Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3819 Aug 30-Sep 13 | Page 33

BAJA ROUNDUP Aug 30 - Sept 13, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 19 31 15th Annual Van Wormer Resorts Dorado Shoot Out Boasts Over $150,000 In Prizes T he 15th Annual Van Wormer Resorts Dorado Shoot Out was held at Hotel Palmas De Cortez saw the richest jackpot in tournament history awarded to the winners. This year’s tournament saw 125 boats with more than 400 participants all hoping to win a 2019 Volkswagen Amarok 4x4 diesel pickup and more than $145,000 in cash jackpots. The $145k jackpot was the biggest in the tournaments history, even though there where 19 less boats from the record 144 boats in 2018. This year’s winning team, Team 52 Card Pickup with Anglers Chris Moyers, Aldo Ojeda and Jimmy Diaz was made up of local business owners that teamed up to fish the event on the 28’ cruiser El Loco out of the Hotel Palmas De Cortez. Captain Allan and deckhand Victor put the team on a 25.1lbs. dorado early in the day and ended up being the winner. The dorado was landed at approximately August anglers working plugs off the East Cape have been trading punches with some very nice wahoo. Photo courtesy of VAN WORMER RESORTS, East Cape, Baja. 9:30am by angler Aldo Ojeda, but was not weighed until almost ten minutes to 4pm. The team was across the board in all the jackpots so they won the VW Amarok and took all of the $145k in cash. Second place went to a familiar name to the tournament Team Borrachos with Anglers Don Southard, Bill Refice and Rhonda Butler. Team Borrachos has won the event two prior years and was in line to win their third title until Team 52 Card This happy angler was fishing off the East Cape this August when this bull dorado decided to strike. Photo courtesy of VAN WORMER RESORTS, East Cape, Baja. Pointers For Dorado Dorado (or mahi-mahi as they are called some places or dolphin fish as they are called in other places) are one of the world’s most popular gamefish, and it’s no mystery why that is. They are spectacularly colored, fight hard and jump when hooked, and taste delicious. They are abundant in Baja and because they are a fast-growing, short-lived fish they are hungry more often than not. They die of old age around 5-6 years and attain a maximum weight of around 90lbs. In terms of offerings most dorado are caught on trolling lures such as rubber skirts meant for marlin or sailfish or feathers meant for Tuna. They also hit trolled plugs such as Rapalas. If dorado are concentrated in an area, either through chumming or because there is a piece of floating debris, a wide variety of lures may be cast to them. A favorite is a popper, which they will readily eat. If they are fired up they will pretty much eat anything. Dorado mostly eat fish so traditional baitfish such as sardines and Pacific Mackerel work well. Larger fish will eat larger baits. Dorado have relatively small mouths but it always amazing how they can somehow still engulf rela- tively large baits. Inshore anglers working East Cape waters are encountering some big bad roosterfish. Photo courtesy of VAN WORMER RESORTS, East Cape, Baja. LOCATED JUST 3705 Pickup weighed in with just 10 minutes to go in the tournament. Team Borrachos fished on the 28’ Cruiser Bite Me and landed a 20.2lbs. dorado to secure second place. Third place went to the father and son team of Michael and Colton Burton fishing on the 28’ Cruiser Chureya. The father and son team landed at 19.0lbs. dorado to take home third place in this year’s tournaments.