Viking Sportfish Yachts: The Undisputed Leader in Tournament Sportfishing

Updated April 11, 2025

2 min read

Viking Sportfish Yachts: The Undisputed Leader in Tournament Sportfishing

Viking Yachts cemented its dominance in the 2024 North American billfish tournament circuit, with 24% of all participating boats coming from its New Gretna, New Jersey, facility. Among the 1,709 boats surveyed by Marlin Magazine across 40 major tournaments, Viking stood out as the most represented brand in every region—whether on the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Bahamas/Caribbean, or Baja.

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Big Wins & High Stakes

The tournament season was marked by a staggering $57 million in winnings, with Viking boats competing for a significant share of the top prizes. Notably, Team Harvey, a Viking 72, was the most active tournament boat, fishing in 11 events across multiple regions. The White Marlin Open, Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, and Bisbee’s Black & Blue led the way in payouts, collectively distributing tens of millions in prize money.

Viking’s Dominance in the Tournament Fleet

Viking’s dominance was evident in the fleet composition, where production boats outweighed custom-built sportfishers. Hatteras trailed far behind with a 6% market share, while Spencer Yachts, a leading custom builder, held 4%. In some regions, custom boats—such as those by Jarrett Bay, Scarborough, and Paul Mann—were prominent, but Viking consistently held the top position.

Record-Breaking Billfish Catches

Across the circuit, Viking boats helped push the billfish tally to 7,230 catches, with the mid-Atlantic region leading the way with over 2,500 billfish landed. As the 2025 season approaches, Viking remains the undisputed leader in tournament sportfishing, with its high-performance fleet proving to be the go-to choice for competitive anglers.

Inside Viking’s Winning Formula

Get an inside look as Pat Healey, President and CEO of Viking Yacht Company, sits down with our very own Mary Strauss to share insights on what drives Viking’s success, the advantages of its semi-custom sportfish yachts, and the key factors behind winning sportfishing teams.

Debunking the Custom Myth: Viking Semi-Custom Sportfish Yachts Achieve Winning Performance

Viking Sportfish Yachts: The Undisputed Leader in Tournament Sportfishing

Big Wins & High Stakes

Viking’s Dominance in the Tournament Fleet

Record-Breaking Billfish Catches

Inside Viking’s Winning Formula

Sources: Marlin

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