A $747,500 payout is nothing to sneeze at. The 18th Annual WON Yamaha Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot broke its own records for payout an attendance this year. With 168 teams and more than 750 people in attendance at the awards ceremony, it is one of the largest tuna tournaments in the world.
Tournament Director Pat McDonell described it as, âan exceptional experience and the last two days of weigh-ins have been epic.â
First place and the Championship went to Team America anglers David Macklis, Angelica Cota and Juan Collins, all from Los Barriles, Mexico. The team was led by Chucky Van Wormer, son of Baja pioneer Bob Van Wormer, fishing aboard the Tu Corazon. The team landed an enormous 298-pound yellowfin tuna, the second largest in the eventâs history. The team earned $179,975 for: first place overall, Day 1 $500, $1,000 and $2,000.
Accepting the award, Van Wormer explained that the team name âTeam Americaâ was chosen to honor the 11-year-old niece of the captain who lost her battle to cancer on Nov. 3, just a before they began the first day of fishing. We were so sad for the loss of Americaâs life, but we felt she went straight to heaven and was watching over us.
Former winners, aboard Reel Quest with Captain Ty Valley captured second place with Brad Stevenson, of Northbrook, Illinois; Dick Landfield, of Yorba Linda California; Henry Arras, of Temecula, California; and Bill Savage, of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. They received the largest payout ever in the history the event, $392,350 for: second place overall, Day 1 (161-pound) $10,000, Day 2, $500, $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, $5,000 and $10,000.
Dick Landfield commented, âIn all my years of fishing, I have never, never had the team that we have now. I couldnât be happier as an owner with our team!â
Other winners also included:
⢠Team 62, Jones, Vaquera, Robert and Christina Jones, Cincinnati OH, Billy Senters, New Richmond, OH and Zack Nell, 3rd place overall $4,175
â˘Â Team 111, Lux Team, Picante Pride, Diego Ferrer, Luxembourg 53.2-pound wahoo, Day 1, $60,400
â˘Â Team 133, Team Dr. Pescado 11, Jamie Rendon, Cabo San Lucas BCS 52-pound Wahoo, Day 2, $60,400
â˘Â Team 140,Team Reel Gold, Murray Wright, Cabo San Lucas, Dave Patterson, Jon Crawford, Vancouver, BC, Paul Bonovich; 230-pound tuna, Day 1 $3,000 and $5,000, $110,000
The total amount raised for this yearâs charity âSmiles Internationalâ totaled $40,000 that will be matched by the pharmaceutical industry.