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I’ve been fortunate to fish billfish tournaments across the globe since an early age, but Costa Rica has always held a special place in my memory. The bountiful fishery off its Pacific coast, framed by jungle-clad mountains and warm ocean swells, is what fishing dreams are made of. Add in the Pelagic Rockstar Offshore Tournament—Central America’s richest sport-fishing event—and you have the perfect storm of adrenaline, camaraderie and spectacle.
This year’s ninth edition of the Rockstar was one for the books. Over two electric fishing days, January 10-11, the fleet released an astounding 2,425 billfish—sailfish, blue marlin, black marlin and striped marlin—setting new records for conservation-driven tournaments worldwide. Day 1 alone produced 1,371 releases, averaging nearly 2.7 fish per minute. It was a jaw-dropping display of what makes Costa Rica one of the premier fisheries on the planet.
The stakes were sky-high. With more than $2.3 million on the line, the Rockstar has become not only the richest offshore event in Central America but also one of the most lucrative tournaments worldwide. Still, it’s not just the prize money that makes this event special. From the moment you arrive, it feels like stepping into a festival. Bright banners snap in the wind, music pumps from the marina, and anglers from every corner of the world mingle. Cultures collide in Quepos during the Rockstar, but everyone speaks the same universal language: fishing.
The Rockstar is equal parts tournament and celebration. Marina Pez Vela transforms into a carnival of fishing, food and music. Nights thrum with live bands, the smell of barbecue drifts across the crowd, and the energy is indescribable. Anglers and mates shoulder up to swap stories, laugh over Flor de Caña rum, and soak in Costa Rica’s “pura vida” spirit.
For all its party atmosphere, though, the fishing is as serious as it gets. From the predawn rush of the fleet charging out of the marina to the final weigh-in under stadium lights, every moment pulses with competition. And this year, the bite was nothing short of madness: billfish showing up in wolf packs, sails greyhounding across spreads, blue marlin tearing through teasers before crews could reset them. Over the VHF, teams hollered, “Hooked up!” on a constant loop. It was the kind of red-hot action most anglers only dream about—except here, it unfolded in real time.
While billfish numbers dominated the headlines, our crew aboard King of the Seas, a 47-foot Freeman, had a different mission: tuna. Every time a rod doubled over with that unmistakable freight-train pull, we knew we were in the hunt. The crew worked like clockwork: mates clearing lines, anglers strapping in, the captain calling quick orders as the Freeman surged through the swells.
Midmorning on Day 1 brought one of those unforgettable battles. The ocean was slick-calm when a rod buried and the drag screamed. One of our anglers clipped in and instantly knew it wasn’t a sail—it was a tuna. The fight was brutal, a grinding slugfest with every inch of line hard-earned. Arms shaking, sweat stinging, he leaned into the harness until color finally flashed beneath the boat. I slid the gaff home, and we hauled a beautiful yellowfin aboard—not the monster we needed to win, but solid enough to keep us in contention.
By weigh-in, the tuna was on ice and adrenaline coursed through our veins. Walking the dock with a fish in the box while the crowd pressed against barricades to watch was pure electricity. That night, our 135.8-pound catch was enough to put us in the lead.
The next day’s fishing brought more action, but it was the weigh-in that cemented our spot as second place in the tuna division, finishing just behind the record-breaking 171-pounder landed by the Salty Canucks crew. In a fleet of this caliber, standing on the podium is a victory alone.
Beyond the numbers and checks, the Rockstar is about community. Back at the marina, it felt more like a rock concert than a weigh-in. Bands blasted music, drinks flowed freely, and teams from across the world shared stories of epic hookups and near misses. It’s in those moments—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with anglers who flew halfway around the world for the same pursuit—that the true heart of the event shines.
By the tournament’s close, $2,349,600 in prize money had been awarded across 19 teams, another high-water mark in the history of offshore competition. This staggering figure represents the single largest payout ever recorded for a billfish release tournament anywhere in the world, a testament to not only the event’s prestige but also its commitment to conservation—rewarding anglers for releasing fish alive while still competing at the highest level. But the real value came in the memories etched in salt and sweat. Fishing with this crew, in these waters, on this stage—it’s the stuff you hold onto forever.
The Pelagic Rockstar has quickly established itself among the top billfish tournaments in the world. Yes, the purse and prestige play their parts, but the real magic is in the vibe. It’s the blend of competition and camaraderie, of festival and fishery, that sets it apart. For Quepos, it’s an economic engine and cultural highlight. For anglers, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime rush.
As we packed rods and washed down decks, one thing was already certain: We’ll be back. The 2025 Rockstar lit a fire to fish harder, aim higher, and maybe—just maybe—stand on that stage next year with a first-place trophy in hand.
Until then, Quepos will keep calling us back, as it always does. Because once you’ve felt the rush of the Rockstar, there’s no staying away.
Marinas
- Marina Pez Vela (host marina)
- Los Sueños (Herradura)
Dining
- Double Hook Sports Bar (Marina Pez Vela)
- Butcher Block (Marina Pez Vela)
- Lanterna Italian Steakhouse (Los Sueños)
- Bambu Sushi & Asian Cuisine (Los Sueños)
Lodging
- Marina Pez Vela Villas (Quepos)
- Parador Nature Resort and Spa (Quepos)
- Los Sueños Resort and Marina
- Marriott Los Sueños Ciudad del Mar (Jaco)
Charters
- Marina Pez Vela fleet
- Quepos Fish Adventure
- Los Sueños Marina fleet
- Maverick fleet
