World Cup Tournament

[dennishaussler]

Hi everyone,
I wanted to announce that the second World Cup Bluewater will be held in La Ventana Mexico in october of this year. I've attached a flyer for the meet this year.
Last years meet was attended by top divers from Brazil, Australia, and the USA.
This year we have divers from Canada, Brazil, Guam, Australia, and the USA coming to see who can defeat Ian Puckeridge from OZ to take home the cash.
Last years 1st place finish awarded 2000$ US, with prizes from Rob Allen, Daryl Wong and Aimrite, 20Fathoms, DeSea Baja, and Palapas Ventana filling down the order to 11th place.
I plan on ratcheting up the prize money, as well as top equipment for competitors, and the logistics and accomodations will be first class.
Last years meet was met with high praise, and I've taken what we learned from last year, and made changes to make it even more fun and world class than ever.

If your interested in diving this comp, please contact me directly at dennis@20fathoms.com

Everyone had an absolute blast last year, socializing with divers from all over the world, and the La Ventana area of the gulf is spectacular with first class diving.

Let me know if anyones interested, and dive safe.

Dennis Haussler

[scubadown16]

I attended last years meet. As well as will be attending this years meet... Being a novice and very green at Blue water hunting I was apprehensive about doing it. Dennis Runs a top notch meet and brings in guys who are both competitive as well as Helpful. I meet so many guys who were willing to help someone like myself out with tips and locations and diving techniques. The accommodations are top notch and the people who cook the meals and and help out with all the little things are some of the best people you'll ever meet. Here are some photos from last years meet. THANKS AGAIN DENNIS

James

[Red Tide]

I am in. :thumps: Just marked my calendar and asked permission from my boss for the time off ;)

[Mattedhead]

I'm working on it myself, maybe I can drag a couple of the Carolina clowns down there.

[virgili]

To go from an extreme (herring run 3-5 Oct/Atlantic Coast) to an other (WCT/ Pacific Coast) is very exciting and promising!
Palapas ventana may 2006: hammerhead dead among a sardin school.

[dennishaussler]

Update on the sponsors for the World Cup,
Heres who we have onboard as of now.
Riffe
Suunto
Daryl Wong and Aimrite
Flordia Freedivers and Rob Allen
20Fathoms

In addition to the cash purse, looks to be some nice booty for this event.

Dennis Haussler

[Red Tide]

I sent my deposit check in Tuesday and Jerry Guerra sent his in yesterday. There has got to be some more Florida / East Coast guys out there to represent. I did some research on the area and it looks like the tournament is being held in the prime Bluewater Hunting season. Big Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Billfish.............I am excited :yay:

[deepdown]

Anybody from the East Coast willing to team up with me and head down there?

lmk,

Gerald

[Dignan]

Anybody from the East Coast willing to team up with me and head down there?

lmk,

Gerald


I may be up for it, i checked flights, they're not too bad out of jacksonville. under $800., I'm checking with work....

Ryan

[Dignan]

Checks in the mail, i'm in..... :thumps:
Anyone planning on being there a few days early? i'd sure like to make th most of it and dive that sat sun before....$160 per day for lodging, boat, and meals. hard to beat.

Ryan

[deepdown]

Ryan, I'll probably fly in on Saturday the 6th... Should be able to dive Sunday.

[scubadown16]

I will be flying in early myself... I did last year and it was a great time... Lots of fish.

[virgili]

I plan to leave Halifax (East coast Canada) sat. 6 oct and to arrive at la Paz afternoon late. Palapas is about 1h from airport. Keep in touch?
info@spearfishingmotion.com

[Dignan]

sounds good, i guess there will be plenty of folks around looking to dive that weekend. :beer:

[scubadown16]

For all of you who plan on going.... I'll give you a tip on getting really cheap air... I did this last year and I was suppose to go with Dennis down there here on the 13th of this month but some other things came up. But I did this this time as well. Check www.kayak.com It is a search engine for air fair. It will give you a link to the web site of your choice for airfare. If you sign up for there updates which is free. It will keep a record of your searches for you so you don't need to put all the info in each time you visit. It will also track the last 90 days of what the price was. I live in Colorado and for a ticket to La Paz it has changed between 480. and 650 on the low end of airfare so start tracking it and when you see it go down around that low end Buy your ticket then. Don't wait till your two weeks out as it may not come down in time to get a good rate. If you give me your location I can track it for you as well if you don't have the time. Take care and look forward to meeting and competing against you all.

