Hotel Coral: Book your rooms for July 22-23 event; only 17 rooms remain that have been blocked for the event
Western Outdoor News
BLUEFIN AND AlBIES added to yellowtail, bass mix, perfect timing!
UPDATE: Yellowtail are being cauht under the paddies and boaters have reported that bluefin are as close as the Banda Bank just south of Ensenada. Skiff and charterboats leaving from Ensenada are locating bluefin just offshore, and unlike previous trips, the fish are starting to hit baits and lures, with fish up to 65 pounds caught.
Here is a recent report from Ensenada.com and more will be added as we get them...
"We felt it was almost time for the Tuna /Albacore to show up for the season an after seeing Louie’s report I needed to go talk to him about the jumping Blue fin he saw just a couple of days ago at the 450 marker. There was no live bait for sale and with some luck Lucas’s brother Charro kicked us down a hand full the sardines he had stashed in his container at the dock. Charro also gave Lucas some tips on using light gear and irons. We left the docks at 3am and headed for the 450 marker.
When we got there at grey light the temp was 60 degrees and no life in site. Plan “B” was try the 238 marker and again no life. I didn’t want to go home empty handed so the last result was to head in to Banda bank and load up on bottom fish. About 8-10 miles outside Banda bank, Jorge spotted jumping Blue fin Tuna. Lucas grabbed a rod and went to the nose of the boat and casted out. We were a good hundred yards from the boil and although Lucas is good, his second got maybe half way to the boil when he yelled “HOOKUP!”
The boil was moving up and down fast and with the one hookup we could not move to chase them. This blue fin was a fighter and seemed good size although we could not see it. Lucas had a 30lb. casting setup with an iron and it took him and Jorge around the boat 14 times in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The fish ended up weighing 62 lbs. Props to Lucas & Jorge of the Selena Charter."
NOTE:
If you plan on fishing the event and stay at the hotel book your hotel rooms now, as only 17 remain as of June 30, and make sure you ask for the Western Outdoor News rooms. They are the only rooms remaining.
TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: The WON/Yamaha Hotel Coral and Marina Saltwater Championship is back after a three-year absence and is slated for July 22-23. Cost is $100 for each angler on a boat, with no limit to the number of anglers, the same format for the Catalina event. Teams must be made up of at least 2 anglers.
Fishing hours will be from the end of the captains meeting on Friday at about 7 p.m. to the weigh-in on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. The awards buffet is scheduled at 7 p.m. Everyone on the boat, including any guest, captain or crew must be officially signed up and paid into the tournament.
Paydowns in each division will be based in participation. For 150 anglers, the payouts will be $1,000, $500 and $300 for top three teams in each division, based on 150 anglers, amounts will rise based in participation. (Example: 300 anglers, first place gets $2,000, second $1,000, third $600.) Optional jackpots in each division will be $100, $200 and $300, 80 percent payback. Teams can compete in as many divisions as they want.
“More fishing, more paydowns, more prizes, better weather, and a beautiful venue in the heart of fishing season off northern Baja,” said Pat McDonell, WON Editor and again the director of the event that drew 65 teams the last time it was held. He also directs to the Cabo Tuna Jackpot in November and the upcoming Catalina Island white seabass championship. “It’s time to get back to Baja and this beautiful hotel and marina.” Details on all WON events are at wonews.com
“This is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, and it’s not without a great game plan to make it successful after three years off the grid,” said McDonell. “It’s a new format, a new title sponsor in the Hotel Coral and Marina, a new name, a mid-July date a month later when fishing is prime inshore and offshore and the weather is warmer. When people read about all that is being done to make this event a success, they will come. Better weather, better fishing, better goodie bags, food, and several transportation options for teams and families.”
There will be three money/prize divisions for bass, tuna and yellowtail, and three cash options of $100, $200 and $300 for each with the winners decided with three biggest fish weighed, and a grand prize drawing among the nine teams from the three divisions. In addition, there will be multiple drawings for sponsors prizes, and the Hotel Coral is providing events hats and t-shirts at check-in, a carne asada buffet for anglers at the sit-down awards ceremony, and low rates for their newly refurbished rooms. Plus, they are offering door to door transportation (7-person vans for $150 to $200/Newport to San Diego) for families who do not wish to drive across the border, and luxury 19-passenger Mercedes vans for families from West Marine on Rosecrans to the hotel and back.
WON’s Gary Graham will also be hosting a trailerboat caravan on Friday and then back on Sunday for those interested. “I feel many anglers will just make the ride by boat, a 60-mile run from Shelter Island that will be a spectacular way to get in three days of fishing from Friday to Monday, although. The hotel is also going to entice the ladies with hosted trips. One is a tour of the almost 60 wineries of the Guadalupe Valley. There will also be discounted spa treatments and golf at the seaside course at Baja Mar. Of course, the hotel is on the water with two swimming pools and whirlpools and each rooms has a view of the Pacific.
