Mexico at the 34th Big Game World Championship in Ancona, Italy
Max Vargas of Top Anglers captained Mexico’s two teams and sat on the international jury at the 34th Big Game World Championship in drifting, Ancona, Italy, September 2026.
Team Mexico with the Mexican flag at the opening of the 34th Big Game World Championship, Ancona, September 2026
Key takeaways
- Montenegro won the 34th Big Game World Championship in drifting, ahead of Italy B and Croatia A.
- Mexico sent two teams, both captained by Max Vargas of Top Anglers.
- Max also sat on the five-member international jury, representing the Americas.
- Weather allowed only two scoring days, so every fish counted.
At a glance
| Event | 34th Big Game World Championship, drifting |
|---|---|
| Dates | September 8–13, 2026; the scoring days were September 9 and 13 |
| Venue | Ancona, Italy (Marina Dorica, Adriatic Sea) |
| Nations | 12 nations, 20 teams, 96 anglers |
| Format | Catch and release with video; fish measured in the water and released alive |
| Podium | 1. Montenegro · 2. Italy B · 3. Croatia A |
| Top Anglers’ role | Max Vargas: captain of both Mexican teams and member of the international jury |
The championship
The 34th Big Game World Championship in drifting was fished out of Marina Dorica in Ancona, on Italy’s Adriatic coast, from September 8 to 13, 2026. Twelve nations sent 20 teams and 96 anglers. All fish were catch and release: measured in the water on video and released alive. The weather left only two valid scoring days, September 9 and 13.
| 1st | Montenegro |
|---|---|
| 2nd | Italy B · Captain Luca Miserocchi |
| 3rd | Croatia A |
Mexico’s two teams
Mexico fielded two teams, Mexico A and Mexico B, and Max Vargas of Top Anglers was the captain of both: the non-fishing team captain who handles strategy, logistics and the link with the organizers. After the practice day the two Mexican teams sat provisionally in fifth and tenth place, a result that would have counted if the sea had cancelled an official day.
On the international jury
Max was also one of the five members of the international jury of the FIPS-M, representing the Americas. He sat alongside Tonći Luketa of Croatia, the FIPS-M representative for big game and a long-time mentor, and the captains of Italy, Spain and Egypt. The jury rules on protests and on whether each catch meets the rules.
What it means for our guests
The same rules and judging standards used at world championships, catch and release and careful handling of billfish, are the ones we teach on our boats in Cabo. Read our billfish identification guide or see the fleet if you want to fish with a crew that knows the rule book.
The parade of nations at the opening ceremony in Ancona
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