| Finastic's 2002 Total Tag & Release Billfish Tournament |
By Paul Phillips
Pepino and the Whisky II Capture Top Honors for Three Years in a row
Three in a row for Capt. Jose Luis “Pepino” Servin and Whisky II. This year with Dr. Ken Ellis and Roland Ramirez. Pepino has now sent three different teams to the Rolex/IGFA Invitational Tournament of Champions.
After three years of finishing in the money, Dr. Ken Ellis and Roland Ramirez finally got the invitation they have long hoped to receive. They head to Cabo San Lucas May 10-16, extending an invitation to Capt. Pepino to join them as a team member.
Team “Marlin Azul” with anglers Bud Keeney, James and Joyce Mead placed a close 2nd, also for the second year in a row with Captain Javier Vargas. Once again, donating all the team’s winnings to the crew.
IGFA Auction Winner John Costello with anglers Tony Parnell and Jose Baez, fishing with Capt. German Magana aboard the “Bacalao II” finished a close third.
The captain’s meeting & welcoming party banquet were catered at Rick’s Bar in Zihuatanejo. Saturday evening’s awards banquet was also held there. At the banquet, the awards of cash for the anglers and lots of quality tackle and gear prizes for the crews where presented by director Ed Kunze and tournament founder Paul Phillips.
The top Captain & crew received a matched set of the new Lamiglass Offshore rods, a handmade leather fighting belt inscribed “Winner Fintastic’s 2002”, Bushnell Marine binoculars, Sufix line products, Sunglasses compliments of H20 Optics, custom made tuna gaff, tag bags from the Billfish Foundation, and the new Cutco fillet knives plus a Shimano TLD 25 for the largest Dorado. Over $4,000 US in tackle to all the crews, an auction prize donated to the IGFA with a value of over $1000 and over $3,900 cash to the anglers.
A huge fourth year success, Fintastic’s Tag and Release tournament caught a total of 18 Sailfish in three days under adverse conditions. Just prior to the tournament, a tropical storm dropped 18” of rain during 4 days. This unusual storm moved the blue water out about 40 miles or more, making for very tough fishing.
No fatalities of sailfish were recorded during the entire tournament.
Next year’s tournament is scheduled for November 20-22, 2003 in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, go to http://www.fintastic.com/zih-tour for more information or talk to Capt. Ed Kunze.
December 2002
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