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• Global competition recognizes year’s biggest tournament-caught blue marlin 
• Winner-takes-all jackpot
• Honored as a MARLIN Achievement of the Year

February 27, 2025 – The Marlin Group, the world’s largest big-game fishing network, is making waves in 2025 with the launch of the Marlin Global Challenge. This high-stakes showdown invites teams from across the globe to battle for the biggest tournament-caught blue marlin of the year, with a winner-takes-all jackpot that could change the game for the winning team. With an ambitious $1 million target prize for its inaugural year, this new event is set to become the most electrifying annual challenge in big-game fishing.

“We awarded more than $5 million in cash payout in our international tournaments in 2024, and we’re targeting a payout exceeding $6 million this year,” said David Ritchie, CEO of The Marlin Group. “We recognize that a target payout of $1 million in our first year of operating this new Challenge format represents an ambitious goal, but that’s the scale of event we are intent on building.”

The winning team of the Challenge will be honored as an Achievement of the Year winner in a special annual edition of Marlin in December, 2025. 

“Marlin has been a global leader and big-game authority for more than 40 years,” said Jack Vitek, Editor-in-Chief of Marlin. “The trust we’ve earned with readers, clients and tournament participants over four decades uniquely positions us with the expertise and credibility needed to execute this competition.” 

Running from April 1, 2025, to October 31, 2025, the Marlin Global Challenge invites anglers who are participating in recognized blue marlin tournaments anywhere in the world to preregister with the Marlin Global Challenge for their chance at the title. Only catches from established tournaments with certified scales, weighmasters, and witness verification will be eligible. The registered team that catches the heaviest blue marlin over 500 pounds during this time will claim the title. With no divisions or regional limits, this is a truly global tournament that anyone who fishes an established tournament can win. 

“We created the Marlin Global Challenge to fill a demand in the big-game fishing world,” said Jennifer Dudas, Tournament Director for The Marlin Group. “Teams that fish competitively can now chase a globally recognized achievement, no matter where, when or how often they fish. Our format really makes it easy for teams to participate. I couldn’t be more excited for the launch of the Marlin Global Challenge.”

The entry fee for each team is $2,000, with 85 percent of the prize pool awarded to the single heaviest blue marlin caught among registered boats. Total payout will be dependent on the number of boats participating, and will be awarded following a rigorous verification process to ensure the integrity of the competition. 

With its straight-forward format, global participation, and a hefty payout, the Marlin Global Challenge is an easy and fun way to raise the bar even higher on your tournament plans for the year. Learn more or register today at marlinglobalchallenge.com. 

About The Marlin Group
The Marlin Group is the world’s largest big-game fishing network reaching more than one million captains, anglers, mates and boat owners annually across a variety of touchpoints. The group publishes Marlin magazine, the industry’s No. 1 source since 1981, and operates the Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica; Los Cabos Billfish Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Scrub Island Billfish Series in the British Virgin Islands; and the Bermuda Triple Crown, making it the worldwide leader for international billfishing tournaments. Marlin Expeditions, formerly Marlin University, has led anglers on educational excursions to the globe’s top big-game fishing destinations for more than 20 years. The Marlin Group is a core division of the US-based outdoor adventure company Bonnier LLC.Learn more at marlinmag.com and bonniercorp.com.