Southern California – August through October 2025
The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has announced the return of the Southern California IGFA Great Marlin Race, running from August through October 2025. Now in its third year as an open regional event, this citizen science initiative invites anglers and clubs to sponsor and deploy satellite tags on striped marlin, contributing to vital research in partnership with Stanford University.
Originally launched in the region in 2014 through the Master Angler Billfish Tournament, the program expanded in 2023 to welcome broader participation. Since then, 55 satellite tags have recorded over 3,500 days and 50,000 nautical miles of striped marlin movement data—insights crucial to understanding the species’ Pacific migration patterns and population connectivity.
This year’s race offers eight Pop-up Satellite Archival Tags (PSATs) for sponsorship. The individual or team whose marlin travels the farthest will earn a place on the perpetual trophy displayed at the Balboa Angling Club and be entered into the global IGFA competition.
Presented by Costa Sunglasses and supported by AFTCO, Yamaha Rightwaters, Bass Pro Shops, and the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, the race continues to lead in billfish conservation. For details, visit www.igfa.org/the-great-marlin-race.
