In what became a single day shootout due to the threat of Hurricane Matthew, Florida’s Auspicious held on during the third and final leg of the 2016 Dominican Billfish Triple-Header Tournament to emerge as the series’ winners.
The series began in April with the Casa de Campo International Blue Marlin Classic (won by Auspicious), continued in Cap Cana at the 22nd annual International Billfish Shootout, and came to a close with the Cap Cana Classic tournament on October 2nd.
“Our entire team, anglers, Captain Danny Lombardo and mates did a fantastic job staying focused on the business at hand during each of the legs and it ultimately paid off,” explained a very happy Joe Rahman, owner of the 74ft Viking, Auspicious.
Auspicious lead the five participating boats after the first leg but was strongly challenged during the second leg by another Florida boat, Black Gold, as well as Venezuela’s Amazing Grace, thus setting the stage for an exciting series finish. The three top boats, however, scored exactly the same amount of points on the third and final leg resulting in no change in the standings and a series win for Auspicious.
Auspicious’ name will be added to the series’ perpetual trophy, an original design by famed Dominican Master Metal Sculptor ‘El Artistico’ Jose Ignacio Morales, and will reside at Marina Cap Cana for six months of the year and spend the other six months at Marina Casa the Campo.
FINAL 2016 SERIES STANDINGS:
1st Auspicious 7,180
2nd Black Gold 6,570
3rd Amazing Grace 3,300
4th Sea Wish 820
5th Lady Lola 820
6th Shark Byte 410
