Tourney History

WESTERN
OUTDOOR NEWS

CABO TUNA JACKPOT:
Always evolving for more fun,
with 12th annual event set Nov. 3-6

Signups are coming in far faster than in 2009

CABO SAN LUCAS -- Signups are coming in at twice the pace of last year's Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot, slated for Nov. 3-6. Yes, twice.

"We're pretty excited about it," said Tuna Jackpot Director Pat McDonell. "Last year was a real waiting game and not fun being on pins and needles, but we actually ended up with more teams than the year before. Maybe this time we're dealing with a lot of people who either work ahead on things, or we're seeing an influx of teams who want to try it, and those who took a year or two off because of the economy. Or it could be because you can sign up for the basic entry online (wonews.com, click on events) with a credit card and people are just getting in quick and adding rosters and jackpots later. Whatever the case, we're looking forward to a great event."

This web site www.loscabostunajackpot.com now contains rosters of teams signed up, new features, updated information, entry forms, rules, charterboat information, sponsors prizes, special contests, a feature on several teams planning another trailerboat adventure to the Cabo tourney and beyond, an archived 11-year history of the event and links to special sponsors deals on rentals cars, the Cabo marina and hotels.

"It's all there for you to see how the tourney works, plus gallery photos, and if you click on video under 2010 features, you can see the You Tube video and related videos put up by teams last year," said event director Past McDonell.

Of course, readers can also go to the official WON website, www.wonews.com and go to the COUNTDOWN TO CABO blog for the latest news. The blog, renamed Cabo Tuna Jackpot Results during the event, will eventually be the spot to read the blow-by-blow accounts of the Nov. 3-6 event by WON writers as it unfolds each day.

New weigh-in venue, free Fiesta event on Friday, great Tesoro hotel and National rental Car deals, free gifts and a serious shot at big money keep teams coming back; NINE teams won money last year!

CABO SAN LUCAS -- It's coming off a record-setting year in which a 383-pound yellowfin won the 2009 championship, nine teams won money and the event increased in participation last year. Fish Hard and Party Harder is the slogan for the WON/Yamaha Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament, now in its 12th year, and slated for Nov. 3-6.

Get a team together, extend your summer and fishing season, and head down for the fishing and a chance to win money and prizes over four incredible days at Land's End.

More than a tournament: "We love the tournament because it's not just the usual deal where you sign up, get a goodie bag, fish and have an awards party for the winners. Bam, Bam and your done." said Dan Adams. "At your tournament, there's the drawings and parties at night. It's more than a tournament, and Cabo is really going off that time of year during tournament season. There's a tournament ever week, and the place just cranks to a full-on level of partying that time of year. My team wouldn't miss it."

Compete at any level! When you think in terms of cost, the Tuna Jackpot is for anyone.

"For those who have not done the event and wonder about it, I tell people to just come down and see how it works and not spend a fortune. Treat it like a fishing vacation with the family or guys. You can fish in a panga, enter only the basic fee as a team for $800, stay at the Tesoro right on the marina and go to all the parties, get the free gifts, the catered Fiesta on Friday, the Saturday Yamaha awards dinner catered by Ruth's Chris, you are in the free drawings every day, fish and party over four days and have a shot at some big money for finishing first through third place," said tourney director Pat McDonell.

THE HOTEL TESORO is again the official hotel of the tournament and offers redecorated rooms with marina views at low rates, free breakfast, shuttle to Medano Beach's Nikki Beach Club, and hosts the check-in and Costa Sunglasses Captains Meeting the first night. Photos courtesy of the Tesoro

"Let's see, for $200 a person to enter a four-man team, you get a great way to fish Cabo instead of the usual type of fishing trip. The two flare gun starts alone are worth the price of admission! Plus, besides all the other stuff I mentioned, there's the Mustad Photo Contest, the Berkley Knot Tying Contest and the Sticker Contest and the $10,000 Early Bird Drawing."

