Highlighting His Achievements

Tony Carrizosa needs no introduction to those who often fish Costa Rica, specifically out of the amazing Los Sueños Resort and Marina. Carrizosa runs the Galati Yacht Sales office at Los Sueños, specializing in selling Viking Yachts. But long before he was a major yacht broker, he was a talented fisherman, a skill which has served him well over the years. This is his second InTheBite International Captain of the Year award, having won previously in 2021.

Early Beginnings in Miami, Florida: A Fisher’s Tale

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida,” Carrizosa said. “It was there I started fishing as a young boy in local canals and ponds for bass. From there, my father saw my passion for fishing and he started taking me on party boats in the Florida Keys. As a teenager he started chartering a boat named Snapshot, with Capt. Steve Phillips out of Key Colony Beach. A few years later, Steve would give me my first job as a mate and I would spend the next two summers working on his 36-foot Hatteras. From there, I went back to Miami and started working on private boats, eventually landing on Rob Ruwitch’s boat, Sharkey’s Revenge. After Sharkey’s Revenge, I got on Stephanie Lee in January 2001 and crossed the canal to the Pacific, and never left.

Charting a New Course

Carrizosa ended up settling in Playa Herradura, Costa Rica, in the relatively new development of Los Sueños. “I first came to Los Suñeos February of 2001,” he said. “We were a small fleet of traveling boats that came that year. By 2003, it was wide open, full of tower boats. Bill Royster has done an amazing job building this dream for all of us to enjoy. Los Sueños has given my life purpose and a great career in fishing, and in sales.

A Unique Approach to Tournament Fishing: The Viking Edge

While most captains in the COTY contest fish the same boat day in and day out, Carrizosa and his team have a slightly different program. “Being part of the Viking team, we get a new boat every tournament season,” Carrizosa said. “Each year we find something we can do better for the next one. Viking does an amazing job giving us the best boat and the support to be competitive yearly.

Balancing Sales and Fishing: A Dual Expertise

Also unlike many of the other captains, Tony’s primary work focus isn’t on fishing. “Being in sales full time, I get few days to get on the water,” he said. “Thankfully, Carmine Galati and Pat Healey give me the freedom to start fishing a week before the tournament starts so I can get a feel for what’s happening out there. I also start prepping myself a month before by following all the satellite charts. Every year brings different conditions and that’s when my 23 years of experience here pays off.

The Power of Teamwork: Inside the Success Formula

Having great anglers makes a huge difference, according to Carrizosa. “My anglers are my greatest weapon and change the way I fish,” he explained. “My anglers are the best anyone could ask for. Pat Healey, Carmine Galati, Drew & Eric McDowell, Thomas Garmany. Dan Pettit in the tower and Steve Lassley on sonar have been an incredible team since 2018. I know we are a solid 80 percent or better on bites to releases, so I can alienate myself from a fleet of boats and get to where I can be alone and let my anglers do what they do best, come tight. It’s an honor to be a part of the Viking/Galati family. We are always there for each other and never have a bad moment. I love my team and we are a family.

Carrizosa also credits his team in the ‘pit as well. “My crew has varied over the years,” he said. “But the best guys have worked with me including Hans Alvarado, Johnny LaGrone, Arturo Moreno, Cristian Siles and Fernando Peralta. Our most memorable catches in the tournament series has to be the two double-header blue marlin we caught in the 2023 Los Sueños Signature Series. One in leg one, and the other in leg three. We also had a quadruple on sailfish in the last few minutes in leg one that gave us a second-place finish.

A Tribute to a Champion: Celebrating Carrizosa and His Team

Congratulations to Tony and his crew for an exceptional year!