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Two exciting developments are setting the tone for an electric tournament season ahead: a seasoned insider stepping into the Atlantic tournament director role, and the Offshore World Championship rolling out bold changes to its competitive formula. From the Atlantic basin to Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, The Marlin Group is gearing up for an incredible 2026 tournament season.
Michelle Gaylord Named Atlantic Tournament Director
The Marlin Group has appointed Michelle Gaylord as its new Atlantic tournament director, formalizing a role she has effectively been shaping for more than a decade across the brand’s premier events.
A fixture on docks and leaderboards from Bermuda to Central America, Gaylord brings deep institutional knowledge, technical expertise, and a rare behind-the-lens perspective to the position. Her résumé spans some of the most respected events in big-game fishing, including the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, the Pescadora Billfish Championship and the Chub Cay Tournament Series, along with a long list of marquee competitions operated by The Marlin Group.
Raised traveling between California and Florida, Gaylord fell in love with the ocean early, pursuing scuba diving, photography and digital media before launching a career that merged creative storytelling with on-the-water grit. Her evolution from web designer and multimedia producer into one of the sport’s most trusted tournament professionals—and later founder of her own production company—has made her a constant presence in the international billfish scene.
Since first stepping into the tournament world in 2012, Gaylord has worked as many as 16 events in a single season. Beyond logistics and production, she is widely known for her connection to crews and anglers alike, earned through years spent documenting granders, championship runs and unforgettable releases. She has also remained committed to giving back, frequently supporting veterans’ fishing initiatives.
In her new Atlantic role, Gaylord will oversee operations, competitive flow and media execution across the group’s eastern tournament portfolio. Most notably, she’ll direct the prestigious Bermuda Triple Crown Series and the Scrub Island Billfish Series, two cornerstone circuits in The Marlin Group’s global championship footprint.
For an organization in rapid expansion mode, the appointment signals both continuity and momentum: a proven industry veteran elevated into a leadership seat, ready to help guide the next generation of world-class billfish competitions across the Atlantic basin.
New Format for Offshore World Championship
As tournament season in Costa Rica reaches its annual crescendo, anticipation is building for the 2026 Offshore World Championship, which arrives with a revamped format aimed at broadening participation and intensifying competition in one of billfishing’s most storied arenas.
Scheduled for April 19-23 in Quepos, the OWC follows the debut of Bisbee’s Costa Rica Offshore, a highly anticipated Pacific-side tournament addition expected to attract elite teams worldwide. Officials believe the surge of visiting programs will roll directly into the OWC, strengthening the championship’s international field.
Traditionally limited to teams qualifying through sanctioned events, the OWC will retain that foundation in 2026 while adding an open-entry Challenger category, inviting new contenders to test themselves against reigning champions and injecting fresh energy into the fleet.
Operational updates headline the new format. Teams may fish from their own private or chartered boats and depart from approved marinas within tournament boundaries rather than randomly assigned vessels. Omnidirectional sonar will be permitted, though releases without it earn bonus points. Strict IGFA rules and video-verified scoring will remain central.
Dockside activities, official functions and the awards gala will again center at Marina Pez Vela, with Quepos’ famed sailfish and marlin grounds providing the backdrop for a title many consider the sport’s most coveted.
With expanded jackpots, renewed global interest, and prime placement on a rapidly growing Costa Rican calendar, the 2026 OWC is shaping up as a pivotal stop in the season—where tradition meets momentum and the world’s best crews converge for another shot at offshore supremacy.
