A strong tuna and wahoo bite brought anglers to the scales on day four.
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Phil Avalos, of California, landed a 73.8-pound yellowfin tuna in San Jose Del Cabo on day four.
The sixth annual Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic is the only free-entry fishing tournament on the Baja California Peninsula. A fleet of 100-plus boats set out from two ports — Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo — on the final day of the event. Only Los Cabos charter boats are allowed to compete in the Charter Classic.
Tournament director Dan Jacobs called for lines-in promptly at 7 a.m. on radio channel 28. All boats are allowed to fish until lines out at 2:30 p.m. San Jose Del Cabo had a flurry of wahoo and tuna hit the scales, with most fish weighed above the 20-pound mark. The fourth day of fishing was, by far, the most fruitful for anglers fishing out of San Jose Del Cabo.
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Top Junior Angler: Brandon Hanenberg, of Washington, landed a 25.80-pound wahoo aboard Tres Amigos (Cabo San Lucas).
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Top Lady Angler: Lois Murray, of British Columbia, landed a 25.80-pound wahoo aboard Fortuna (San Jose Del Cabo).
Junior angler Brandon Hanenberg, of Washington, landed a 25.80-pound wahoo aboard Tres Amigos out of Cabo San Lucas. Lady angler Lois Murray, of British Columbia, landed a 25.80-pound wahoo aboard Fortuna out of San Jose Del Cabo. No, they weren’t the same exact fish. Both anglers won their respective categories on day four of the event.
Any angler that released billfish on the final day of the event should send release photos to Dan Jacobs to become eligible for tournament prizes.
Yellowfin Tuna
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First Place Tuna: Brett Dick, of Oregon, landed a 95.60-pound yellowfin tuna aboard Fin Addict (Cabo San Lucas).
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Second Place Tuna: Nik Teal, of the United Kingdom, landed an 86-pound yellowfin tuna aboard Baja Mark (Cabo San Lucas).
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Third Place Tuna: Phil Avalos, of California, landed a 73.8-pound yellowfin tuna aboard Anzuelo (San Jose Del Cabo).
Brett Dick, of Oregon, landed a 95.60-pound yellowfin tuna aboard Fin Addict to beat out all other anglers for the top tuna prize on day four. Dick is headed back to the Pacific Northwest with a check for $1,800. Also in Cabo San Lucas, Nik Teal, of the United Kingdom, landed an 86-pound yellowfin tuna aboard Baja Mark. His hefty catch scored him $900.
Phil Avalos, of California, landed a 73.8-pound yellowfin tuna aboard Anzuelo in San Jose Del Cabo. Avalos’ catch was the largest tuna of the tournament caught in San Jose Del Cabo. For his efforts, he scored third place and a check for $635.
Wahoo
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First Place Wahoo: Stephen Francis, of North Carolina, landed a 52.10-pound wahoo aboard Rondinella I (Cabo San Lucas).
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Second Place Wahoo: Steve Vandermeer, of Idaho, landed a 33.80-pound wahoo aboard Blue Marlin II (Cabo San Lucas).
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Third Place Wahoo: John Griggs, of California, landed a 30-pound wahoo aboard Paraquita (San Jose Del Cabo).
Stephen Francis, of North Carolina, landed a 52.10-pound wahoo aboard Rondinella II. The catch broke the half-century mark to top all other wahoo catches in the 2018 tournament. His first-place catch scored him $1,800. Steve Vandermeer, of Idaho, landed a 33.80-pound wahoo aboard Blue Marlin II for second place and $900. The top two wahoo catches on day four came from Cabo San Lucas.
John Griggs, of California, landed a 30-pound wahoo aboard Paraquita out of San Jose Del Cabo. His third-place catch landed him $630. Nine wahoo were weighed in San Jose Del Cabo on day four—eight of those fish were in the 20s, only Griggs’ fish hit the 30-pound mark.
Dorado
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First Place Dorado: Travis Baker, of Michigan, landed a 19.40-pound dorado Mucho Loco II (Cabo San Lucas).
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Second Place Dorado: Martin Galindo, of Colorado, landed an 18.60-pound dorado aboard C-Rod (Cabo San Lucas).
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Third Place Dorado: Doug Hart, of Texas, landed an 18.00-pound dorado aboard Solmar VI (Cabo San Lucas).
Day four of the Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic saw more dorado hit the scales close to the 20-pound range. Travis Baker, of Michigan, took first place with his 19.40-pound dorado caught aboard Mucho Loco II in Cabo San Lucas. He earned $1,800 for the catch.
The second and third place dorado were also caught from Cabo San Lucas. Martin Galindo, of Colorado, landed an 18.60-pound dorado aboard C-Rod. His catch scored him a $900 prize.
Doug Hart, of Texas, landed an 18.00-pound dorado aboard Solmar VI for third place. Hart also weighed a 30.30-pound wahoo on day two to win third place. His third-place catches scored him $635 a piece, totaling $1,270.
No weighed dorado broke the 25-pound mark during the 2018 tournament.
As the 2018 Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic came to an end, registration records showed close to 460 anglers participated in the event. Numerous anglers told tournament committee members how much fun they had. Newcomers reveled in the tournament atmosphere, while veterans of the 6-year event thrived on the competition and celebrated at the docks.
To remember the event, plenty of anglers bought tournament shirts and hats. Many anglers asked what the dates were for the 2019 event. Next year’s dates are the Tuesday through Friday before the week of Thanksgiving in the United States: Nov. 19-22.
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.
