The 13th annual Los Cabos Billfish Tournament got underway Wednesday morning as its fleet of 42 boats and 220 anglers sped past El Arco into the Cabo San Lucas sun rise on the tournament’s first day of fishing.
Day One of the competition saw the fleet catch, video and release 14 billfish — two blue marlin, five sailfish, and seven striped marlin.
California angler Horace Barge of Team Chupacabra boated a 543-pound blue marlin after only a 17-minute fight to put the team into First Place Team as of Wednesday after fishing Day One of the three-day tournament. Chupacabra‘s blue topped the Day One Daily Marlin Jackpot Levels I through IV, and earned the team more than $70,000. Chupacabra is currently leading the tournament’s Largest Blue Marlin category and the Winner-Take-All Jackpot.
Team Angelina I is currently in second place after it weighed a 408-pound black marlin following the team’s three-hour-and-ten-minute fight. It is also leading the tournament’s Largest Black Marlin category.
In the Most Billfish Release Points Overall category, Team Miss Behavin’ is at the top of the leaderboard (based on time) with 600 points for the release of one blue marlin and one striped marlin. Team Auriga holds the second-place spot with 600 points for releasing one blue marlin and a Pacific sailfish. Currently in third place after day one of fishing is Team El Torito with 300 points for its two striped marlin and one Pacific sailfish.
The Day One Billfish Release Jackpot winner of more than $6,500 was Team Auriga for its blue marlin and Pacific sailfish. Miss Behavin’ wasn’t entered in the jackpot.
Team Karma 3 won Wednesday’s Daily Tuna Jackpot of just over $5,000 with a 216-pound yellowfin tuna caught by Bob Manroe of California. No dorado or wahoo were brought to the weigh-in, so Wednesday’s jackpots will roll over into the pots of fishing day two.
Thursday’s fishing is already underway, and lines-in for Friday is set for 7:30 a.m., with lines-out at 4:30 p.m. On fishing days, competitors gather at the Marina Cabo San Lucas Waterfront next to the IGY Marina Boat Ramp for weigh-ins. Follow the tournament action live with real-time scoring online at www.loscabosbillfishtournament.com.
For media information, contact Dan Jacobs at dan.jacobs@bonniercorp.com.
