WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS

From the director: Changes due

2010 in planning stages

What is in store for 2010 at the WON/Yamaha Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot? We will keep our slogan of "fish hard, party harder." But, we will have plenty of needed changes enacted for the 12th running of the event. Here's some of the tweaks and adjustments.

We had a good year with 104 teams, up from 97, but in response to anglers and staff, we will likely enact these and more to make it a more fun, smooth-running event:

Most importantly, the weigh-in has been moved from the mall area to the new Tesoro area on the malecon, a huge improvement as a ramp is being moved and teams will have more room to dock, and they can walk right up the ramp to the scale, so it will be quicker for teams to get there, get to the scale for photos, and get back on the boats for more weigh-ins. The previous scale situation involved too long of a walk for teams and crowds, too long of a transition at the dock as boats were waiting to get their fish off. The new scale area will be right next to No Worrys, and the bar on the deck overlooking the scale area will be a great vantage point for the weigh-in.

IMPORTANT: For the first time ever, you can initially register as a team for a $100 deposit to be eligible for the Early Bird. All deadlines and requirements still apply. You can enter with that $100 deposit via the website www.wonews.com (and faxing in the entry form) or by mailing in the entry form. If teams sign up in Cabo at Pisces, they will have to wire the money to WON in San Clemente. We will not be taking cash of any kind in Cabo for entries or jackpots due to new Mexican tax laws.

The entry fee for each team will go up, after 7 years, from $700 to $800. As always, $400 of the team entry goes back into the overall payouts, for first, second and third place. The remaining money goes into purchasing items for anglers like hats, shirts, bags and food. This year sponsorships picked up little of the cost. Part of the tougher economy. That extra $25 per angler in 2010 is not for profit, it will go to the $15 Fiesta dinner on Friday and the cost of the bags and hats which cost $15 to produce.

DIRECTOR PAT McDONELL interviews the winning captain, Oscar Daccarett, after the FisherMan team's 383-pound fish was weighed in.

The Thursday party in front of Solomons Landing on the malecon has been moved to Friday to allow teams to rest on Thursday night and the dinner will be part of your entry fee. See above.

We will smooth out the check-in process: There will be two tables at check-in. One for teams with roster changes, another table for those without changes. Each team captain will receive a laminated card with his team number to put in his wallet, when he gets his confirmation. Instead of looking for names on the roster, team numbers will speed up the process. We will also mail out a four-set of waivers. Mail them back or bring them to Cabo for sign-in at the Tesoro pool area Nov. 3. (see schedule).

Better commemorative team flags. Bigger, better, made of cloth, from the good folks at Reactor Watches. Last year's year's tiny flags were a last-minute "mistake." Too small.

Two bars or two bartenders will be serving at the Tesoro check-in area. They couldn't keep up the pace from you thirsty folks this year, and I heard about it endlessly. I warned the hotel about the need for inexpensive taco bar/food and two liquor bars.

The construction next to the Hotel Tesoro should be ended, or should be much more quiet.

Check-in packets will have specific information of rules, schedule, and where to go to get the money train rolling if you win. This year we had a heck of time running down the people to pay them. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

New logo for the clothing, etc. Time to update a few things.

This year, you can request your team number. Just tell us your preference up to 100, and we'll see if it's still available. If it is available, it's yours.

A SMOOTHER, FASTER Awards dinner. Ruth's Chris did another great job. Two and half hours, max. Same schedule. Bar opens at 5:30, music at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30, awards portion starts at 7 p.m. and is done by 9 p.m. Unless the governor of Baja comes again for a speech ...and we again have a record number of teams win money. Usually it's five to six teams. This year it was NINE teams in the dough so it took a while longer than usual.

The charity portion is important, but in 2010, in an effort to raise more money and yet streamline the effort, it will be spread out over the three parties and a set of great trips will be obtained for people to bid on each night. These will be extra trips, above and beyond what we have for free drawings. We will again pass the hat at the awards. Some people appreciate the opportunity to contribute something they can afford, others feel put upon. No artwork is being planned for auction.

Reactor will be giving the winning team members four watches, engraved as Cabo Tuna Jackpot Championship watches. Very cool. We'll again have the cigars and engraved humidors for captains of the top three teams.

I'll talk less on the microphone. I promise.

Pat McDonell is editor of Western Outdoor News and directs the Tuna jackpot and Catalina White Seabass Championship in May at Catalina Island. He can be reached at pat@wonews.com