Special delivery: Sign up for the free Marlin email newsletter. Subscribe to Marlin magazine and get a year of highly collectible, keepsake editions – plus access to the digital edition and archives.
As the calendar flips to a new year, the spotlight on light-tackle, finesse competition focuses sharply on one of the most target-rich environments in the sport: the Los Sueños Resort and Marina and Herradura Bay on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. Highly-honed teams converge every January to compete in the three events that comprise the Signature Triple Crown. The final leg concluded at the end of March with Billfisher, a 64’ Duffie, emerging as the 2025 Champion after winning the January and March segments. The Maryland family team released 35 sailfish and four blue marlin to win the final leg, bringing their series total to 23,400 points from 204 sailfish and six marlin releases . Capt. Noel McVicker is Billfisher’s skipper.
“The series is very competitive, for sure,” McVicker explains. “But everyone is still connected. There are no secrets. Several of the other captains are my good friends. We talk all the time. We just go out, leave it all out there and see what happens at the end of the day.” Billfisher employs the usual spread of dredges, teasers and naked ballyhoo with set angler positions throughout the day. Team Billfisher includes Judith “Judy” Duffie, Jonathan “Jon” Duffie, Daniel “Danny” Dough, Doug Raab, Jeremy Duffie and Kevin “KP” Paul.
“It simplifies things by having everyone in the same spot,” McVicker says. “Everybody gets used to the position, which helps a lot with reaction times and coordination. With everyone in synch, it’s a full team effort. We’re very fortunate. The Duffies come down for the season and we fish five to six days a week. What we were seeing every day, water shots, studying trends, helps us decide where to go. The water was blended everywhere so we just tried to follow the fish.”
McVicker has been running Billfisher, an omni sonar-equipped boat, for the last three years, but he has worked for the Duffies since he was a teenager. The team has been on the Signature podium 12 times since 2014 and 2025 marks the third time as Series Champions.
“We had a great first leg and were only four fish out after the second. So we were focused and ready for the last one,” McVicker adds. “We’ll be back to defend the trophy again next year for sure.”
The Signature Triple Crown adheres to strict IGFA rules. Up to five anglers are allowed per boat, plus only one professional, bringing the total to six. The spreads only include dead baits or lures and tackle is limited to 50-pound class or lighter. The format is release only, verified by on-board observers. Sailfish count for 100 points, while marlin and spearfish count for 500 points each. A fleet of 49 teams and 300 anglers competed in this year’s Signature Triple Crown.
Team Galati, a 64 Viking, finished second overall in the championship standings with 20,200 points (182 sailfish, four marlin). It was also the top team in the second leg. Viking Yachts President Pat Healey is one of the team members.
“We have to give Billfisher credit. They caught the marlin,” ‘Left flat Pat’ explains. “We had a great run but we just came up two days short. The last day we tried too hard. The marlin bite has to come on its own and we did a lot of driving around. But we had a good season, the team did well and Capt. Tony Carrizosa is an incredible fisherman.”
Team Galati also sticks with fixed rod positions with its anglers.
“I’m not a big proponent of moving around. Staying put works well for us,” Healey says. “Our group is very focused and we’ve been doing it together for a long time. Everyone knows where they need to be and we try to maximize the bites in the turns. We also have dedicated pitch bait men. If we find the fish, we can burn ‘em. We convert 80 percent of our bites into scores on good days and 90 percent on great days.
“The teams are all friends, but when the lines hit the dock, it’s all in, all out. We’re privileged to be the boat that’s been hot for the last four to five years. We’re fortunate to be doing this,” Healey adds.
Grand Slam, a 60 Guthrie run by Capt. Dave Grubbs came in third place overall, scoring 19,400 points (169 sails, five marlin). Mama Seata (Capt. Rob Mahoney/64 Bayliss) was fourth with 18,700 points after releasing 147 sailfish and eight marlin. Rounding out the top five teams was Pura Vida, a 62 Paul Mann with Capt. Rudy Arguedas at the helm. Pura Vida tallied 164 sailfish and two marlin during the three legs.
Danny Dough (Billfisher) was named the 2025 Signature Triple Crown top angler with 47 sailfish and three marlin on his ledger.
There is also an exclusive lady angler series run in conjunction with the Triple Crown. It features three single fishing days before each regular competition. For the 2025 season, the top Ladies Only Tournament Champion was Pura Vida with 8,700 points, followed by Max Bet (64 Bayliss/Capt. Austin Robins) with 8,500 points. Billfisher was the third-place finisher, also with 8,500 points based on time.
Since the Los Sueños Resort and Marina began hosting tournaments in 2004, contestants (not including the Ladies Only) have caught and released a staggering 58,313 sailfish and 3,016 marlin.
“The fishery is just insane and the competition is over the top. The best of the best are all here,” Healey adds.
