Archive for November, 2010
World Billfish Series
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010Final leg of the 2010 WBS is the Presidential Challenge of Guatemala Nov19,20,21.IGFA rules apply except 20 lbs.test only provided by Tourney.IGFA observers on all boats.3 man teams,3 teasers(no hooks)3 hook baits which must be deployed behind the teasers,no dredges,no spreader bars,no pitchbaits.Dead bait only,#8 circles,all release format.Center bait only may be reeled up to fish that come up to teasers unless center angler is hooked up.Angler positions are rotated each hour.100 points each sail,500 marlin,6 hours fishing each day.
(All photos have captions when you mouse over them, and enlarge when you click them)
Day 1 The 4th teaser
Wednesday, November 24th, 201052 mile run,calm seas.32 miles from Mexican border.We go 12 releases out of 15 shots.1200 points..Most sailfish over 100lbs with a few “grande’s” mixed in.Bill Sullivan our IGFA observer gave me the nickname after my teammates scored on my misses.6th place
day 2 Moment of Glory
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010At 12:01 I release striped marlin (500 pts.)I’m the man…..10 minutes later a large black marlin pops up and JW in the center position reels up and the black falls off and nails it.After a 20 minute firefight with the cockpit often flooded the observer calls release…If I wouldn’t have seen it I wouldn’t have believed it was possible on a 20….JW is 2x world champion 20 lbs. angler and I saw why.Along with our 15 sailfish releases that day we score 2500 pts. and move into 4th place…..Only 2nd grand slam scored in the 14 year history of the tournament.
day 3 practice makes perfect ?
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010I go an amazingly inept 4 for 14.Creative breakoffs included a cutoff on a tortuga(turtle) and later bending a hook.This time teammate Edwin Tejada picks me up with an incredible 14 for 16 day to earn top angler daily.Our day 3 total of 22 releases (2200 pts.) keeps us in 4th place for the event.Our 3 day total was 5900 points with 49 sails,1 black and 1 striped marlin.I earn my second nickname in 3 days “San Cocho”.Much love and thanks to JW and Pat Bones of Port Aransas Texas for the invite.Thumper leaves for Costa Rica Dec.3.The Bones have invited me back to fish the Tred Barta tournament in Guat. on their boat MOJO next May as long as I promise to hire a Captain and practice this winter.