Results from day one of the 2018 Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic.
Day one of the 2018 Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic.
The only free-entry fishing tournament on the Baja California Peninsula started with a bang on Nov. 13, 2018, as a fleet of 100-plus boats set out from two ports — Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo — for the sixth annual Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic. Only visiting anglers on Los Cabos charter boats are allowed to compete in the Charter Classic. Weather conditions were tough on Tuesday, the first day of fishing, with heavy winds out of the north, especially in San Jose Del Cabo.
The radio start from tournament director Dan Jacobs called for lines-in at 7 a.m., and the boats headed out to fish until 2:30 p.m. Most boats in San Jose Del Cabo came back to the docks by 1 p.m. for their half-day trips. Boats in Cabo San Lucas often fished until lines out.
Several billfish releases were reported, with photos sent to tournament director Dan Jacobs. Most of the billfish released on day one were striped marlin. Frank Evaldi, of North Carolina, fished aboard Cowboy and released both blue and striped marlin the first day of the event.
Top Tuna
Anglers fishing out of Cabos San Lucas swept the tuna category on the crowded day offshore.
Bob McKee, from the United Kingdom, landed a 127.10-pound yellowfin tuna on La Brisa to score first place in the division and a check for $1,800. Both second and third place checks went to angler Jack Challis, from the United Kingdom, who weighed a 58.3-pound tuna and a 48.70-pound tuna caught on The Office, worth a total of $1,535. Although the anglers were not fishing on the same boat, they were part of the same fishing crew that traveled together from the United Kingdom to fish Cabo San Lucas.
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Bob McKee, from the United Kingdom, landed a 127.10-pound yellowfin tuna on La Brisa.
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Jack Challis, from the United Kingdom, weighed a 58.3-pound tuna caught on The Office.
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Jack Challis, from the United Kingdom, weighed a 48.70-pound tuna caught on The Office
A number of yellowfin tuna were also caught in San Jose Del Cabo. The top two catches — a 44.9-pounder and 30.9-pounder—were not heavy enough to score in the top three positions.
Dorado Delights
The top three dorado catches on day one of the 2018 Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic were all weighed in Cabo San Lucas. At least for the first day, Cabo San Lucas had the top dorado and yellowfin tuna catches, while San Jose Del Cabo scored the largest wahoo.
Joe Assenza, from Indiana, weighed a 23.60-pound dorado on La Nueva Red Rum to score first place in the division and a check for $1,800. Second place went Michael Walker, of Texas, on the boat Adriana. He landed a 17.20-pound dorado to earn $900. Third place went to lady angler Meredith Amador, of California, on the boat Jessica. Her 17.10-pound dorado won $635. Competition was fierce, as a number of other dorado weighed in the 16- and 17-pound class just missed out on third place
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Joe Assenza, from Indiana, weighed a 23.60-pound dorado on La Nueva Red Rum to score first place.
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Second place went Michael Walker, of Texas, on the boat Adriana. He landed a 17.20-pound dorado.
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Third place went to lady angler Meredith Amador, of California, on the boat Jessica. Her dorado weighed 17.10 pounds.
One Wahoo and One Weehoo
Only two wahoo were landed on day one of the tournament, and both fish were weighed in San Jose Del Cabo. Because there was no third-place fish weighed, the other two anglers split the third-place prize money of $635.
First place went to angler Daniel Costello, of California, with his 47.5-pounder aboard Estelita. Costello had fished the Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic in past years and was excited to weigh a first-place fish. His catch earned him $2,117.50.
Cameron Renaud, of British Columbia, Canada, fished aboard Lupita and landed a 6.6-pound wahoo. It took Renaud a little bit of convincing to weigh his fish because he didn’t think it would place in the top three spots. His wahoo scored him a check worth $1,217.50.
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First place went to angler Daniel Costello, of California, with his 47.5-pounder caught aboard Estelita.
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Cameron Renaud, of British Columbia, Canada, fished aboard Lupita and landed a 6.6-pound wahoo.
Top Performers
Rounding out the first-day awards was the winners of the junior angler and lady angler categories. Barbara Marks, of Wisconsin, fished aboard the Cabo charter boat Bob Marlin and caught a 44.90-pound yellowfin tuna. Hunter Cardoza, 9 years old, of California, landed a dorado just shy of ten pounds. Fishing aboard the Cabo charter boat Sniper with family, he landed the 9.50-pounder like a champion.
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Barbara Marks, of Wisconsin, fished aboard the Cabo charter boat Bob Marlin and caught a 44.90-pound yellowfin tuna.
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Hunter Cardoza, 9 years old, of California, landed a dorado just shy of ten pounds.
The Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic continues through Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.
The 2018 Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic is presented by Los Cabos Tourism, Visit Mexico, YETI, API Cabo San Lucas, Lucas Oil, Puerto Los Cabos, Playa Grande Resort, FONATUR, FONMAR, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Marina Fundadores, AFTCO, Transcabo, Carey Chen, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Gaviotas Sport Fishing Fleet, Fisherman's Landing Bar, Marinos, Black Smoke Barbeque Joint, Wizzies Bar & Grill, Marlin magazine, Sport Fishing magazine and Saltwater Sportsman magazine.