[Cuban Mule]

I need some more info on it, but I'll definietely pull th trigger if everything fits.

Is it individual or teams? How many per team?

[deepdown]

Derek,

It is all individual, and there will be 2 divers per boat. You can dive together, but results only count individually.

PM Dennis, he has all the info you'll need. I know there are only a few spots left.

See you there.

Gerald

[scubadown16]

This is a well organized meet with two people per ponga. You are teamed up with one other guy. As a team you need to decide were you want your ponga guy to take you. But what ever fish you shoot is yours and yours only. This is NOT a team event. The Ponga guy will keep your fish seperate. I recommand teaming up with someone that is similar to your style of living and diving as you will be roomed up with that person as well. If you need to call Dennis to talk to him let me know I can give you his email address or phone no. to get all the info you need. Take care.
James

[scubadown16]

I have been checking air and It looks like I can get in on the 5th. Is there anyone who would like to dive with me on the 6th out of La Paz??? We can hit the Island of Spirit de Disontu. or El Bajo Then on the 7th we can dive in the tournament area if you wish.. Let me know what your thoughts are... Take care

[timhatler]

This Years World Cup Tournament will be top notch
featuring friendly dive knowledgable Captains (Im working with all of them on my current trips in preparation for the tourny)
Great accommodations - at my place and neighboring beachfront houses
Fabulous food - you might actually gain weight
and the tournament is raising money and supplies for our local primary school here in La Ventana
PALAPAS VENTANA is very proud to welcome you to this years WORLD CUP tournament ...Please contact Dennis Haussler to sign up - Check out pics of our area, fish, and last years tourny at www.palapasventana.com

[monster slayer]

This Years World Cup Tournament will be top notch
featuring friendly dive knowledgable Captains (Im working with all of them on my current trips in preparation for the tourny)
Great accommodations - at my place and neighboring beachfront houses
Fabulous food - you might actually gain weight
and the tournament is raising money and supplies for our local primary school here in La Ventana
PALAPAS VENTANA is very proud to welcome you to this years WORLD CUP tournament ...Please contact Dennis Haussler to sign up - Check out pics of our area, fish, and last years tourny at www.palapasventana.com
You won't regret, the casitas are beautiful and the landscape is just Awesome. Great bluewater action. Thumbs up!! :thumps:

[scubadown16]

Ok so here So you want to know what things look like down in La Ventana.... Right??? Your saying to your self. " So what can I expect for my money " Well here you go. Some of the best fishing in all of Mexico. Not tomention VIEWS. Look at the view from the pool at the place were we will be having breakfest and Dinner... Well worth every Penny... Get your money in as soon as possible as I know Dennis will limit this tournament and you don't want to be the guy or gal who can't go because you himed and hawed about weather or not it is going to be worth it. Take care all

[So-Cal Spearo]

We can hit the Island of Spirit de Disontu. or El Bajo Then on the 7th we can dive in the tournament area if you wish.. Let me know what your thoughts are... Take care

haha its espiritu santo

[scubadown16]

haha its espiritu santo

Thanks for the spelling test... :stupid:

[westpalmspearo]

are there still spots left

[scubadown16]

are there still spots left

Yes.. But you'll need to send your Deposit. of 500. bucks to Dennis ASAP. I talked with him the other day and he said that there were only a few more spots left as he has already recieved deposits from most. So I suggest you contact him and send him the deposit. I believe he is going to cap this tournament out at some where around 30. Divers.

[Shroomy]

This Tourney sounds great, but i have virtualy no bluewater experience. I have a few trips planned between now and then but i don't want to be that guy. How much us the entry fee and should i go with minimal exp.?

[scubadown16]

This Tourney sounds great, but i have virtualy no bluewater experience. I have a few trips planned between now and then but i don't want to be that guy. How much us the entry fee and should i go with minimal exp.?

