Release Marine International Captain of the Year Division

Captain Rudy Arguedos – Pura Vida Leads the Division Early With 600 Points

The 2026 season is off to a fast start for Captain Rudy Arguedos and his crew aboard the 62-foot Paul Mann Pura Vida.

Kicking off the year in dominant fashion, Arguedos claimed a commanding victory over a 119-boat field at the Pelagic Rock Star Tournament, the world’s largest all-release billfish tournament. Fishing out of Quepos, Costa Rica, Pura Vida released an impressive 62 sailfish over two days (33 on Day One and 29 on Day Two) earning top honors in the Release Marine International Captain of the Year Division and a tournament winning payout of $885,900.

Building on that momentum, Captain Arguedos returned the following week for Leg I of the Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series, where Pura Vida stayed firmly in the hunt. The team tallied 78 sailfish and two blue marlin, securing a third-place overall podium finish and a tournament payout of $54,800. Team Max Bet captured the overall win with 92 sailfish and two blue marlin. So far Pura Vida’s two tournament winnings total $940,700

Next on the calendar for Captain Arguedos and Pura Vida is Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series – Leg II, scheduled for February 25–28, 2026.

Congratulations to Captain Rudy Arguedos and the entire Pura Vida team on being named the Release Marine International Division – Captain on a Run.

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2026 Release Marine International Division Points

Pelagic Rock Star

January 15–18, 2026

• 1st Place – Captain Rudy Arguedos, Pura Vida — 500 points
• 2nd Place – Captain Ben Horning, Fish Tank / Galati — 300 points
• 3rd Place – Captain Ian MacAllister, Nsatia Bill — 100 points

Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series – Leg I

January 21–24, 2026

• 1st Place – Captain Austin Robins, Max Bet — 500 points
• 2nd Place – Captain Tony Carrizosa, Team Galati — 300 points
• 3rd Place – Captain Rudy Arguedos, Pura Vida — 100 points

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Release Marine International Division

Sanctioned Events

• Pelagic Rock Star Tournament
• Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series
  • Leg I
  • Leg II
  • Leg III
• The Masters Tournament
• Chub Cay Classic
• Chub Cay Open
• Walker’s Cay Invitational
• Custom Shootout
• Production vs. Custom Shootout
• Pelagic Triple Crown Fishing Tournament
• Bermuda Triple Crown
• Bermuda Billfish Blast
• Bermuda Big Game Classic
• Sea Horse Angler’s Billfish Tournament
• World Cup
• Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Tournament
• Scrub Island Billfish Series
  • Leg I
  • Leg II
• San Juan International Billfish Tournament
• Los Cabos Billfish Tournament
• Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament
• Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Jackpot Tournament

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Overview     Divisions: East Coast / Florida / Gulf Coast / International / Hawaii 

Sanctioned Tournaments     Rules   Past Standings 2025 / 2024 / 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017  /  2016  /  Past Winners

Divisional Sponsors:

The CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPORTFISHING.

The InTheBite Captain of the Year Cup is the world’s foremost competition for professional sportfishermen. The world’s only quantifiable metric for comparing the tournament success of captains, winning an InTheBite Captain of the Year Award is a major achievement. The Cup is composed of five divisions that span the sportfishing world: East Coast, Florida, Gulf Coast, Hawaii and International. It is comprised of 90-sanctioned tournaments. The SCORING SYSTEM is: 1^st Place: 500 points, 2^nd Place: 300 points, 3^rd Place: 100 points. Heaviest Marlin: 500 points. Overall Championship: 250 points. 12 Boat Tournament Minimum for points. *Hawaii Division Only: Points will also be given for 2nd Place Heaviest Marlin (300 points) and 3rd Place Heaviest Marlin (100 points)

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