The United States will be represented by 14 teams, Brazil and Mexico by five each and Italy and Angola four apiece as altogether 63 teams from 27 countries on five continents get ready to vie for the 2008 IGFA Offshore World Championship title May 11 ??? 16.

The ninth annual event will take place at one of the world's premier fishing locations Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the seventh year it's been held there.

Considered the most prestigious catch-and-release billfishing tournament in the world, the IGFA OWC also draws the single largest contingent of international teams contending in a fishing competition.

Countries and territories from five continents represented include teams from Angola, Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Spain, Sultanate of Oman, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, the U.S., Vanuatu and Venezuela.

Teams were invited after winning one of 137 IGFA qualifying events held in 38 countries and territories plus 14 states in the U.S.

Last year a team representing Spain's Marina Rubicon Marlin Cup 2006 made a major comeback on the final day of the tournament catching and releasing 10 striped marlin, to take home to Europe the coveted title.

Partners and sponsors for the IGFA Offshore World Championship are Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, Costa Del Mar, Hotel Finisterra, Guy Harvey Inc., Shimano, Picante Sport Fishing and Yacht Sales, Cabo Yachts, K D & G Sea Life Masterpieces, Hook & Tackle, Momoi Hi-Catch, Murray Products, AFTCO BlueWater, Bodo Muche, Minerva's Baja Tackle, Se??or Greenberg's, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Pompanette, Pisces Sportfishing, Corona and Modelo S.A DE C.V. Mexico, Don Tyson, Trans Cabo, Eagle Claw, MoldCraft Products, Inc. and API Dock.

Next year, to begin the event's 10th anniversary, the tournament welcomes the Bonnier Marine Group which will join the IGFA to manage the world championship which began in 2000.

Updated information and a list of the registered teams can be found on the IGFA web site at www.igfa.org under the fishing tab on the home page by clicking "tournaments."

Daily updates will be posted on the IGFA web site over the weeklong event.