Portugal Joins FLW International Division
José Neves signs exclusive licensing agreement to run FLW bass fishing tournaments in Portugal
FLW Portugal is the latest addition to FLW’s International Division, bringing the number of participating nations to seven. José Neves, CEO and president of FLW Portugal, and FLW President of Operations Kathy Fennel recently signed an exclusive licensing agreement, and Neves will begin offering Portuguese anglers the opportunity to compete in FLW-sanctioned bass fishing tournaments in 2018.
FLW Portugal will host a series of tournaments that advance anglers, who are citizens of Portugal, to the Costa FLW Series Championship beginning in 2018. One angler will compete as a pro, with FLW providing a fully rigged Ranger boat, and one angler will compete as a co-angler.
“Bass fishing in Portugal is gaining more and more followers each year, and I strongly believe that the opportunities that FLW provides for international competitors make them the right partner for our anglers,” says Neves. “Largemouth bass are considered an invasive species in our country, so the more the fishing community can do for the sport of competitive angling the more bass will gain in popularity and in importance to tourism. We are excited to send our anglers to compete in Guntersville, Ala., at the 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship.”
The top pro award at the Costa FLW Series Championship is $95,000, including a Ranger Z518C boat with a 200-hp Evinrude outboard if the pro is Ranger Cup qualified, and the top co-angler award is a Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-hp Evinrude outboard. The highest finishing pro from the International Division at the Costa FLW Series Championship will advance to the following year’s Forrest Wood Cup for the chance to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
South Africa’s Michael Matthee was the highest finishing International Division pro at the 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship and will represent the International Division at the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Ark. Matthee is also the first International Division pro to finish in the top 10 at the Costs FLW Series Championship. He finished ninth.
“Since the launch of the international program three years ago we have showcased multiple anglers from around the world competing at the FLW Series Championship,” says Fennel. “We are happy to announce that Portugal will be joining us in 2018, and the talented Portuguese anglers will have world-class tournaments to demonstrate their skill. We look forward to welcoming them to the FLW family.”
Portugal joins Canada, China, Italy, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea as International Division participating nations.
For more information about FLW Portugal, visit Facebook.com/FLWPortugal.