Hot Afternoon Bite Shakes Up Day One of 2018 Los Cabos Billfish Tournament

Team Carpe Diem boats a 467-pound qualifying blue marlin.

Michelle Gaylord, Out Your Front Door

Rick McShane, of team Carpe Diem, with their 467-pound blue marlin.


 

The first day of the 20th annual Los Cabos Billfish Tournament got off to an energetic start on Monday, October 15, with the fleet of 52 boats reeling in 35 striped marlin, 16 blue marlin, three Pacific sailfish and one black marlin. Teams also weighed two wahoo, one tuna and a monster 467-pound blue marlin, caught by Rick McShane of team Carpe Diem.

Carpe Diem won all four levels of the day-one daily Blue Marlin Jackpots, unofficially totaling at least $80,000 in prize money. The fishing team was not entered into the Largest Marlin Jackpot, leaving first, second and third place positions open after day one.

Team El Suertudo won the Day One release category, scoring two blue marlin and three striped marlin releases for the day. The team took home the Top Release daily prize, unofficially worth close to $8,700.

Estrella Del Norte and angler Eduardo Cota got on the board with a 66-pound yellowfin tuna that won the Heaviest Tuna Daily award for $6,150 unofficially. Angler Jesus Garcia on the El Animal earned his team $6,150 unofficially, with his 37.2-pound wahoo winning the top Wahoo Daily Jackpot. Nobody in the fleet captured a dorado that beat the 25-pound minimum, so the day one Dorado Daily rolled over into day two. All payouts are unofficial until the awards night on Thursday, October 18, 2018.

The Los Cabos Billfish Tournament is hosted by the Los Cabos Tourism Board, and produced by Bonnier Events, in partnership with Marlin, Sport Fishing and Salt Water Sportsman magazines. For up-to-the-minute hookup and scoring information during the tournament, view the live Catchstat scorekeeper at www.loscabostournaments.com. Also, check Facebook and Instagram for daily updates and photos.

The 2018 Los Cabos Billfish Tournament sponsors include Los Cabos Tourism, Lucas Oil Marine Products, AFTCO Fishing, YETI, Garmin Marine, Playa Grande Resort and Spa, The Marina at Puerto Los Cabos, Transcabo, King Sailfish Mounts, marine artist Carey Chen, Viking Yachts, Galati Yacht Sales, FONATUR, API Cabo San Lucas, Marina Fundadores, Fisherman’s Landing, Maui Jim sunglasses, Arnian Freight Logistics, Marlin magazine, Sport Fishing magazine, Salt Water Sportsman magazine, Shimano Fishing, IWS Scales, Accurate Fishing, Soundview Millworks, Jabsco, Rule, Gaviotas Sport Fishing Fleet, Black Smoke Cabo San Lucas, Hilton’s Realtime Navigator, Marino’s Coffee Shop, Wizzie’s Bar and Grill, Seakeeper, Taylor Offshore, and Papa’s Pilar Rum.