You have to get started some where.... Right.... Well what better place then in an area that holds lots of fish with lots of guys who can help you out and give you tips and teach you something about blue water hunting. I had never dove blue water until this tournament last year and I had very little ocean freediving experence. I learned so much in that week. I even managed to come in 9th out of 24. So don't let your lack of experiance keep you from coming to this tournament. The tournament fee which includes everything except your airfare is 1665.00 US dollars. So you'll have 5 days of diving, lodging, food, pongas, and Transfers from the air port. I am not sure how many spots are left. You'll need to contact Dennis Haussler. Send me a PM and I'll give you his cell phone no.
James

[scubadown16]

I think the trophy for this tournament already has my name ingraved on it. I like the way it looks. This is a picture of the trophy. When you see it in person it will have Ian Puckeridge name on it from being the winner last year. I think my name looks good on it what do you guys think??? Take care
James

[virgili]

Very nice trophy!

[LA Diver]

Alright I just read this thread and I want in on this action. Can someone tell me if there are any openings left and is anyone from the Gulfcoast going?

[retrosub]

Dennis, maybe you can post a list of the competitors and where they are located. Flying into Cabo is often cheaper/easier, and we may be able to share a ride to La Ventana. I can probably arrange for one of the pangeros to pick us up at the airport. It's a couple hours ride through scenic Baja, made all the better sitting in the pickup bed with a ballena in hand! (Ballena is spanish for "whale", and also used for large bottles of beer.)

[scubadown16]

Just got done checking www.kayak.com for air fare. I have been checking flight cost for the past two months the cost from Denver to La Paz just went down to 480 I checked Jacksonville as well its 608 today and Boston is 660 Just thought I would let people know that if you can afford it now you better jump on it befor they go up again. Take care.

[Gui]

Hy Hunters!

Well I´m from Brazil and very interest to go on this championchip. Well I probably have to fly by L.A. and from there to Cabo or La Paz I dn´t know Any tips from you guys?

I´m trying to see who´s coming from here. And make the trip together.

Take care Looking forward to get there!

[deepdown]

Hi,

Check out the site mentioned above, www.kayak.com they will search all possibilities to get there for you. It is fast and effective.

See you there.

Gerald

[BajaBum]

Can i participate in this tournament if i live in La Paz, and i have my own boat?

[scubadown16]

Can i participate in this tournament if i live in La Paz, and i have my own boat?

Check your PM's

You need to contack Dennis Haussler about participation.

[scubadown16]

So you all know how I have been talking alot about watching Kayak for cheap airfair. Well here you go. A friend of mine who is a travel agent said check this site out and you could do better. Well sure enough I got my flight for quit a bit cheaper with less stops and on the airlines I wanted. I am flying in on the 4th of October and leaving the 13 from Denver R/T for 504 bucks. Check out www.atiflights.com Best of luck to everyone.
James

[Dignan]

Just finished booking my flight and sent in my final payment!!!!! I checked out the atiflights.com site, definitely found a few cheaper fligts, but ended up booking oneoff travelocity to get the times i wanted. i'll use the atiflights in the future, thanks for the heads up James. :beer:

i arrive friday the 5th @ 5:35PM, leave Saturday the 13th @ 6:30AM.

The 6:30 flight will be tough. any later and i couldn't find one that got me home to florida on saturday. at least it will give me sunday to recoop before work .....

getting excited.....

[deepdown]

Cool guys, I'll be in the 6th out of Miami, also flying back out the 13th. It should be a great time.

Dive safe,

G

[freedivehunt131]

Is any body from the gulf coast going?

[virgili]

I'll arrive Sat. 6th at 5pm. from Halifax and leave Sat. 13th.

[retrosub]

Alrighty then, anyone flying in/out of San Jose Del Cabo (SJD) please PM me, I'd like to share a ride.

[FishFighter]

Good luck Mario and Dennis!!! Slay em!

[scubadown16]

I hope everyone is as excited as I am... I think I have packed and unpacked, tinkered and redeveloped things about a million times so far getting ready for this tournament. I have bought and sold guns, sharpened a bunch of spears, gone over my notes from last year, spent countless hours on the internet doing research on everything from freediving to ocean currents and temps. Can someone speed up the hands of time so that I can just go do this thing already. What is everyone else feeling like??? I hate living in a land locked state with only freshwater fish to shoot. I am ready to get after the big boys and put some steel into there diet. I'll get of my:soapbox: Take care all

James

[Dignan]

Can someone speed up the hands of time so that I can just go do this thing already.

