The magazine for all things Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
Serving the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo community since 1999
Available at select spots all across Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
The magazine for all things Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
Serving the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo community since 1999
Available at select spots all across Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
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FishingFishing Tournaments and ProgressBy Ed KunzeNovember kicks off our high season for fishing. Even though we have an outstanding year round fishery, the months of November and December could have a very good case for claiming the top two months of the year. During these two months, the water starts to cool down a bit, bringing in big game species such as huge yellowfin tuna and blue marlin, as well as the existing warm water species of dorado, sailfish, and roosterfish. However, this year we started off the season in October, with the first ever IGFA approved fly fishing tournament for jack crevalle and roosterfish. The event was held by founders Gary and Yvonne Graham of Baja On the Fly, I was the local director. Gary and Yvonne are the largest fly fishing outfitters in Mexico, with destinations all over Baja, mainland Mexico, and even Guatemala. The all-release Jacks Or Better Roosterfish Fly Fishing Tournament, held this month on the 7th, 8th, and 9th, November was an outstanding success. Sponsored by the Zihuatanejo Office of Conventions and Visitors (OCV), this tournament will be an annual event. In the tournament, two contestants fished in a panga with an experienced American saltwater fishing guide. The guide also acted as the boat observer for the IGFA and tournament rules. The guides even had their own competition, called The Guide Challenge. Each guide participated in skills such as fly casting for distance and accuracy, timed knot tying, and on the water points for each fish released by contestants on their boat. Top guide honors, winning $1,000, went to Jim Klug of Billings, Montana. The guides were incredible, with world class experience from the Marshal Islands, Australia, Belize, Baja, the Bahamas, and too many other locations to name. Each boat in the tournament had at least one story to tell where a roosterfish, of world record breaking size, grabbed the teaser bait and would not let go. I fought an estimated 70 pound rooster for over five minutes on the hook-less teaser, because it had taken a whole 2 pound bonito completely inside its mouth, and would not give it back. The theory is to keep the live bait away from the fish, and "tease" the rooster closer to the boat, so the fly caster can make a cast to the aggravated fish. When a huge rooster blind sides the hook-less bait, and takes it whole, it makes for a tough situation for both the guide and the fly caster. The winner of the Jacks or Better Tournament was Brian Berger of San Francisco, with his brother Michael taking second place. The high panga captain for the tournament was Adolpho on the Dos Hermanos. The next annual release tournament for Jacks or Better will be the conventional gear division on September 28, 29, and 30 of 2005, with the fly fishing division being a week later on October 5, 6, and 7, 2005. This coming December will also be the first annual Baja On The Fly blue water fly fishing tournament for sailfish. The Sails and Tales Tournament will be held on December 4, 5, and 6. The OCV sponsored tournament format will be similar to the Roosterfish tournament, with a Guide Challenge competition, and an experienced salt water guide on every panga.
The 15th, 16th, and 17th of this month is the date for the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Total Tag and Release Tournament. The offshore division is for billfish, with special awards given for the largest tuna and dorado. Double points are awarded if the billfish is caught using fly fishing gear. There is also a separate inshore fly fishing division. Both divisions are IGFA sanctioned, with the winner qualifying for the end of the year Rolex Tournament of Champions. After 5 years running, the Fintastic Total Tag and Release Tournament, with founder Paul Phillips, will not take place this year. As Paul states: "When I first came to Zihuatanejo, I quickly realized the world class fishery we have here, but it was also a killing ground for billfish." Paul developed the Fintastic 100% Tag and Release Tournament to educate the captains and deckhands. Instead of the contestants reaping the winning money (and freebees donated by the sponsors), most of the proceeds went back to the winning captains and deckhands. The idea was to develop a release industry here in Zihuatanejo. By rewarding the actual people who had been doing the killing, they would realize there is more money in it for them to release the billfish. All of Paul's goals have been met, and the tournament is no longer needed to teach the captains and deckhands about releasing bill fish for future conservation. I definitely feel we should all tip our hats to people like Paul Phillips for the Fintastic Tournament, as well as the other ongoing release tournaments, such as the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Total Tag and Release Tournament, US Anglers, and Tournament Anglers Assoc. Progress for the conservation of our fisheries has to start somewhere. Tournaments, managed and fished by dedicated anglers, have been the fore runners. Speaking of progress, this last September about 1500 local shop keepers, restaurant workers and fishermen held a peaceful march protesting the use of facilities other than the Municipal Pier, and the indiscriminate killing of sea life by long line operations. A "long line" is a thin nylon chord, with a leader and hook about every 60 feet. They average 3 to 4 miles long when deployed from a panga. All fish species (including sailfish), sea turtles, and birds, are attracted to the hundreds of baited hooks. Once they eat the bait, they are dead. I believe a serious statement was made by virtue of the captains and deckhands participating in the march. Five years ago, it would not have happened! |
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