to fish that event in 2016. It is also a sanctioned tournament for the International Division of the IN THE BITE Captain Of the Year Award.

A portion of the World Cup proceed supports the IGFA and The Billfish Foundation.