The results from day 1 of the 2017 Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic.
Ron Hittel landed this marlin on day one of the tournament.
The only free-entry fishing tournament on the Baja California Peninsula is underway, as a fleet of 90 boats set out from three ports — Cabo San Lucas, East Cape and San Jose — for the Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic. Weather conditions were favorable on Tuesday for the first day of fishing with light winds and a moderate swell.
The radio start from tournament director Dan Jacobs called for lines-in promptly at 7 a.m., and the boats headed out to fish until 2:30 p.m. Several billfish releases were reported and anglers fishing out of San Jose swept the tuna category on this nearly picture-perfect day offshore. A.J. Summers from Winnetka, Illinois, landed a 66.2-pound tuna on Jacqueline to score first place in the division and a check for $1,800. Both second and third place went to angler David Martin from Hudson, Colorado, who weighed a 56.8-pound tuna and a 50.5-pound tuna caught on Killer II, worth a total of $1,535.
While San Jose had the hot tuna bite, it was the Cabo fleet that led the dorado category. Top honors on day one went to Doug Hart from Rosenburg, Texas, with his 16.8-pounder on Sol Mar VI for $1,800. Second place winnings of $900 went to Sandy, Utah, angler Robert Post for his 16.3-pound catch on Baja Raider. Taking third place was angler Tony Divino from Holladay, Utah, pulling in a 14.2-pound dorado on Baja Raider that earned him $635.
In the wahoo category, angler Lois Murray from Cranrook, British Columbia, won first place with a 25.1-pound catch on Paraquita in San Jose. Murray was the top prize winner for day one by also winning the lady angler division and splitting the third place wahoo prize for a grand total of $2,117.50. Paula Haycock from Draper, Utah, claimed second place and a share of the third place prize with her 7.9-pound wahoo caught while fishing on Baja Raider out of Cabo for a payout of $1,217.50.
Rounding out the first-day awards was the winner of the junior angler category, Kieran McSween from Middletown, California. Kieran pulled in a 12.9-pound tuna while fishing on Cheers in Cabo.
The Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic continues through Nov. 17.
The 2017 Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic is presented by Visit Mexico, Visit Los Cabos and BCS Contigo, Fitues Baja California Sur, Lucas Oil, Puerto Los Cabos, Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort, Playa Grande, Silverados Sportfishing, Solmar Sportfishing, Costa, RedRum, IWS Scales, King Sailfish Mounts, Pisces Sportfishing, AFTCO, Transcabo, Carey Chen, Gaviotas, Fisherman's Landing Bar, Marlin magazine and Sport Fishing magazine.
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1st Place Tuna, 66.20 pounds Angler – A.J. Summers from Winnetka, Illinois Boat – Jacqueline, San Jose Prize - $1,800 and King Sailfish Mounts Trophy
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2nd Place Tuna, 56.80 pounds and 3rd Place Tuna, 50.50 pounds Angler – David Martin from Hudson, Colorado Boat – Killer II, San Jose Prize - $900 and King Sailfish Mounts Trophy
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1st Place Dorado, 16.80 pounds Angler-Doug Hart from Rosenberg, Texas Boat - Solmar VI, Cabo Prize - $1,800 and King Sailfish Mounts Trophy
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2nd Place Dorado, 16.30 pounds Angler-Robert Post from Sandy, Utah Boat-Baja Raider, Cabo Prize - $900 and King Sailfish Mounts Trophy
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3rd Place Dorado, 14.20 pounds Angler-Tony Devino from Holladay, Utah Boat- Baja Raider, Cabo Prize - $635 and King Sailfish Mounts Trophy
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1st Place Wahoo, 25.10 pounds, and top lady angler Angler- Lois Murray from Cranrook, BC Boat-Periquita, San Jose Prize - $2,117.50 and King Sailfish Mounts Trophy.
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2nd Place Wahoo, 7.9 pounds Angler-Paula Haycock from Draper, UT Boat- Baja Raider, Cabo Prize-$1,217.50 and King Sailfish Mounts Trophy
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Top Junior Angler, 12.90-pound tuna Angler-Kieran McSween from Middletowwn, CA Boat- Cheers, Cabo Prize- King Sailfish Mounts Trophy