WON Coral Saltwater Championship details,
Date: Friday and Saturday, July 22-23
Schedule: Check-in Friday, July 22, noon to 5:30 p.m., Seaguar Captains’ Meeting 5 to 7 p.m., teams released at end of captains meeting, weigh-in Saturday, 3-6, p.m., awards and casual carne asada taco buffet, prizes, drawings at 7 p.m.
Format: Three divisions (bass, yellowtail, tuna) Top weight of three fish. Paydowns to third in each division. Optionals are $100, $200 and $300, cash only. Nine optionals total. 80 percent payback.
Entry fee: $100 a person, two-man teams and larger. All boat passengers must be a team member. No exceptions. Contacts:Pat McDonell, Director (949) 366-0030, ext 33 or pat@wonews.com. Download entry forms at wonews.com and mail in, or sign up online via credit card. Optional pay-ins are cash only, at check-in. For hotel reservations, call the Hotel Coral1 800 862 9020, the marina at 1 866-302 0066; from Mexico, call 01-800-026-3100. Website is www.hotelcoral.com.
WIN BIG AT ENSENADA! $1,000 Yamaha Team Title Bonus added!
There’s dozens of ways to win in Ensenada July 22-23 at the Hotel Coral and Marina.Drawings, WON casting aad Sticker contests,nine optionals, nine paydowns for overall money in three divisions of bass yellowtail and tuna, a Reactor Watch Team Title and more.
Just added was a Yamaha $1,000 Team Title Cash Prize. Plus, the championship team receives Reactor watches and a $500 Global fish mount certificate for its biggest fish.
The team that finishes a combined highest in all three divisions based on points wins the championship watches. Where you finish in each division earns you points. 1st is 50 and second gets 49 and so on. Add up the points from all the teams and we have our 2011 Ensenada Saltwater Champion and you get your team/boat name on the new Marina Coral Saltwater Championship Perpetual Trophy at the Hotel Coral.
Here’s how else to win at Ensenada:
Overall winners! First through third:
Paydowns in each division will be based in participation. For 150 anglers, the payouts will be $1,000, $500 and $300 for top three teams in each division, based on 150 anglers, amounts will rise based in participation. (Example: with 300 anglers, first place in each of the three divisions gets $2,000, second place finishers receive $1,000, and third place in all three divisions will be paid $600. Plus, team captains get a cigar-laden, engraved humidor for your teammates to smoke, plus plaques.
Costa/WON Sticker contest! WON stickers will be handed out at check-in, so put ‘em on your boat, and when the weigh scale is open, and if your boat is seen with the sticker on it after a secretly selected time between the scales open and closes, will receive a pair of Costas for each angler on the team.
Optionals: There are nine of them in all three species divisions of bass (sand bass and calico), tuna (bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin and albacore) and yellowtail. They are $100, $200 and $300. You can pay by check on the entry form before the event, pay cash only on-site and add more jackpots on site at check-in. Based on previous events, the optionals will have anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000 each in them. Biggest fish in each optional wins the money. Remember, the optionals are not required, and while the overall 1-2-3 finish in the overall in all three divisions are aggregate weight of three fish, the biggest single fish in each optional takes that optional money. You can add optionals in Ensenada at check-in, cash only.
Costa/ Ahi Asassin/AvetCasting Casting contest: Winner receives a pair of Costas, an Ahi Asassin rod from Charkbait Tackle and an Avet reel. The competition runs through check-in on the sand lot next to the check-in. Hit the target to make the finals at 5 p.m., and the angler closest to the target wins.
Free drawings at the Seaguar Captains Meeting and Yamaha Awards Party: Index cards with each angler will be filled out at check-in and used for the contests both days.
Free Carne Asada taco bar!The Hotel Coral will have a free taco bar with carne asada at the awards, so sit down under the tent, grab a beer or other drink at the bar and relax before we have ourYamaha Awards Party! The tacos will tide you over until you head for that celebratory dinner!
Just check in! Free goodie bags with official event HotelCoral & Marina hat, t-shirt and assorted sponsors gifts.
THE Final Grand Drawings: Agrand raffle drawingworth$5,000 will close out the festivities.The huge drawing will includerods and reels,a $700 Certificate from Baja Naval Boatyardin Ensenada for a boat up to 50 feet, a stay at the Hotel, a free team entry into next year’s event,tackle and more.
Plaques for nine teams, winning team captain cigar boxes (one per division) with celebratory stogies for the three top team captains! Light ‘em up – outside!
Promotional offerings from the Hotel Coral Marina Store: Buy a 12-pack of Tecate beer at the Coral Marina Store and get a free Tecate t-shirt from the Tecate Girls at the tent next to the store during check-in. Buy $30 or more in tackle at the storeand get a choice of on-sale t-shirts at the store!
2011 WON/Hotel Coral & Marina Saltwater Championship Rules
1. Participation & Eligibility — There are no restrictions as to race, creed or color. Those entered and under the age of 18 years must have written consent from parent or legal guardian. Further, a waiver of liability must be signed by parent or legal guardian and be on file with WON prior to the tourney. All forms will be signed at check-in.
