WBS Championship recap- with tons of pics

[Squidnation]

What a phenominal 3-day event in Los Suenos. I can't say enough about the organizers at WBS. Sam (swami), Jim, Anthony and Kathy are incredible folks. I am sure there are others I missed. I have a ton of pictures but mostly all from the championship shootout amongst the top 5 qualifiers. i will try to get them all up tonight if i can.

This was a tournament that almost wasn't for me. In fact I had decided not to fish the WBS Championship this year until I got a call from my buddy Tim Hake and told me we could fish it with another buddy Capt Howard Lynch of the Tunabite. I decided to attend. The Tunabite almost didn't make it down because the ship it was on ran aground in the Panama Canal and had to be towed out of the canal back to the east side. Howard went to panama and was able to get the boat off the ship and take it through the canal and up to Los Suenos. So now we are at a severe disadvantage since Howard only got to test the waters for two day.

We arrived for a practice day. Tim and I caught 4 sails and broke off about a 450-500lb black marlin.

Day 1 of the tournament started with a shotgun start and run to the grounds. The fish were holding at about 40miles so the tournament directors allowed us an extra half hour of running time and the added an extra half hour of fishing time as well. Imagine that - a tournament committe that actually works with their participants -thanks guys that made a big difference



i don't have many pics from day 1 since it is an angler tournament and pics aren't really a priority during the fishing time. Tim and I were able to double up on a pair of sails pretty early. I was sittin in a good position when a 200lb blue came on the right flat. I was able to get a good hook up and the fish started jumping and the hook pulled. We couldn't believe it as Tim started deploying his line and have the blue one come back and now tim had em on and the fight was on. The fish was released and now Tim and I were Tied and I had him on time. There were quite a few others with 500 points as well but I had them all on time.

This tournament involves some skill on the part of the captain, crew and angler. But there is also a huge element of luck involved in what side of the boat you start on. We are each allow two rods in the water and a pitch bait. we rotate sides every hour. Well Tim got the good side all day on day 2. Didn't matter where I went It was not meant to be for me. Tim started off with striped marlin. Had a couple sail misses and finally at around 1:00 we both got one end of a double sail. that was enough for Tim to spend a couple of hours chewing his nails off waiting to see if he would qualify









Heres one for all you guys on the board with the Crocs fetish



When we reached the dock we were told that tim indeed did qualify as the fifth angler. He invited me to come along and take pictures. It was surely to be an exciting day but I had know idea how exciting. More pics to come.

[tunabite]

that was fast. your camera is awesome

[WHEATDOG]

Great shots, Thanks!!

[Squidnation]

Day 3 was gonna be nothing like day two. The format was one angler per boat plus a cameraman. Right away we knew this day was gonna be differnent. I heard Howard is now looking for an agent





the five boats waited for the shootgun start.





We decided to move a little further offshore and a little more to the west were we had heard from Whitey and Jay that there was a nice body of fish. We ended up actually running a little past lines in to get close to the spot but still stopped short and started trolling towards the spot. I think the first fish was a striped marlin which quickly put Tim on the top of the leader board. Then all hell broke loose. We spent 2 hours watching sails and a few marlins come in wave after wave. After the initial excitement Tim settled down and got down to business and remained on top for quite a while.

[Squidnation]

So now Howard has got Sails ambushing tim from all directions. Teasers are getting crushed, bally's are getting mangled and Tim has a camera crew and chase boat documenting his every move. WHAT PRESSURE?









How about a double header - notice the flatline is bowed over as well.







Here he comes





The spanish fly with angler Meinor Oporto was on fire and ended the day with 18 sails and a blue marin.





Heres one from the day before I forgot to post

[Squidnation]

Poor Raechel our camera crew kept asking tim for play by play comentary. I wasn't gonna happen. hell he could barely breath let alone give an interview with a double header sailfish on and 4 more lurking around the boat waitin for his next bait.

[Capt. Brian Daley]

That was great Bill and thanks for sharing great pic as always nothin like having
your hands full pretty

[Squidnation]

When it was all over but the party Tim finished a very impressive 3rd place in his first ever WBS Championship. Congrats Tim, Captain Howard and Mates Alecran and Jose. You guys put on a hell of a show and I was just glad to have a first row seat.

A pretty impressive hanging mount at El Galeone Resturant during the awards ceremony



Here is Ted Smith hearing the news of him receiving the travelers award from the WBS.





Congrats again Tim



Thats WBS president Jim Simmon on the left and Sam (Swami) on the right.



Meinor Oporto receiving his Grand Champion angler trophy

[Glenn W]

That's what I'm talking about. Awesome shot Bill. BTW,big congrats to you, Andy, Jay, and all the other players.
.

[flatbottom]

awesome bill. Exciting to read and coupled with the bill pino world class photo's.

Thanks mucho