Rent the movies Timecop, Back to the future part II, and Freejack.

those will be a good place to start. holy crap im excited too, i cant wait

:yay:

[scubadown16]

Rent the movies Timecop, Back to the future part II, and Freejack.



:yay:

I already wore out my DVD player from watching all of my videos on spearfishing. I have started to replay them now in my sleep. My living room looks like a yard sale because I have all my crap spread out so that I can go over every single piece with a fine tooth comb. I learned a lot from last year on packing equipment. I know what not to bring now so I have extra room and weight to spare. I am in the process of building a camera mount for my gun so I can have some video to show all my friends back here at home what I do. They don't believe me when I tell them I dive underwater to shoot big fish that can pull you around. They think I am crazy.

[float 'n stalk]

Rent the movies Timecop, Back to the future part II, and Freejack.

those will be a good place to start. holy crap im excited too, i cant wait

:yay:



good one











:D

[scubadown16]

24 days and counting... I just got done putting some weight into my gun. I took my new Wong out for some testing this weekend and it is deadly. Can't wait. I also played around with mounting my camera to my gun to do some video as well. That turned out pretty well. I still need to fine tune it a bit thou. What is everyone else up to??? Take care
James

[deepdown]

I'll be dialing in the BW cannon this weekend in the Keys. There will be plenty of yellowtail to practise on, and if I can hit those, the larger fish shouldn't be a problem.

See you guys in a few weeks.

G

[bajahunter]

I'll be in La Paz on those dates, well camping at Espiritu Santo really, can you post the program to see if I can drop by and check out the weigh ins, awards, etc.
And is it OK just to watch...??

[scubadown16]

I'll be in La Paz on those dates, well camping at Espiritu Santo really, can you post the program to see if I can drop by and check out the weigh ins, awards, etc.
And is it OK just to watch...??
I am sure that it is fine to watch... The weight ins will be at 4pm on the beach in front of Palapas Ventana Resort each day as the Pongas arrive back to the beach. There is no weight in on Wednesday thou. That is a R and R day. As far as the awards go that will be held on Friday night time T.B.D. But your welcome to call Dennis Haussler or send him an Email. Let me know if you need his contact info.

[timhatler]

Atnn World Cup Spearos

get excited - fish action is good here at Palapas Ventana

wahoo in the 25 - 50 lb range - if you whack one look for another following the first!! talk it up with your buddy
keep a 2nd gun handy

lots of underwater billfish sightings - including groups of 2-3 sailfish
plus an ocassional beast

and small yellowfin tuna in masses with a few 40-60 lbers lurking below

Bull Dorado breezing by buoys and high spots

Cant wait to show you guys a great time this year...if you cant make it ...plan a trip on your own, Id love to host you anytime April - Oct

[scubadown16]

One week and counting... I think I have officially checked out already thou. My mind is always thinking about hunting those fish. I can see myself diving down and sticking my head up in some cracks and shooting some nice fish. I fall asleep at night visualizing my dives and watching big dodo's and wahoo and bill fish slide into me and pulling the trigger and watching my floats speed by my head. I wake up thinking about what crap I need to get together that day to get ready. GOD I CAN'T WAIT. Looking forward to seeing you all down there
James

[virgili]

A cool video about a prety nice cubera caught last year off Palapas...
http://www.spearfishingmotion.com/videos.html?current_page=2&video_id=128&lang=en

[scubadown16]

If I am not mistaken I believe that its a controversial Record because I believe that it was later recovered on the surface floating after it couldn't be retrieved. and the I had heard that the ponga driver assisted with a scuba tank. But that is just what the rumor is. But its still a great video and catch none the less. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

[scubadown16]

:thumps:Less then 24 hours till I leave.... Yea.... I am all packed up. It was fun deciding what clothes to take. I decided to pack shirts that I could toss as I am hoping to have lots of fish to bring back and I am already at Max weight... I found a really cool callapsable cooler that is my carry on bag down there and my fish transportation back. I could only bring 3 guns with one extra shaft each and I am at full weight on my gun box. Wish they would raise the min weight for bags. Oh well. I hope you all have a great trip getting there. Look forward to seeing you all soon. Safe travels

James

[deepdown]

Damn, I am taking 3 guns also, but have atleast 3 shafts for each... Last thing I want is run out of shafts on the grouper and Pargo before the tourney starts....

