Western Outdoor News Tuna Jackpot Tournament Sets New Tuna Record
CABO SAN LUCAS - Baja California State Sport Fishing Delegate, Oscar Dacarett, and team members landed an almost-world record tuna during the first day of Western Outdoor New's Tuna Jackpot Tournament November 4 to 7, now in its 11th year. There was a great turnout of 104 teams, making it the only tournament to actually increase in size this year and also the largest tournament of the year. Along with Western Outdoor News, local dignitaries and the media, State Secretary of Tourism Alberto Trevino fired the flare for the shotgun start on board Oceanus, the control boat, said Tuna Jackpot coordinator and Pisces Sport Fishing owner Tracy Ehrenberg.
At around 10.30 am on Thursday November 5, Dacarett called in to say they had landed a monster tuna that he thought might surpass the current Tuna Tournament record of 318 lbs. No one would know for sure until 2 pm that afternoon when the scales opened. Dacarett had also purchased a special ticket from one of the Tuna Jackpot sponsors for an extra $50,000 in prize money if the the current 318 lb. record was broken. The ticket cost Dacarett $50 US, with the proceeds going to local charity.
Just what were the odds of beating the 318? According to Tracy Ehrenberg, she though it could be done, saying that, “ judging by the number of big tuna we had seen coming in over the last couple of months and the perfect fishing weather....blue, blue seas, no wind and weather still on the hot side.”
Shortly after 2 pm Tournament Control announced that tuna came in at an unbelievable 383 lbs, a new Tuna Jackpot record, a record for Mexico and just five pounds short of the all-tackle world record. Tracy reports that, “the anglers were all local guys from San Jose. The fish was taken at the Gordo Banks on 100 lb test on a Penn International 80 two-speed and a bent butt rod. The fish took what is know as a "bullito" which is a small tuna or bonita that was approximately 2 lbs. The fish took one hour and 35 minutes to boat.
The main angler on this fish was Hugo Pino, also Augustin Pino and Oscar Daccarrett. The fish is worth approximately $175,000.00 to this team from "Fisherman" a 35 ft Cabo skippered by Alfredo "Perico" Sanchez. The length of the fish was 74" and the girth was 62".
At the awards dinner Saturday night, Governor Agúndez and First Lady Sonia Gómez de Agúndez were on hand to congratulate the “Fisherman” anglers, who picked up a check for $119,480 US. Dacarett also said that the state had realized more than 11 million dollars in special tax from the last 11 fishing tournaments. Tracy Ehrenberg contributed to this report through Pisces Sport Fishing's blog.
“IGFA Offshore 2009 World Championship” Kicks Off
CABO SAN LUCAS - The “IGFA Offshore 2009 World Championship” kicked off yesterday on the heels of Western Outdoor News' Tuna Jackpot. Forty-three boats are participating from 19 countries in the all catch and release event now in its tenth year. The points-based tournament does not feature big prize money, but because all the participants are tournament winners from the past year, the prestigious event draws the crème de la crème in international fishing. The tournament runs to November 13.
San José del Cabo Organic Market Opens
SAN JOSE DEL CABO - The San Jose del Cabo Organic market kicked off this past Saturday at Huerta Maria with entertainment from Marcie Castro, Todd Clouser and Brazilian musician Maygayve, and about 60 market participants along with Liga MAC and The Los Cabos Humane Society. Later on in the afternoon, a special surprise appearance from a 12-foot tall La Catrina and her boyfriend, which chased the children around the park-like setting, with La Catrina eventually kidnapping Marcie Castro under her voluminous skirt and sending the kids into peels of laughter. Not all non-profit groups made it for opening day, however, market president Jim Tolbert said that when the Los Cabos Children's Foundation and the Santa Josefina Bloodmobile are able to attend, they will accommodate the Bloodmobile somewhere on the grounds due to the importance of keeping the blood bank stocked. Also rumored to be attending soon is the Centro Historico de San Jose del Cabo A.C. and recycling workshops from Yo Reciclo A.C. and along with theater, art, dance and various workshops from other community non-profits and charity groups.
Federal Politicians Say the Secretariat of Tourism Should Stay
CABO SAN LUCAS - Last Friday Alianco organized a meeting between local business people and federal politicians in Los Cabos. Alianco is a six-month-old organization working to promote Los Cabos through strengthened ties between business and government sectors. Senators and federal deputies were on hand to listen to a diverse group of business people at the closed-door meeting. During a brief question period for the press, PAN Senator and president of the Commission of Tourism, Luis Coppola, said that Mexico is a country that has great inroads and resources due to tourism, and for that reason the sector needs to be taken care of. Coppola acknowledged that everyone has been affected by the economic crisis, which is why tourism must be fortified to implement more aggressive promotional campaigns.
PRD Senator Carlos Sotelo, President of the Commission of Radio, Television and Cinematography, said it is lamentable that the federal government is trying to close the Tourism Secretariat and assured that the PRD in congress will vote against this proposal.