2. Cooperation with Media/
Promotion — Within the framework of reasonable requests, all Tournament participants will cooperate with media representatives covering said event. Likewise, participation in the tourney grants WON the use of any pictures of participants, accounts, or interviews with contestants it gathers for the lawful promotion of the event.
3. Sportsmanship — The laws of good judgment and sportsmanship as well as courtesy toward others on and off the water will be adhered to at all times. Specifically, the use of obscene language or gestures is strictly forbidden at any time before, during, or after the event. Any verbal or physical abuse or threats from entrants toward the staff is cause for a team’s disqualification.
4. Alcoholic Beverages/ Narcotics — Misconduct from drug or alcohol abuse will result in disqualification.
5. Safety — All boats must have Coast Guard approved life jackets/vests and safety equipment. Anyone found operating a boat in an unsafe manner (in the opinion of the Tournament Director) is subject to immediate disqualification.
6. Insurance & Liability — It is the sole responsibility of the boat owner to carry and have proof of public liability insurance covering himself and passengers. All Tournament participants are required to sign a waiver absolving the tournament sponsors, co-sponsors and their employees from any responsibility for any damage or personal injury sustained as a result of their participation in the tournament or related activities.
7. Licenses — Each participant must have in his possession a valid and current fishing license. Anglers checked at weigh-in by the Mexican authorities who do not have a valid Mexican fishing license will cause their ENTIRE team to be disqualified from the tournament. (They will likely be checking at the dock.)
8. Fishable Waters — Fishable waters in the event include any water reachable by boat that is open to all participants and which is not otherwise restricted by local restrictions. All fishing and landing of fish must be done from the boat. No participants are permitted to leave their boat.
9. Weigh-In — Teams cannot continue to fish after they weigh in their catch.
10. Practice/Pre-Fishing —There is no restriction on pre-fishing.
11. Polygraph Testing — All participants, by virtue of their entry into the Tournament, are subject to testing by polygraph (lie-detector) by authority of the Tournament Director.
12. Late Rule — Any participant/team that returns to the check-in point past the weigh-in time (6 p.m.) will not be allowed to weigh their catch .
13. Tackle/Techniques — Live bait and artificial lures are permitted. Fish attractants and chum buckets are also permitted.
14. Qualifying Fish — Any combination of any type of bass, tuna or yellowtail. Up to three fish can be weighed in for an aggregate weight competition, first through third place. A team can also weigh in a fourth fish if it’s a species of fish not already in the aggregate (For example, a team weighs in three yellowtail to place, and a tuna to qualify for the tuna cash jackpots) and the team is in the cash jackpot. The team must decide which specific fish will be weighed in prior to going to the scales. Biggest fish in each species is qualifier for any of the nine cash jackpots. NOTE: In keeping with past tournament rules, a dead calico bass brought to the scale will be deducted 2 tenths of a pound.
15. Standings/Ties — The top three (3) teams win cash and prizes.
In the event of a tie in fish weight, a coin toss will determine the winning team.
16. Protests — Protests regarding violation of these rules must be announced immediately to the Tournament Director and then submitted to him in writing within 30 minutes of the verbal protest.
17. The tournament VHF Channel is 72. Due to distances, and without a repeater, it is not likely we will be hearing all transmissions. Calling in catches is not required.
18. All anglers must operate their vessels in a safe manner.
19. The winners of all drawings MUST be PRESENT to win.
20. Each participant is responsible for having his or her own Coast Guard approved life jacket or vest.
21: All people on a boat must have paid the $100 entry fee, including any charter captains.
22: The director’s decision, after consultation with other staffers, is final.
22: All boats/teams are released at the end of the captains meeting, but they can choose to begin fishing at any time.
23: No weigh-ins before the scale opens
Hotel Coral rooms should be booked as soon as possible
As a reminder, all those who are planning or thinking about participating in the WON/Hotel Coral & Marina Saltwater Championship in July 22-23 should reserve a room at the hotel as there are only 20 remaining rooms blocked out due to other events at the hotel that weekend.
A reduced room cost starts at $104 a night for the junior suites, which includes continental breakfast for two days for two people (four breakfasts), boat launching, free event t-shirt and hat and carne asada buffet at the awards plus other sponsors prizes at check-in. For more details about the event that offers three divisions for bass, tuna and yellowtail, optional jackpots, plus drawings, please go to www.wonews.com and click “events” on the top of the home page and scroll down to the WON/Coral tourney.
Entry is $100 a person with a two-person minimum. There is no limit to the team members on one vessel. Most teams will be made up of two to four people, of course.
“The response to bringing back the tourney has been overwhelming, especially for the bass guys who are being included again, and the sponsors are coming in, plus teams from Mexico in Tijuana, and down to Ensenada are coming to fish it and support the event,” said director Pat McDonell.
Contacts: McDonell, Director (949) 366-0030, ext 33 or pat@wonews.com. Download entry forms at wonews.com and mail in, or sign up online via credit card. Optional pay-ins are cash only, at check-in. For hotel reservations, call the Hotel Coral and Marina at 1 800 026 3100; from Mexico, call 01-800-026-3100. Website is www.hotelcoral.com.
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