TOURNAMENT THUNDER
3/1/2007 2:52:00 PM by Ashley Bretecher
Find out why the LOS SUEÑOS SIGNATURE BILLFISH SERIES proves that the world’s hottest sportfishing destination is also home to the most prestigious tournament series to ever take place in Central America.
Photos by Peter Caspari
No one who participated in the first leg of the 2007 Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series presented by CABO Yachts knew what to expect, but after three days of tough, adrenaline-pumping competition, 54 teams battled it out to catch-and-release a combined total of 454 billfish, including 49 marlin and 405 sailfish.
Although the fishing was slow at times, spirits were high at the start of the tournament. Predictions were flying at check-in and registration, but the marlin bite would separate the winners from the losers. Word around the docks was that the marlin bite was excellent, but that teams would have to search hard and far to find the sails. The stage was set for an interesting, world-class tournament.
Day 1
Things started off slowly, which made for some fierce competition. It was clear though from the very beginning that Stephanie Lee, a 63-foot Acy, was the one to watch. With 13 sailfish releases and one marlin, Capt. Tony Carrizosa and anglers David Trombley, Jeff Stafford, John LaGrone and Mitchell Pierson took a commanding lead. Dealer’s Choice, High Hook, El Jefe Grande and Adios charged the line again and again, but in the end it was Stephanie Lee who won the daily with 1,800 points and a 400-point lead over Dealer’s Choice.
Day 2
This day proved to be more than just an angling competition. The teams were on the hunt for fish, taking their boats out to fish along the 50-mile tournament limit. Stephanie Lee showed her peers once again who was in command by catching and releasing three sailfish and two marlin. She raced to the front of the line with 1,300 points and a 200-point lead over anglers Robert Del Vecchio, Peter O’Leary, Ty Visscher and Ron Schatman aboard Desperado, a 60-foot Bertram captained by Jeffrey Schatman. High Hook, a 45-foot CABO captained by Carlos Arguedas, came in third with 1,000 points after anglers Larry Allison, Einer Tenorio, Carlos “Coco” Cambronero and Elmer Narvaez released five sailfish and one marlin.
Day 3
On this day, the competition for second and third place became even more difficult. Stephanie Lee was well past the other teams and had already guaranteed her first place finish overall. However, El Jefe Grande, a 62-foot Viking captained by Victor Lopez, slid into first place for the day after anglers Daniel Arrieta, DeCarol Williamson, Sean Patrick and Miguel Villaga caught and released six sailfish and two marlin for a total of 1,600 points.
In the end, Stephanie Lee took her rightful place at the top of the podium with 4,600 points over three days of fishing. High Hook came in second overall with 3,000 points and El Jefe Grande placed third with 2,500 points.
THE AWARDS DINNER
At the awards dinner sponsored by CABO Yachts later that evening, Los Sueños President and CEO William Royster presented the winning teams with checks for their share of the tournament’s $140,250 cash jackpot ($70,125 to first, $40,075 to second, $28,050 to third) and trophies featuring Bodo Muche bronze billfish sculptures. Each angler also received Costa Del Mar sunglasses. All three winning teams received a humidor with cigars provided by La Casa del Habano and a framed print from Rick Bogert. The first place boat also received individual trophies for the captain, anglers and crew.
SECOND LEG
The 2007 Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series wraps up with its second and final tournament March 15-18. The March tournament is now full; however, entries for the 2008 tournament series (January 9-12 and March 12-15) are now being accepted at LStournaments.com. The total cash prize jackpot is expected to exceed $300,000, and the boat with the highest combined score from the first and second tournaments will receive a guaranteed grand prize of $50,000 from the tournament promoter, Los Sueños Resort and Marina. And with an offer like that, next year’s tour will give this year’s turnout a run for their money.