At it's most basic level the cost is $800 to enter for a team of up to four anglers. And two guests are allowed on a boat, and two crew for a total of eight. Only the four team members may fish, however.

Optionals jackpots: There are the optionals, of course, and that makes the tournament even more thrilling. Note that the cost of entering the jackpots is based on entering both days. The jackpots have not changed this year, and teams may enter all or none or any number or combination of the optional daily jackpots.

The tuna jackpots for both days are $500, $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, $5,000 and $10,000. Remember, you will be competing only against the other teams in each jackpot, each day. The minimum size tuna is 30 pounds.

"These past few years, some teams have opted to enter only one or two of the upper jackpots," said McDonell. When you are competing against only 20 teams in one jackpot and 10 teams in another for a lot of money, the odds of winning are pretty good. Like I always tell people, you don't have a huge fish to win, or even a big fish, just a fish bigger than the other guys who in your optional each day. And, each day is a new day for every optional. If no one gets a qualifying fish in an optional, it folds over to the next day. If no qualifying fish is caught by a team in an optional the second day, the winner of the optional the first day gets the money.

"Even last year, when a 385-pound fish came in that first day, it didn't shut down the chances for the teams who were in the optionals because the Fisher Man team wasn't in all the jackpots, and the second day's optionals were a clean slate. Nine teams won money last year, a record."

Wahoo/Dorado optional: Of course, included in the jackpot formula is the $1,000 Wahoo/Dorado Optional.

THERE WERE NINE winning teams over two days at the Cabo Tuna Jackpot last year. From the 383-pound Fisher Man team's championship fish that took first place overall money and four first-day optionals to the Picante Fleet's winning of the $10,000 optionals with a 103.2-pound yellowfin. Photos by Rich Holland

"That was instituted four years ago and nearly every team enters it because there's some serious money it in each day, and when you don't think a tuna is anywhere close to you, a team can always feel as though a dorado or wahoo might hit the baits or lures. There's usually about $30,000 in that optional each day, so a blind strike on a 40-pound dorado or wahoo can be a nice surprise."

New weigh-in venue! As McDonell pointed out, the tournament will be better than ever with every major sponsor coming back, the weigh-in will be moved to a more convenient spot on front of the new Tesoro hotel entrance on the malecon and we'll have three great parties."

McDonell added all three parties are now included in the cost of entering.

"People enjoy the great Solomon's food and the atmosphere on the malecon of the Fiesta on Thursday night, but we decided we just didn't want to keep charging $15 for it each year, so we included it in the entry fee. And we moved it to Friday so we can give teams a rest on Thursday as they still have a day to fish. We'll just condense the prize giveaways."

The tourney begins with a bang at the festive check-in poolside at the Tesoro with live music by Doe Huevos, followed by the captains meeting and Costa Sunglasses Party. The hotel promises extra help at the bar by the pool, and a casual barbecue or taco bar. Last year the bar couldn't keep up with the demand. (they were warned we have a lot of thirsty folks at the event!).

Also back for the check-in festivities will be the Mustad Photo Contest, the Avet/Seeker/Berkley Casting Contest and the Berkley Knot Tying Contest with some great prizes of tackle and cash.

Events/Weigh-ins/Parties! Those Wednesday "startup" activities will be followed by the exciting shotgun start Thursday morning off the fabled Cabo arch, then the weigh-in that afternoon at the new Tesoro malecon area. That will be "it" "officially" for Thursday.

"There will be no party that night so those who need to rest can do so. However, for those who want to party that night, we planned an unofficial rock and roll party for 9 p.m. to midnight at the Hard Rock Cafe and nightclub," said McDonell. "It'll be a great time and dance and drink, but there will be no drawings and no charge. There's just not enough room to make it an official event."

On Friday, the shotgun start kicks off the final day of big-money action, then the weigh-in, and then we'll all get cleaned up and enjoy a Fiesta on the malecon, catered by Solomon's Landing that in recent years had been held Thursday night. Again, there will be no charge this year. It is included in the entry fee. Great food, a video show with highlights of the shotgun starts and parties, and free drawings, the awarding of the Mustad Photo Contest award and the Tuna Jackpot Sticker Contest will be part of the evening.

