Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3725 Nov. 23-Dec 7 | Page 32

32 Nov 23 - Dec 7, 2018 BAJA ROUNDUP VOL.37 • ISS. 25 Charlie Lee Overall Winner In Bisbee’s Black and Blue Tournament A 510-pound black marlin on the final day of the Bisbee Black & Blue Tournament was worth a staggering $3,004,900 to angler Charlie Lee and California-based Team Chinito Bonito. Lee, from San Diego, is no stranger to prize fish; in a previous year he took home $7,020, a far cry from this tournament’s $3,004,900. The second largest payout in the history on Big Game Sportfishing Tourna- ments. Total Black & Blue Tourna- ment jackpot payouts amounted to $3,693,625 announced tournament director Wayne Bisbee. The 2018 event had 114 teams competing in the waters off the tip of Mexico’s Baja California both in the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez. Earlier, rough and roiled seas as a result of Hurricane Willa made things difficult for the anglers, but on the final day the water flattened and skies turned blue. It took Lee and the Chinito Bonito Team 1 hour, 37 minutes to boat the marlin. After landing the giant black, they headed back to the weigh-in station where their prize catch was confirmed as team members celebrated. A beautiful Beach Resort located half way between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas, right on the Sea of Cortez Fish Baja’s East Cape at Martin verdugo’s Beach resort Cruiser Packages Include: Room for 4 nights, 5 days, 2 days of fishing, tackle, breakfast & lunch, 28 ft. supercruiser w/captain & mate Call Now For Information! 3203 Martin verdugo’s Beach resort www.verdugosbeachresort.com Call Toll Free: (888) 567-8552 (949) 226-7169 Or 01152 624 141 0054 E mail: martinverdugo@prodigy.net.mx John Keizer and his family took a trip to the East Cape this November and nailed some very large dorado. Photo courtesy of VAN WORMER RESORTS, East Cape, Baja. Crab/Rockfish Combos Get Off to Great Start No doubt the beginning of out in deeper water, and thus, the crab ‘n’ cod com- the boat tends to fish bo season is one of the deeper water for the highlight events the rock fish. Usual- of the year. The ly, the deeper water thought of hitting the means that there briny deep for a day is the possibility of of fun and coming putting a few more of back with limits of the more colorful rock both big juicy first fish in the bag. of the season crabs With the big plus and succulent rock there also is some- by Steve cod fillets is a sea- what of a negative. food eater’s dream “Hippo”Lau Aboard quite a few come true! Andf the of the cod boats season continues as it has hitting the shallower water, all with the opener, one may one needs is a little deeper be able to finish up the day spooled bass reel filled with without having to stay out all 20 or 25lb. superbraid and a day. flippin’ or pitchin’ One of the benefits of hav- type rod to fish the lures ing the cod fishing coincide necessary to hit the bottom. with the crab season is that Not so on most of the combo the pots are typically placed trips. Outfits that can easily SALTY TIPS handle 4 to 8oz. jigs are more of the norm,and if the the swells are up, one may have to resort to using one pound weights and shrimp flies to hit pay dirt. The effort will be worth it all if the stars align and the moon is in the right position and you hold your mouth just so. Imag- ine just trying to buy 20lbs. of crab after the commercial season starts, and then piling on all the codfillets to the mix. You can easily pay out more than what it costs to get on a combo boat and it will not be as fun. Depending on the time and tide and the weather and whatever other factors thrown in, combo boats are leav- ing out of Berkeley Marina, EmeryvilleSportfishing, and Princeton Harbor. No doubt maybe Fisherman’s Wharf may have a boat or two go- ing out, but normally, that is not as sure a bet as the other three landings. Already this opening has been much more success- ful than last year when the biotoxin scare kept crabs a no-no for much of the season. Let’s face it, a 10 crab limit is very generous, and all that crab amounts to a lot of good eating, but this begs the question: “Is there a best way to cook the crab?” Next time around, I’ll delve into that very ques- tion. Understand, every- one’s tastes is different, but I’ll try to scientifically answer that question.