Marina Pez Vela’s Tuna Thunder 2026 sets one-day precision contest in Costa Rica
Tuna Thunder compressed Quepos tuna fishing into one 50-mile, one-day test, with a $1,700 all-in path and a 20-pound minimum that rewarded one clean fish.
Marina Pez Vela’s Tuna Thunder 2026 turned a full offshore effort into a tight one-day test in Quepos, Costa Rica, with boats leaving at 6:00 a.m., lines in at 7:30 a.m. and lines out at 3:30 p.m. The 50-nautical-mile fishing limit from Marina Pez Vela left crews little margin for wasted running time or loose bait decisions.
That pressure showed up in the entry structure as much as the clock. The mandatory team fee was $500 plus 13% IVA, and the official rules put the all-in total at $1,700 if every optional category was entered. Those add-ons included closest-to-weight jackpots for 30, 40 and 50 pounds, heaviest two tuna, a heaviest tuna jackpot at the $500 level, and a charity 50/50 jackpot for a tuna weighing closest to 25 pounds. The tournament paid cash and prizes to the top three teams for the single heaviest tuna, while Junior Angler Boy, Junior Angler Girl and Lady Angler honors went to the anglers with the single heaviest fish in those divisions. Junior and Lady Anglers had to declare themselves at registration and mark their fish with designated color bands. A minimum qualifying weight of 20 pounds and a maximum of four fish per team kept the weigh-in board from turning into a numbers game.
The schedule itself reinforced the sprint-like format. Final registration ran June 26 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., followed by the captain’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. The weigh station opened from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on tournament day, and awards were set for 7:00 p.m. Marina Pez Vela Quepos, S.A. organized the event. The marina has 195 slips and room for vessels up to 200 feet.
The 2025 Tuna Thunder board listed 19 teams, 86 anglers and 63 yellowfin tuna, with the winning single fish at 93.10 pounds. The top lady angler fish weighed 79.50 pounds, the top junior boy fish 53.20 pounds and the top junior girl fish 49.40 pounds.
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