See you guys in a few days.

Gerald

[virgili]

I'll bring 2 guns: 69" Steve Alexander/ 2 shafts + Monosocca Carbo Titanium 130cm/ 2 shafts. Travel light is always an headache!

[dennishaussler]

You guys got to quit worrying about 25$.
Thats what they charge if your over weight, up to 75 lbs.
I figure I';m gonna have one bag over weight, and resign myself to the 25$ charge. Then, if they don;t hit me, which is highly likely, I;'m ahead of the game.
You wouldn't believe how much stuff I have to bring down!!!!!!!
2 RA guns, 2 Pelaj guns, estra shafts for tim, kinves, t-shirts, more t-shirts, buoys, bungies, BIG ASS trophy, gear and clothes for wife and two kids,,,,,,,,,
I got lucky in that Brock and Chris are driving down in an Excursion, so they took a bunch of stuff with them. As long as the banditos, or federales don;t confiscate it all, we;re in business!!.
See ya in la ventana amigos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dennis

[virgili]

Bad weather (windy++) the day before day 1... so we have to do snorkelling or to do some training close to the beach in the reef. Tomorow is an other day.

[LwrKzUndrH2OHunter]

Good luck everyone and please dive safe!

[Ed Walker]

The dude on the right looks familiar.......

[virgili]

1st day: 26 competitor and 2 fish landed!! A bluefin trevaly caught by my buddy James Hardesty (Pic) and an about 10 lb wahoo... swell and wind.
1st tournament price: 3000$ cash!!!

[sticknrelease]

Nice shootin' James, Colorado boy in the big blue sea and still slingin' steel! Keep it up and take the trophy!!

[virgili]

Day 2. Only 2 divers landed fish!!: my buddy, James (dorado/ milk fish) and Iann Purkinge.(We did a SF trip to NZ, one of the best spearo and a pretty nice personality).I Did few video.
We met by chance 3 marlins but the visit was short...

[virgili]

Purky and a nice 70lb SF

[virgili]

Purky and a nice 70lb SF... very sorry " PUCKO"

[virgili]

Break today... no gun.

[virgili]

Day 3: back tto the beach...

[ICEMAN]

Congratulation to "ROOSTER" on his nice roosterfish !!!!
:thumps:

[dennishaussler]

Congratulations to Ian Puckeridge from Australia on his second win at the World Cup Invitational in La Ventana!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike Mcguire closed the gap yesterday with a 75# sailfish, dorado, and a bonito.
BUT, Ian seemed to have some sort of fish scent in his suit today, taking a sure shot on a 15# wahoo intead of gambiing on the larger one which went 80#. Then went up the island to land a 57# rooster,back to reynita to have the 80# hoo swim around him for awhile, ignoring the other 6 divers there. He also had another rooster roll up to him while looking for jacks on the inside.
Mike finished the day with another dorado to secure second, and lots of wahoo and small tuna seen with a few more taken.
Great day, and excellent way to end the meet!!
Looks like I have to come out of retirement for next year!!!!!!
story to follow, as soon as james returns to the keys.
Dennis

[wvandeman]

Sounds like an awesome time out there. Can't wait to see more pics.

[John Galt]

Do you have a list (or a link to) the official standings? Curious to see what fish ar landed out there.

[jeffcroci]

yum!!!! jack crevalle, roosterfish, and sailfish. what did you guys do with that stuff?

jeff

[dennishaussler]

yum!!!! jack crevalle, roosterfish, and sailfish. what did you guys do with that stuff?

jeff

You missed the milkfish dude,
everything that could be sold was, and the money was donated to the local school towards a sun shade for the kids.
Between my contribution, Tims contribution, and the money from the fish,we contributed close to 1700$ to the school construction fund.
They took everything but the milkfish. That was used as burley the following day.

