Los Cabos Billfish Team Winner Takes Home $84,650
We’ve been updating the results of the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament (with an assist from Evily from Bonnier Corp.). Here are the final results:
CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (Oct. 17, 2016) — Fishing remained surprisingly steady over the three days of the 18th annual Los Cabos Billfish tournament, with anglers even getting a slight uptick on the last day. The fleet of 37 boats released a total of 95 video-verified billfish: 56 blues, 36 stripes and three blacks.
In the end, team Pangalisa reeled in a first place overall victory, thanks to a 378-pound black marlin caught by John Domanic on day two. Team members Mike Hennessy, Gonzalo Castillo, John Domanic, Phillip Davis and Alfredo Castillo earned $84,650 and an invitation to the 2017 Offshore World Championship.
Last year’s Los Cabos Billfish Tournament winner, team Reel Energy, came in a close second overall with a 370-pound blue caught by Brian Walley on the first day. Anglers Luis Zumaeta, Steve Hewitt, Brian Walley, Tawny Walley and Capt. Horace Barge took home a check for $58,400.
In an exciting twist, team Chupacabra combined a third-place overall finish with an “all-in” entry form to take home the largest share of the winnings in this year’s Los Cabos Billfish Tournament. While the other two teams landed fish only in the Level I and Level II daily categories, angler Blake Stamper’s 321-pound blue marlin — caught during the last two hours of the final day — earned the rolled-over Level III and Level IV dailies from day one and day two, all four dailies for day three, and the Winner Take All Jackpot for a whopping $226,050.
On the Chupacabra were Capt. Clay Hensley, Jason Douglas, Blake Stampler, Don Stampler, Bo Jenyns and Don Logue.
New for this year, tournament officials awarded a Top Captain cash prize to Capt. Gonzalo Castillo on the 31-foot Edgewater, Pangalisa. His team brought in the tournament’s biggest catch, the 378-pound black marlin. Capt. Castillo received $8,500 for leading his team to victory.
A total of $451,200 was awarded to the winning teams, in addition to prizes including King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Furuno chart plotters, Bolle Sunglasses, Penn Reels, Yeti Coolers, Accurate Reels, Carey Chen artwork, Hook & Gaff watches, Lucas Oil gift certificates, XTRATUF boots, AFTCO Rod Belts, gaffs, gloves and Champion Apparel for the winning team.
Presented by the Los Cabos Tourism Board in an effort to highlight the area’s exceptional fishery, the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament represents one of the longest running big-game tournaments on the Baja California Peninsula.
More results below. View the full story here: Los Cabos Billfish Tournament Final Results
RESULTS
Overall Team
First Place: Pangalisa
Second Place: Reel Energy
Third Place: Chupacabra
Overall Release
First Place: Sol Pursuit
Second Place: Expedition
Third Place: Reel Quest
Fourth Place: Sea Angel
Billfish Daily Jackpot
Day One: Sea Angel
Day Two: Sol Pursuit
Day Three: Reel Quest
Wahoo Daily Jackpot
Day One: Santi I
Day Two: Oh So Rojo
Day Three: Reel Gold
Tuna Daily Jackpot
Day One: Reel Quest
Day Two: Feeling Azul
Day Three: Rocky Mountain Hooker
Dorado Daily Jackpot
No qualifying dorado were weighed during the event. Prize money for this category was split between the six winners of the tuna and wahoo dailies.
Top Captain
Capt. Gonzalo Castillo, Pangalisa
