Bill Collector
The 37 teams raced off from the shot gun start and found great weather during the final day of fishing of the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament. A few big fish were encountered but no teams were able to catch that one fish they were looking to bring to the scales. This meant team Bill Collector’s 483-pound black marlin was the only qualifier and would sweep the Level 1-3 Daily Marlin Jackpots. The catch also won the Largest Black Marlin category and First Place Overall Team Division. Bill Collector is a 35 Cabo chartered from Pisces Sport Fishing and captained by Julio Gonzalez who won the Top Captain Award. The team from California including Mark Chiavetta, Rick Sanfietta, Mitch Maggetti, Jim Glass and Don Broche. Total winnings for team Bill Collector was $167,877.50 and an invitation to the 2013 Offshore World Championship.
Making a big move on the final day was team Bad Medicine catching a blue marlin in the morning and then converting a quad sailfish hook-up in the final hour of fishing. Team Bad Medicine earned a total of one blue marlin, one stripe marlin and four sailfish releases for a total of 1,000 points wining First Place Billfish Release point team, Second Place Overall tournament team and Day Three Billfish Release Jackpot. Angler Gary Mowat caught a 42.2-pound dorado on Bad Medicine to win the Day two Dorado Jackpot. Team Bad Medicine a 35 Cabo with__ Capt Bernardo Ruiz, Mate Alberto Cesena, teammates Gary Anderson, Katina Prasse, Gary Mowat from Canada and Christian Eduardo Lupian Baltazar from Cabo San Lucas. Total winnings for team Bad Medicine were $43,753.75.
Team Galati added a blue marlin release in the morning on the final day giving them a total of 600-points and Second Place Billfish Release point team, Third Place Overall Team and Daily Billfish Release Jackpot. Team Galati a 55′ Viking is captained by Craig Clark from Bradenton Florida, teammates Brad Richards, Eric McDowell, Bob Hixon, Zach Ferrell and Jesus Feo Bojoquez.
Team Galati total winnings of $30,200.
Team Picante 45 won the Day Two Billfish Release Jackpot and Third Place Billfish Release Points team. Team Picnte 45 with Captain Daniel Carrera anglers Jose Antonio Sud Ramon, Francisco Muniz, Carlos Muniz , Jorge Garcia, Javier Garcia, Francisco Garcia, Pedro Romero, Luis Orantes, and Pedro Orantes from Spain won a total of $11,500.
In the Tuna Wahoo Dorado Division Team Reel Gold won the final Daily Dorado Jackpot with a 39.10-pound dorado caught by Richard Mabon from Alaska, captain with captain Jose Nunez. Teammates Jason Snyder, Austin Snyder, Jeff Snyder, Mayra Batista and Ed Rosol winning $9753.75.
In the Daily Tuna Jackpot team Wild Hooker a 61′ Blackwell caught another beasty at 247-pounds on the final day to sweep the Tuna Daily Jackpots. Wild Hooker captain Randy Parker put owner and angler Allen Stuart Jr. from Louisiana on the 227 and 247 tuna winning $19,507.50. Teammates included Kenny Hyatt, Shane Obrien, Charles Bowman, Rolando Gonzales and Chad Herren
No qualifying wahoo were caught so that Jackpot was split between the Tuna and Dorado Jackpots. No teams qualified for the Level 4 Daily Marlin Jackpot or the Winner Take All Marlin Jackpot so the $116,000 purse in those categories was reimbursed to the entrants.
The event awards took place on the lands end beachfront terrace at the Playa Grande Beach Resort and Spa. Participants received incredible door prizes from many of our sponsors including Furuno Electronics, Rick Bogert Artwork, Fin-Nor rods & reels, King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Penn Reels, Yetti Coolers, Mold Craft Lures, Berkley Line, Hi-5 Lures, Geoffrey Smith Sculptures, Cabo Cigars and Eagle Claw hooks. Due to the generosity of the participants over $7,000 was raised for the Solmar Foundation for women and children. The evening included a five coarse steak and lobster dinner, complimentary cerveza from La Bodega Pub and Bistro, tournament video, incredible door prizes and awards to the winners. A great time was had by all.
The Los Cabos Billfish Tournament will take place October 15 – 19, 2013. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us.