[jeffcroci]

cool! thats good to see, I hate to see wasted fish, and even most of the mexicans seem to turn their nose up and the toros, gallos and sailfish. congrats on the great donation!

jeff

[dennishaussler]

Theres a new thread to this, showing the standings and a quick report on the meet. I don;t know how to highlite it, so heres the link.
http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=53473

Dennis

[Divedog]

Hey Dennis, When is the next years Tournament going to be? If you do it again at Palapas Ventanas the weather might be better in July or August. I did 2 trips this year in July and September with them and they are awsome. I am just soooo pissed I missed this Tourny.

[dennishaussler]

I'm working on changing the dates to july, probably mid july.
PM me at dennis@20fathoms.com, and I'll add you to the invite list.
Dennis

[dennishaussler]

Heres the standings and a report from the meet.

La Paz World Cup standings and story

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK,
Heres the way it went after 4 days of comp.
25 divers, 16 took fish.
#1 Ian Puckeridge Australia 196.25 pts
#2 Mike Mcguire USA 97.20
# David Shelton USA 55.65
#4 Craig Classen USA 53.20
#5 Alex Bristol USA 31.45
#6 James Hardesty USA 30.65
#7 GR Tarr USA 30.55
#8 Peter Marley USA 18.00
#9 Chris Woods Australia 16.35
#10 Chris Blansfield USA 14.25
#11 Brad Thornbrough USA 14.20
#11 Ryan Davis USA 14.20
#13 Brock Kennedy USA 13.70
#14 Keith Love USA 13.45
#15 Chris Nocera USA 11.10
#16 Bernie Finnerty USA 5.25

So, that being said, congratulations to ALL the competitors!!
They worked hard to take fish, in conditions that most people would not even attempt to go out in.
Sunday the north winds started, and by monday morning the channel between mainland and cerralvo was running 6-8 ft swells, with 18knts of wind on top of that gusting above.
Day 1. Two fish landed on the first day, with James Hardesty taking the lead with a nice blue jack. David Shelton landed one of the smallest wahoo I had ever seen at 6.7 lbs. Only two boats ventured out to La Reyna I think, and one of them Ians boat, broke the tiller off of theyre 90hp honda motor, then took a wave that half filled the boat, freaking out the captian. I don;t think he can swim!Needless to say, It was a rough day for them, hard time handling the boat with the tiller lashed on.

Before you cast judgment on this, understand we had 25 divers in the water, all around the area, and those were the ONLY TWO fish they could come up with!!!
eIt blew hard all monday and into monday night, keeping everyone on edge on what the water was going to do the next day.


Day 2 was a little better, with the wind backing down a bit, and the swell dropping by 30%, but still a rough, slow ride.
Ian Puckeridge started showing what he's made of, finishing the day with a dorado, milkfish, and a 71.35# sailfish that turned out to be the big fish of the meet.
James came in with a big milkfish, almost 20# to make the rest of the catch for the day.

Day 3 was rest day, with some of the divers heading to cerralvo to hunt goats, thats a whole other story that maybe mario can fill in, but suffice to say that GR and Craig set new milestones in what can be done wearing croc rubber clogs, and flip flops. Word I got from Mario is, Brad is half mountain goat. They did not shoot any goats, but had an exciting adventure. Mario was set to try and shoot one with his toothpick speargun, using some kind of tag line to keep it from running off until he could finish it off. If anyone could do it, it would be him, but alas, no joy on the chivo.
Others went to town, some diving the reefs, and some taking it easy. Mike and I took our kids out to the island, and played with the morays, and shot some parrots and what not. Mikes boy landing a nice surgeon fish, and my son Willem taking his first dive in saltwater, on my back to about 12ft riding me like a dolphin. Both our daughters were all over the place, snorkeling about and watching us chase fish and shoot them.



Day 4 was Mike McGuires day. Mike and Chris Wood of australia, sighted a sailfish from the surface, jumped in and worked the area for a bit until it came back. Mike was watching the fish approach chris';s flasher, and did not shoot waiting for chris to dive and take the shot. After two approaches, he figured chris was not gonna see it, to he kicked hard on it and threw one into its shoulder, landing a 61.35# sailfish to start the day. Both of them landed dorado, and mike finished with adding a bonita to the list, bringing him close to Ian by the end of the day.
Alex Bristol brought a nice jack amd a small rooster to the beach, along with Chris Nocera with a dorado. David Shelton got into a really nice rooster, 49#, and at La Reyna, Craig and Brad were working the fish well, with Craig boating a 53.20# sail, and Brad taking a 14.20# wahoo. Now, I got to say, I've seen quite a few fish landed in my day, but Brad took it to a new level while playing this fish. He knew he did not have a good shot on it, so he played this thing like it was on 12lb test. After about 10 minutes or so, he took his pole spear, yeah, thats right, a pole spear down for the kill shot.
I followed him to about 70ft, but he turned back as the fish started to run again, and he was worried about ripping it off. He worked the fish up to about 50ft, dropped down and put the pole spear into it, then wrapped it up and ascended to Craig's whooping and high fives!!