PRI Deputy Estella Ponce said that the disappearance of the Tourism Secretariat does not solve the problems of this sector, explaining that what is needed is to give it new direction and assure that it is doing what it should. Ponce added that at the international level MExico is known for tourism and that closing the Tourism Secretariat sends a contradictory message to the world.
Municipal President René Núñez said that our destination is tourism-based, which has been able to generate jobs not only for locals but also for many others that arrive yearly to Los Cabos. Núñez said that if the Tourism Secretariat disappears, the state, along with other states in the country needs more resources to promote tourism.
Querencia's Jorge Carrera commented that the loss of the Tourism Secretariat sends a confused message to the world, explaining that tourism must be a top priority for the country and more investment is needed to make headway.
Catholic Church Contemplates Addiction Center for Los Cabos
LOS CABOS - The Catholic Church, represented by Miguel Angel Alba Diaz, is contemplating an extension of the Kumi project for Los Cabos, which would consist of the construction of a rehabilitation center dispensing aid to those facing addictions.
Alba Diaz emphasized that recovering addicts from the Kumi program had no rates of recidivism and that a local group has the necessary land to build a similar project for Los Cabos.
Kumi is a a non-profit with a committed group of believers and citizens who contribute to its support, and is a unique institution in the State of Baja California Sur. For State Dioceses, there should be pride and satisfaction in counting on addiction treatment centers with appropriate facilities and a successfully-managed program, Alba Diaz said.
National News
Mexicana Joins Oneworld Airline Alliance
NEW YORK -- Mexicana joined the oneworld alliance on Tuesday, becoming its 11th member and extending the co-share partnership's reach into Central America. Mexicana customers can now earn and redeem frequent-flier mileage awards on all alliance partners, while the airlines are free to share certain route and ticketing information. Member airlines include American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Lan Airlines, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Qantas, and Royal Jordanian, and around 20 affiliates.
VILLAHERMOSA — The federal government has declared parts of the Gulf coast state of Tabasco disaster zones due to flooding from days of heavy rains, freeing up federal relief funds for the area.
The Interior Department decree issued Monday covers the cities of Cardenas and Huimanguillo, where the government is handing out food and household goods to some of the estimated 200,000 people affected by high waters.
But flooded roads are making it difficult to get aid in. Some areas have been under water for about 10 days. Tabasco Gov. Andres Granier says some victims lack food and drinking water.
About 40,000 people remain in emergency shelters, but others are waiting out the floods on the roofs of their homes.
90 Mexican Oil Wells Shut Down Due to Flooding
VERACRUZ, Mexico – At least 90 oil and gas wells in the southeastern coastal states of Veracruz and Tabasco have been shut down due to flooding, state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, said. Pemex executive Fernando Flores Rivera, whose office is in charge of 241 wells in the area, said production dropped by more than 56 percent, falling from 60,000 barrels per day to 26,280.
Heavy rains from a cold front flooded dozens of oil wells and access roads, making it impossible for 1,500 Pemex workers to reach work sites. Around 90 percent of pumping stations are paralyzed, affecting the La Cangrejera and Pajaritos petrochemical facilities in the southern Veracruz port of Coatzacoalcos, Pemex said. There are no production problems at the fields in Nanchital, where output totals some 40,000 barrels per day, Flores said.
Torrential rains and floods hit 11 cities in Veracruz, affecting at least 18,000 people, forcing 1,500 others into shelters and causing structural damage to about 20,000 dwellings.
Gov. Andres Granier Melo said the flooding in Tabasco “is a reality” that requires full attention and federal government assistance. A total of 21 health teams have been sent to Cardenas and Huimanguillo to help prevent the spread of skin and respiratory diseases, Granier Melo said. Ranchers warned that they could lose 2,000 head of cattle due to lack of feed and damage to pastures.
International Monetary Fund: Mexico to Grow 3%
MEXICO CITY - Consistent with President Felipe Calderón’s assertions last week, later confirmed by the Bank of Mexico’s chairman, the country’s gross domestic product could grow 3% for 2010. The International Monetary Fund, predicted the same figure, even if the recovery is slow. This was due to the rate of Mexican exports and the emergence of industrial activity in the U.S. However, the IMF recommended a change in the medium-term fiscal policy.
Toronto Will Host 2015 Pan-American Games
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Toronto was on Friday named as the host city of the 2015 Pan-American Games, seeing off rival bids from Lima and Bogota.
"The city that will assume the responsibility for the 2015 Pan-American Games is....Toronto," announced Mario Vazquez Rana, the president of the Pan-American Sports Organization.
Toronto won in the first round of voting with 33 votes. Lima received 11 votes while Bogota had seven. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper described the vote as an important day for the country which will also host the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. "This is an exciting day for all Canadians. We are all looking forward to welcoming the Games in 2015," he said in a statement released in Quebec.