Recap: The 2025 Belize Wahoo Classic
Returning for its second year, the last quarter of 2025 kicks off with a bang at the highly anticipated Annual Belize Wahoo Classic! This exciting event is fairly new to Southern Belize, taking place November 7-9, 2025, and is all about chasing one of the ocean’s fastest and most thrilling pelagics: the wahoo. Hosted by Itz’ana Belize Resort & Residences with Itz’ana Marina as the tournament base over its three days, event partners at Thunderbird Marine welcomed anglers of 22 teams that made the trek to Placencia—from destinations in Belize like Belize City and Ambergris Caye, to internationally from Honduras and Guatemala—for the love of the sport with high-energy fishing in Belize’s beautiful waters.
In chasing the big catch, sharing stories at sunset, and experiencing Belize’s passion for the sea like never before, here’s how the scoreboard and competition played out!
Tournament Placement and Awards
With up to $50,000 up for grabs, there are two ways to earn. Top Placement is determined by the heaviest cumulative weight of each team’s top two wahoo caught over the 2-day fishing period. Meanwhile, the Calcutta payout was determined by the highest overall poundage of all qualifying wahoo caught over the 2-day fishing period.
To qualify, all fish submitted for weighing must be reported and receive confirmation by the tournament base before 4 PM on each day, which simultaneously marks lines out for the first day of fishing (Saturday). Since the last day of fishing (Sunday) does not have an official time for lines out, all anglers must report to the weigh-in station and be docked by 4 PM to qualify any fish onboard.
Tournament Placement:
The final rankings are determined by the combined weight of the two heaviest wahoo caught over the two-day competition. The awards for first, second, and third place will be distributed as follows:
1st Place: Awarded to the boat with the highest combined weight of their two heaviest wahoo.
2nd Place: Awarded to the boat with the second-highest combined weight.
3rd Place: Awarded to the boat with the third-highest combined weight.
Calcutta and Cash Pot Distribution:
With a $3,000 BZD entry fee per boat of four anglers, the Calcutta cash pot is automatically included for each team. At $22,000 Calcutta in 2025, cash pot is based on the overall poundage of qualifying wahoo, and prizes are awarded accordingly.
Details of Calcutta:
60% to the boat with the highest combined weight of all wahoo caught
30% to the boat with the second-highest combined weight of all wahoo caught
10% will be donated to a charity of the participants' choice
Cash Details of Awards:
1st Place – $25,000
2nd Place – $15,000
3rd Place – $8,000
Junior Angler – $1,000
Female Angler – $1,000
Schedule of Events
Although November 7 marked the official kick-off with a team briefing of rules, the competition heated up at 5:00 AM on the morning of November 8 with a Bimini start at 5:30 AM from Itz’ana Marina. Both fishing days ended at 4 PM, where weighmaster Jovy Duran anxiously awaited as anglers reported their catch of the day.
Onlookers joined in on the fun with a Sunset Party that Saturday, also held at Itz’ana Marina, while the Closing Ceremony was held at 5:00 PM that Sunday, also at Itz’ana Marina.
This Year’s Winners
1st Place: SOMETHING BETTER
2nd Place: SWEET CAROLINE
3rd Place: D CRUZ
Following the 2025 tournament, the Belize Wahoo Classic organizing committee also committed to donate 10% of the $22,000 Calcutta proceeds to a charity of their choice, to help fund critically needed programs.
We could not have done this alone! Thank you to EVERYONE who helped to make the 2025 Annual Belize Wahoo Classic a GREAT SUCCESS! The Belize Game Fish Association joins the Belize Wahoo Classic partners to express our extreme gratitude towards sponsors, donors, anglers, Itz’ana & Thunderbirds Marine staff, who allowed us to further sportfishing in Belize.
By working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of countless individuals through camaraderie of the sport! See you all in 2026.