Day 5. GR and David wound up at La Reyna again, with the ocean laying down nicely, and the fish starting to show strong. They got into alot of wahoo, and each of them took one, watching quite a few more while looking for sails or marlin. The current was ripping out there, and if you wound up in the hydraulics, it would take you down as you were flying along on your drop.
Chris Blansfield took a nice milkfish, along with Ryan Davis, while Keith Love, Chris Woods, Mike Mcguire all landed dorado.
Brock Kennedy brought in a Toro, and Bernie Finnerty and Alex Bristol landed wahoo.
BUT, the day belonged to Ian, as he watched two wahoo approach, he took the sure shot on the small one at 22#, letting the chance at the big one, 80# go in favor of a sure thing.
After putting it on the boat, he had the 80# fish following him, hitting his flasher and then turning back on him to taunt him some more.
All the time, theres 6 other divers around him, and no one knows this fish is pestering him!!
He then goes up the island to a small sandy beach, and lays down in the bait looking for jacks or roosters. He taps his gun on the rock a few times, and this 57# rooster bolts right up in his face, and he pretty much stones it with his 120cm railgun!
Latter in the day, looking for jacks again, he has another 50# rooster approach him. Seems he had the fish mojo going that day!!
The day finishes out with James bringing in 4 fish, all different species, but not one of them making the 24" nose to fork minimum length!! He had the smallest wahoo I've ever seen, I don;'t think it weighed 3 lbs!!
But you got to give it to him for style,,,,,,,, he worked hard at landing that beast!!!

I think that about covers the rough stuff, but lots of stories and GREAT time was had by all!!
I want to thank all the divers that came and worked hard to try and get fish on the board, tuffing it out in some of the worst stuff I've seen boats go out in down there.
I also want to thank our sponsors for theyre donations to the prize table.
Florida Freedivers
Rob Allen
Aqualung America
Suunto
Pelaj
Riffe
Thula
Sea Sniper
Daryl Wong and Aimrite
Thanks you guys!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone took home something nice, with several divers taking one fish, and hitting the jackpot at the prize table with a RA carbon railgun, or Pelaj Kanji railgun. It was a killer prize table.

I also want to thank Tim at Palapas Ventana for really putting on a good show there!!!!!
He did an OUTSTANDING job on organizing everything, with his crew of Eric, Shannon, and his lovely fiance Jimena, they did not miss a beat taking care of whatever was necessary to make things run smoothly. Also a BIG shout out to his mom Karon, and the entire kitchen staff for excellent service and killer grub the entire time!!
THANKS AMIGO!!!!!!!!!
We donated almost 1700$ to the local school, and Tim set up a young dance troop for tuesday night, with these teenagers performing traditional dances in costume, it was a real treat!
The awards banquet was great, with all the families there, stella and savana doing the trophy girl thing, kegs of beer, great food, prizes, killer local ranchero music, beer pong with the pangeros, tequila and all the rest of a great awards party.

Oh yeah, did I mention that 2nd place paid 1200$ US??????????
1st place???????? 3000$ cash dude.
Not bad. Where else can you have a great time, dive and party with some of the top divers in the world, and hunt pelagics?
The stories that ran around were amazing. Guys like GR Tarr, Troy " Lonefin " Williams from Guam, Chris Wood from australia had stories that sounded like movie scripts!!!!
Everyone had a blast!!

Thats it for now, look for the complete story by Mario Korf in the next edition of HSD hopefully.

Next years meet will probably be held in July. Its F@#%kng hot there at that time, but the fish are usually more abundant, and the winds are less prone to blow like they did.

I'll send pics tomorrow.

Adios amigos
Dennis