Team Galati & Viking Dominate the 2025 Masters Angling Tournament

Updated February 17, 2025

3 min read

Team Galati & Viking Dominate the 2025 Masters Angling Tournament

Team Galati at the Masters Angling Tournament

For over six decades, the Masters Angling Tournament has stood as a pinnacle of competitive sportfishing. Created by legendary boat builder John Rybovich and his fellow anglers, this event is about catching fish and demonstrating pure skill, patience, and strategy. The Masters is unlike any other tournament, requiring anglers to face the ultimate challenge: when they set the hook, the boat must go dead in the water. This rule puts all the pressure on the angler, rewarding finesse over horsepower. Long-time participant Sam Peters sums up the tournament best: “One thing is certain—you either love this format, or you think we are crazy!”

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The 2025 Masters Angling Tournament Recap

This year, 16 boats took to the water, each with a two-angler team battling it out over 7.5-hour fishing days. The format rewards skill, timing, and endurance, with fight time playing a crucial role in the scoring. For those targeting marlin, the stakes were even higher—dead baiting a marlin earned double points, making every second count.

Team Galati Dominates the Field – 2025 Masters Angling Tournament

Leading the charge was Captain Tony Carrizosa, fishing aboard the Viking 64 Team Galati. With an impressive 46 releases over three days, Team Galati took home Top Boat Overall and High Boat Captain honors.

The Fastest Fish

Beyond overall numbers, the Masters also rewards speed and precision. This year, Galati customer Shon Craig, owner of the Viking 64 Amarula Sun, secured the coveted Pete Boinis Award for the Fastest Fish with a staggering nine-second fight time—a testament to his quick reflexes and expert angling skills.

The Spirit of the Masters

The Masters Angling Tournament is more than just numbers; it’s about tradition, camaraderie, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. It’s a tournament where technique outweighs luck, and where every release tells a story of patience and skill. With another successful event in the books, it’s clear that the Masters remains one of the most respected competitions in the sportfishing world.

Own a Viking Yacht & Fish Like a Champion

As always, Viking Yachts proved to be a dominant force in the tournament, with their sportfishing machines helping teams push the limits of angling performance. If you’re looking to compete at the highest level or simply want to own a sportfishing yacht built for performance, we are your trusted Viking dealer with decades of experience helping anglers find the perfect Viking for their needs. Whether you’re interested in a Viking Convertible, Enclosed Bridge, or Valhalla center console, our team is ready to assist.

Contact our Viking Specialists to learn more about the Viking brand and how you can take your sportfishing experience to the next level. Call (833) 701-0472

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