Los Cabos Kick-Off
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, 10/17/2009
By Dave Lear
Fifty-seven boats motored into the azure blue waters of the Pacific Ocean this morning in hopes of finding a big fish---or two, as the XXth Annual Bisbee’s Los Cabos Tournament got underway. Anglers were greeted with clear, sunny skies and tranquil seas, perfect conditions for a big-game contest.
“We kicked off our Cabo season with a satisfying 57 boats and a beautiful weekend weather forecast, so everything is shaping up to be a great event,” says tournament director R. Wayne Bisbee. “Everyone uses this tournament to get ready for the main event.”
The main event he’s referring to is the 29th Annual Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Jackpot Tournament, which starts next week. But first, the Los Cabos tourney provides the opportunity to fine-tune crews, locate productive water and generally have a good time.
“There were a couple big tuna caught this past week, so anything can happen,” Bisbee explains. “In fact, the second largest marlin in our 29-year history was landed on the last day of the Los Cabos last year. Richard Saccaro on the Marlin Master I boated an 870-pound blue. That’s second only to the 993-pounder taken on Picante in 1994.”
The weigh scales open at 5 p.m. today and fishing continues tomorrow. So stay tuned. Anything can happen...
Day 1
Tuna Tango
By Dave Lear
October 18, 2009, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Despite lots of bait and water temperatures in the mid-80s, the big marlin proved elusive for the 57-boat fleet fishing the first day of the 8th annual Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament. No marlin were weighed, although several teams reported billfish releases. Team Ez-Duz-It scored the only weight points of the day when they scaled a yellowfin tuna registering 42.1 pounds. The competition continues through today.
“I’m loving life,” says Amanda Thompson, of Houston, Texas, who is fishing in her first Bisbee’s event. “As we took off this morning I thought even if I don’t catch a fish, I’m loving this experience. The people are fantastic and I’m having fun.”
Thompson did get on the board by releasing a blue and striped marlin. She was fishing aboard Doghouse, a 56 Viking, near the Gordo Banks. Bisbee’s veteran Martha Macnab also released a striped marlin on her boat Retriever, a 61 Viking, using a live skipjack tuna for bait. She has been fishing the Bisbee’s events for 12 years.
“I fish these tournaments because I’m very competitive,” Macnab says. “We’ve had enough success in the past that I know the big fish is there.” That’s certainly true. In 2004 Macnab landed the largest black marlin in the 29-year history of the Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament. That fish tipped the scales at 645 pounds.
With another gorgeous day ahead and a talented field of anglers, the scales should be a busy scene after lines out at 5 p.m. this afternoon.
Day 2
John Pfister of Wichita, Kansas, recorded the first qualifying marlin in the Bisbee's Los Cabo Tournament today when he weighed in a 438- pound blue marlin around 2 p.m. local time. Pfister was fishing aboard the Las Mananitas in the Pacific Ocean when the marlin ate a purple and blue Bost lure. The fight took 20 minutes. Pfister was using an 80 Wide reel spooled with 100-pound line to make the catch.
According to wireman Capt. John Domanic of San Jose del Cabo, the Las Mananitas, a 36-foot Rampage Express, was following some porpoise schools in grid C-5 when the big blue hit. With Domanic leadering the fish, his brother, Scott Domanic, was on the gaff. Scott is on his honeymoon with his wife of one month, Alison. She was also on board offering moral support and encouragement.
Pfister has fished three Bisbee events in the last couple years. He also weighed in a dorado on Saturday that didn't quite make the minimum weight requirement.
Teams competing in the Bisbee Los Cabos Tournament have until 5 p.m.
local time to try and beat the Las Mananitas mark.
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