Too Awesome & Awesome take 1st & 2nd place in the Rancho Leonero Tournament

This tail walking marlin continues the May madness

Barely a football – but any sashimi is good sashimi

Jim and Lynne Merry with Kim and John Plotkin from Denver, Colorado

Captain Adan Ruiz aka “The Adonis” strikes a pose alongside Jose Sandez

Flanked by  beautiful bow riders while on the hunt for tuna

Celebrating the 16th Year of Rancho Leonero’s ‘The Baja Tournament’ May 20, 21, 22, and 23rd. Out of 8 boats fishing we’re proud to share that ‘Too Awesome’ took first place and ‘Awesome’ took second!

Kim Plotkin, owner of ‘Casa del Sol’ in Rancho Leonero, along with her husband John and their friends were the first place winners on board ‘Too Awesome’ with Captain Adan Ruiz. The first day out they caught and released two striped marlin off Punta Colorado, then headed 20 miles offshore to pick up three tuna 15 to 20 pounders on a school of dolphin. The marlin were caught on the bait and switch with lures bringing them in and the marlin devouring ballyhoo which were well tossed and got the action. Things slowed down the second day with Kim’s team picking up and releasing a striped marlin caught very near the shore at the Lighthouse. On “Awesome”, once again it was our well-loved client ‘Lucky Tuna Tim’ Galli along with two friends onboard with Captain Luis Duran. Conversely for ‘Awesome’, the first day started slowly as they caught and released a striper. The second day heated up and Tim and his team caught and released three stripers on ballyhoo the second place win.

The start time for this tournament is the standard 7 am, but providing an interesting competitive and challenging twist is that lines out are at the early time of 2 pm!

It’s always gratifying to help our clients and guests on board to win tournaments. But the best part of this tournament was that raised $3000usd to provide high school scholarship funds for East Cape students through the dedication and hard work of ‘The Guild’ organization. Congratulations to Bruce Borgreve from Ranch Leonero for coordinating this great effort and to everyone who participated.

Chasing Life’s “100 Year Warranty” by Fishing to its Fullest

 At a remarkable 96 years old, Robert Howell is fishing for life’s “100 Year Warranty”

An experienced driver in the fishing chair staring down on a tail walking marlin

Unfurling a beautiful sailfish the final day of fishing

A family farewell on a final day of fishing from Robert Howell and sons Jim and Rob

If you’ve been doubly blessed by a superb gene pool, and if you live your life chasing fish, then perhaps you’ll be able to expect that, as Robert Howell does, you’ll cash in on life’s ’100 Year Warranty’! At 96 years old, he’s just 4 years shy of pulling down on the big centenarian gold ribbon of life. In the meantime, he’s living it to its fishing fullest. Following a 25-year long spring time tradition of fishing in Baja’s abundant East Cape, Robert and his two sons, Rob and Jim, all from Denver, Colorado, have just finished five stellar days aboard ‘Awesome’ with Captains Luis in the Bridge and Adan on the deck. Collectively they saw fit to make us proud each day as they came to the shore with flags flying high. First day out, Robert caught a marlin(!) – by himself, with a wee bit of help to manage the release; then added a dorado to boot. Second day, just to up the game, they looked for a more elusive fish and Robert then caught himself a wahoo in the trench off the sand dunes south of Frailes (and our 6th wahoo in the past two weeks!) Then he made sure he’d have plenty of dodo in the cooler for the summertime BarB in the Mile High City and finished off the week with our first sailfish of the season.

Each day ‘Sr. Roberto’ wears a neatly tucked white button down long-sleeved fly fisherman’s shirt, coupled with long khaki pants, shoes and socks. He has a gentlemanly air about himself and he’s spry and shockingly agile – during the five morning and afternoon shore boat loadings onto the ‘Weesome’, he never so much as got his feet wet. Likely more gangly now than he was in his youth, his long legs and long arms bear witness to what must have been a solid, muscular frame. for sun protection.

After fishing out of Punta Colorada for 25 years, it was an emotional and reluctant transition when the remote hotel was shuttered. Further, Robert’s sons Rob and Jim knew their father loved the wide open space and accommodating fishing platform they had found aboard the 12-1/2 foot beamed Island Hopper that worked from Punta Colorado. Moving over to Los Barriles and into the heart of the East Cape, the sons were determined to find another boat like the one they had enjoyed. They found the ‘Awesome’ and immediately knew with Captain Luis Duran in the bridge they’d found their new team. We’re so pleased and proud that they did and we hope to be here to help Robert cash in on that 100 year warranty.

 

Honeymoon Marlin Mania!

A sunrise morning aboard Too Awesome, the honeymooners start with dolphins on the bow

Fiona’s shouting “Let’s GO, let’s GO, put the hammer down Capitan Adan, marlin are waiting!”

Seriously. There were marlin flying everywhere – hooked up or not hooked up!

Woohoo– we’re hooked up! New Uncle Daniel inspires nephew Owen.

Aspen grew up visiting her Grandma Helen in Los Barriles, but its Daniel’s first time to Baja and now his first Marlin! A quick pic then back in the water.

April’s an old hand at the hook up, but the fourth marlin gave the girl’s a heck of a fight!

Team Awesome is all hands on deck “Need any help with the release, Captain Luis?”

Say Marlin Mania!

Friday was marlin mania off the Lighthouse and Cabo Pulmo. There were marlin flying through the air that were hooked up to boats, marlin flying through the air that were not hooked up to boats – everywhere you looked, it was marlin marlin marlin. And for ‘Too Awesome’, it was an Awesome family day with newlyweds on board and joined by their extended family. New groom and first time marlin fisherman Daniel Sykes, 26, from Bullhead City, Arizona was ecstatic to catch the first of four released marlin. Brother-in-law Brady Blackmer, 30, from Fruita, Colorado had to hold on for a ride as a monster 200-pound striper ripped line and stayed at bay for almost 45 minutes. A successful release then saw Father-in-law Ray LeBlanc, 63 from Hemet, California hook up for the marlin acrobat show of the day. The fourth marlin, another monster gave the ladies a go, with bride Aspen Sykes, 25, taking the first turn, mother Darlene LeBlanc, 61, up second, sister April Blackmer, 31, on third and finally brought to the boat and released by Charlie Blackmer, 25 of Grand Junction, Colorado. Captains Adan Ruiz and Luis Duran make the day seem like a walk in the park, and created an incredible fishing honeymoon for the couple who just walked down the wedding aisle.

Having this much fun before noon, the group then cruised into the Bay at Frailles south of Cabo Pulmo for snorkeling, swimming and an onboard lunch feast. The Sea of Cortez lived up to its reputation as ‘The World’s Aquarium’ today!