BELIZE TOURNAMENT GETS IGFA QUALIFIER STATUS

International Game Fish Association has approved Tres Pescado Slam
Tournament as an Inshore World Championship qualifier event.


August 20, 21, and 22, 2009 is the date for the first Belize fly
fishing tournament, Tres Pescado Slam Tournament, involving all 3 of
the grand slam species Belize is known for. Another first is the type
of tournament, a "Catch and Release" only event. And yet another is
the data collection that will take place during the tournament to
establish a baseline for the 3 grand slam species - the data
collection for this event is modeled after the successful Florida Keys
bonefish census. As if that weren't enough, the Tres Pescado Slam
Tournament, held on Ambergris Caye, has received approval as one of
the qualifying events for the International Game Fish Association
(IGFA) Inshore World Championships.

What's this mean? In the fly fishing world of tournaments there is no
single tournament that garners more respect and prestige than the IGFA
Inshore World Championships. In June each year the top qualifier event
champions from around the globe gather in Islamorada, Florida to
compete for the top honors and title of World Champion.

To qualify for a chance at being invited to this World Championship
event, an angler must first qualify by winning one of the world
qualifying tournaments held in the USA, Bahamas, Australia, and now in
Belize.

The Tres Pescado Slam Tournament has received approval of their
application to be one of the world class qualifying events whereby
anglers from around the world can come and if lucky enough to win the
event title, qualify for an invitation to the 2010 IGFA Inshore World
Championships. All anglers must qualify in the prior year to receive
an invitation to the World Championships.

In addition, ESPN Outdoors selects various qualifying event locations
to film for their ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series shown on ESPN2 and on
their ESPNoutdoor.com multimedia platforms. Being new as a qualifying
event Belize can only hope to have coverage like this but then again,
Belize is the rare jewel among the string of saltwater fly fishing
events.

Sandy Moret, 3-time Gold Cup Tarpon Champ and IGFA Inshore World
Championship Director, stated it best in the IGFA approval letter:
"Fantastic... you are approved with flying colors. It is wonderful to
see that lodge owners, guides and anglers of Belize have made such a
giant step setting a leadership example for all of the Caribbean to
envy. I am in hopes that Florida will follow suit with permit soon."

To become part of this tournament and join in on the global stage of
this world class event please go to www.tres-pescado-tournament.org
and learn more about the available sponsorships and teams. This is a
non-profit event with all proceeds going to support the health of the
3 grand slam fish.