Three days. 59 Pacific Sailfish. 3 Blue Marlin. 6,800 points. One check for $949,600.
Team Pura Vida just made sportfishing history.
The Tampa-based offshore team, fishing aboard their Custom 62′ Paul Mann out of Marina Pez Vela, won the inaugural Bisbee’s Costa Rica Offshore Tournament on April 17, 2026 — becoming the first team ever to claim the title in the Bisbee’s organization’s first-ever expansion beyond Cabo San Lucas in its 44-year history.
Three Days of Dominant Fishing
Pura Vida came out swinging on Day 1 with 2,200 points and a second-place position — close enough to strike. Day 2 was the turning point. The crew surged to the top of the leaderboard with 2,500 points, including three Blue Marlin releases that accounted for 9% of all Blue Marlin brought to the boat across the entire tournament field. When lines went in on Day 3, Pura Vida had added another 2,100 points on 21 more Pacific Sailfish releases between 8:16 a.m. and 3:36 p.m. — and never looked back.
The championship was theirs from wire to wire on the final day.
A Release Tournament. Every Single One.
All 62 billfish that came to the Pura Vida’s cockpit went back into the water alive. Every one. The Bisbee’s Costa Rica Offshore ran an all-release format — a first for the Bisbee’s series — and the numbers reflect what Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is capable of: the entire tournament field collectively released 1,757 billfish over three days, including 1,722 Pacific Sailfish. Costa Rica’s mandatory billfish release laws have made it one of the premier conservation leaders in the world, and Team Pura Vida fished in that spirit from start to finish.
The Crew Behind the Win
Owner and angler JC Gonzalez led the team alongside captain Rudy Arguedas. Anglers Evan Alonzo, Aileen Gonzalez, Chris Witherington, and Ericka Sandi worked the cockpit with precision across all three days. Mates Armando Delgado, Sebastian Delgado, and Stiward Porras were the engine room — their release efficiency was a defining factor in the final point total.
“We get asked a lot what makes us different. No secret here, it’s the love for the sport and the bond we have as a team and as a family.” — JC Gonzalez, Owner/Angler
“To say this was a dream season for Team Pura Vida would be a massive understatement. This win marked the second largest payout in release tournament history. Hard work does really pay off.” — Evan Alonzo, Angler
A Season No One Will Forget
This wasn’t a one-tournament run. In January 2026, Team Pura Vida won the Rockstar Offshore Tournament — the largest and richest fishing tournament in Central America. They followed with a first-place finish at the 2026 IGFA Open. The Bisbee’s Costa Rica win is the third major tournament victory of the same season.
Three wins. One season. History made.
About the Boat
The Pura Vida is a 2005 Custom 62′ Paul Mann with an 18.5-foot beam, twin Caterpillar diesel engines, a full Furuno electronics suite, and a Seakeeper stabilizer. Originally from Dade City, Florida, she’s berthed at Los Sueños Marina and has become one of the most recognized offshore platforms on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
Full tournament results: bisbees.catchstat.com
