FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that they have reached a sponsorship agreement with Costa Del Mar, a leading manufacturer of the world’s clearest polarized performance sunglasses. Effective immediately, Costa will assume title sponsorship of the FLW Series, which recently published increased paybacks at the no-entry fee championship and an impressive schedule of lakes for 2016. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

In addition to their title sponsorship, Costa will also receive exposure across all FLW platforms, including more than 235 tournaments and Expos, website, social media outlets, FLW Bass Fishing magazine and the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show which is broadcast in high-definition (HD) to more than 564 million households worldwide.

“FLW is proud to be directly associated with one of the most recognized and sought after brands in the outdoors,” said FLW President of Marketing Trish Blake. “FLW and Costa Del Mar are positioned to be one of the most powerful sponsorship alliances in the industry with Costa’s long-term commitment as title sponsor of the FLW Series.”

The 2016 Costa FLW Series will consist of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Southwestern and Western. Each division will consist of three qualifying tournaments with the season culminating with a no-entry-fee championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, in November. Based on their finish at the 2016 FLW Series Championship, a total of 11 FLW Series pros will advance to the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup for the chance to win the biggest payday in bass fishing.

“These anglers are some of the best up-and-coming bass fisherman out there, and it’s going to be exciting to watch how they all perform in each event,” said Al Perkinson, vice president of marketing for Costa. “We look forward to growing this relationship with FLW and with the entire bass fishing community.”

The 2016 Costa FLW Series kicks off next week, Jan. 14-16 at Lake Okeechobee in Okeechobee, Florida.