THE FLARE GUN starts are thrilling to watch and experience, no matter where you are standing. Photo by Luis Duhart

When the Fiesta ends that evening after a long day on the water, some anglers will head for their pillows, others will march off to the nightclubs of Cabo.

After that two days of fishing, weigh-ins and partying, teams and families and friends will all relax Saturday with pool or beach time and finish things up under the stars at the grand finale, the Yamaha Awards Party Saturday night at the Puerto Paraiso mall beside the marina, again catered by Ruth's Chris.

That's four days of high-end tuna competition and fun -- mixed in with tequila, music and $150,000 in prizes in prizes for three nights of drawings.

Free gifts: "There will be plenty of gifts and drawings at each event. Each team member will also receive a Tuna Jackpot hat or visor, t-shirt and high quality embroidered backpack or large tote bag and other gifts at check-in, which is again going to happen under the big shade tent at the Tesoro's pool patio," said McDonell.

Tesoro the host hotel: Perhaps the biggest change of the event, a major improvement for anglers and spectators, is the move of the weigh-in from the mall to the front of the Tesoro hotel on the beautifully redesigned area on the malecon, among the many major improvements at the hotel.

"The Tesoro's new, expanded and landscaped malecon area near their new hotel entrance and lobby will be a great weigh-in venue with our own scale, and the Cabo Marina is doing us a great service and is putting in a ramp directly in front of the scale so people at the scale can see the boats and the fish arrive and the teams can walk up the ramp right there amidst the huge crowd.

Added McDonell, "It should be two great parties those days with several restaurants and bars like Hooters, Solomons's Landing, No Worrys the perfect bars and restaurants to hang out party during the weigh-in as the fish come in. There will be shaded areas to sit, elevated bars (No Worrys) and great music... and exciting weigh-ins."

Hotel Deals with Tesoro! The Tesoro, with its new mid-hotel entrance, is more convenient than ever, and is offering great hotel rates that include free breakfasts and two free daily shuttles to its Cabo partner Nikki Beach Club (Melia Hotel) at Medano Beach.

Of course, the Tesoro Hotel is again the official host hotel and the site of nearly all of the event's tourney parties and weigh-ins and close to all of the Cabo action in town and near the marina. And it is by far the best deal in Cabo.

This year the rates have an added value, as they also include breakfast at the pool patio restaurant.

The Hotel Tesoro is being upgraded each year. Last year the rooms were refurbished. This year, teams will appreciate the mid-hotel lobby and entrance. The new first floor lobby in the middle of the huge hotel features new elevators, a coffee bar, a patio overlooking the marina, elegant and modern decor, and easier access to the marina-view rooms throughout the massive hotel.

There is a special tournament rate for teams and their families. You need not be an entrant to get this rate. Friends and family and sponsors are also welcome to this special Tuna Jackpot deal. And the prices extend days before and after the tournament for booking convenience and longer stays.

The rooms have all been redecorated. Rooms (rates are double occupancy) for one or two people (single or double) with a city view are $65, a deluxe marina view room for one or two people (king size) is $70, and a junior suite with marina view with two queen beds is $85 for two people and $115 for three and $135 for four people. Taxes are not included, which are $17 per night per room.

"That is a fantastic rate for this renovated hotel right on the marina that is close to many of the tourney events and the town itself and its fishing boats," said McDonell. "The new lobby is beautiful and is mid-hotel for more convenience, and the check-in, the weigh-in and the Fiesta party on Friday are all right in the hotel or in front of it."

Rental Car deals: Also, another sponsor, National Rental Car, is offering discounts to tournament anglers. They have a desk in the lobby, or you can go to the link on the Cabo Tuna Jackpot website (click on the logo) for the great rates.

"Hard to believe, but you can get a car and hotel room with a marina view with Tesoro and National for as little as $100 a day," said McDonell. "Cabo just got a lot cheaper!"