Not signed up? Still working on a team or adding people? Don’t worry. Teams can sign up on site Friday at check-in and add teammates and add or enter optional jackpots.

“I was just at the Coral, delivering a shipment of prizes and tools and banners to the hotel, and going over the setup and planning, and everything is in ready to go. We’re planning a great event at the premier fishing resort on the coast,” said director Pat McDonell. “We’re anticipating a 40- to 60-team field evenly divided amongAmerican and Mexican teams. Those teams will be in for great fishing for yellows under paddies, plus tuna moving onto local banks, plus there’s a ton of prizes and ways to win money.”

Louie Prieto, who owns a local sports bar Tequila’s and who guides out of Ensenada on his boat Its 4 Reel out of the Hotel Coral, said “The timing of the tournament couldn’t be better. There was a boat that came into the marina two days ago that had 27 yellowtail for all the guys, 22 to 30 pounders they caught on paddies. The bite is at the 238, the 450, the 1140 and the lower 500 on the paddies.There are also tuna on the lower 500, and 238. Those are all within striking distance of the marina.”

So, besides having a great hotel and marina to fish out of 60 miles down the coast close to the best yellowtail and tuna fishing, how can you win? Why sign up?

— Welcome bag: First off, just by entering at $120 a person you get a pack of Mustad hooks, an Yamaha hat, an official Ensenada event hat, an official event t-shirt, a free carne asada dinner at awards, entry into the event, a free spool of Yo-Zuri Hybrid line a shot at some great drawing prizes.

— Casting Contest. A Calstar rod from WON and an Avet reel spooled with Yo-Zuri Hybrid Line goes to the winner during check-in.

— Paydowns in the overall, in two divisions, are first through third. That six chances to win money.

— The $1,000 Yamaha Big Fish Contest. Biggest overall fish, tuna or yellow, earns the team $1,000.

— The six optionals. $100, $200 and $300 for tuna and yellowtail, if you are entered into them. These jackpots are usually well into the thousands each. Biggest single fish wins the pop.

— The $5,000 Hotel Coral Blind Bogey. Catch a fish that matches the weight of a drawn fish, and your team gets a check from the Hotel Coral and Marina for $5,000. Sweet!

— Drawings: Two of them. 10 Avet reels, a dozen Plano tackle boxes, four Reactor sport watches, dozens Yo-Zuri lure packs, a $700 gift certificate from Baja Naval boatyard, Terrafin gift certificates, COSTA sunglasses, Seaguar flurocarbon and more.

“Besides the event being in a marina-side spot in a beautiful facility, the event will have a great setting with two bars, a covered tent in a wedding-style sit-down setting like last year, with cocktail tables set up along the railing above the weigh dock, with a big crowd expected at the weigh-in Saturday that unlike previous years that went on below on the dock will take place right up near the tent in front of a crowd, much like the Cabo Tuna Jackpot. Because of the $5,000 Blind Bogey, every team will weigh in fish, so while it take a little longer, it will be far more exciting.”

Notes:

Site: The new tourney area above the fuel dock will be tented, with covered tables, two bars (one was added at the request of teams last year), a live band, and is super conveniently located near the ramp and restrooms,the new marina clubhouse, and weigh area.

Fishing licenses: In other news, there will be a table set up at the check-in and Marianna from the Coral Marina store will be selling daily licenses for $12 or annual licenses for around $45. The store has all the ice and supplies and snacks you’ll need. Buy $50 of supplies at the store and get a free t-shirt!

Bait: The bait receiver in Coral Marina will be open 24 hours and is jammed with sardines and anchovies.

Tourist cards: They are not required. Land or sea. Just have a license and a passport.

Fuel Costs: At the fuel dock at the marina, it’s $3 a gallon for both diesel and gas. Rates for slips are $1.20 a foot, a bargain for staying at the marina with use of its facilities. A few blocked out rooms are still available, but not many.

Entry fee: It’s $120 per person, after July 25, and it’s also cash only, at check-in after that date.That applies to any new team members being added.

BLIND BOGEY Rules: Another $5,000 has been added to the jackpot winnings for the upcoming tournament. The Hotel Coral and Marina have tossed in another $5,000 for a special cash prize package and ANY TEAM has a shot at the money, no matter how they do. Like all Blind Bogeys, a weight will be selected before the competition with each angler submitting a possible winning weight, and one weight will be chosen at the captains meeting in a drawing, and kept a secret. The team that weighs in a tuna or yellowtail with that weight known only to the director, wins the $5,000. In case of a tie, there will be a drawing for the sole winner. If no fish with the weight is weighed in, the two closes teams under the weight, and above the weight, will be in a two-team drawing.

Contacts: McDonell, Director (949) 366-0030, ext 33 or pat@wonews.com. If you can't reach Pat call Lori at ext 26 or Denise at ext 25 and they will be happy to help you get signed up. Or go click on the events tab at the top of the page and then click on the Ensenada Hotel Coral Tournament icon. You can download an entry forms at or sign up immediately 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.

HERE’S THE SCHEDULE!

Date: Friday and Saturday, July 27-28, 2012

Check-in Friday, July 27, noon to 5:30 p.m.,

Captains’ Meeting 5 to 7 p.m., teams released at end of captains meeting

Weigh-in Saturday from 3-6, p.m. or until all teams in the harbor have had their fish weighed.

Yamaha Awards Party, prizes, drawings at 7 p.m. or as soon as results are tabulated. Live Music 6:30 p.m. to 7:30, buffet available at 7:15, awards at 7:30.

MORE ON THE EVENT..

Sign up now!

For more details on the two-day event or to sign-up CLICK HERE.

To download the entry form CLICK HERE

Hotel Coral Room Rates

Be sure to mention "WON ROOM PACKAGES"

Standard room: $122

Jr Suite $130

Coral Deluxe $181

Deluxe Suite $162

Master Suite $269

Standard deluxe Suite $143

(Tax is additional 11%)

Again, the hotel might not have some of these types of rooms available. But these are prices, which include breakfast buffet for up to two people, and launching.

2012 RULES

1. Participation & Eligibility — 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. All anglers must have their 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. Licenses are be available for sale online at bestbajafishing.com, at local shops and at the Coral Marina shop (Daily and annual).

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 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 tuna or yellowtail. Up to three fish can be weighed in for an aggregate weight competition, first through third place wins money. Jackpots are decided by single biggest fish in each eligible jackpot.

15. Standings/Ties — The top three (5) teams win cash (checks).

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.

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 (early) - $120 (late) entry fee, including any charter captains. Optionals are just that, optional.

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:The Hotel Coral and Marina has tossed in another $5,000 for a special cash prize package and ANY TEAM has a shot at the money, no matter how they do. Like all Blind Bogeys, a weight will be selected before the competition with each angler submitting a possible winning weight, and one weight will be chosen at the captains meeting in a drawing, and kept a secret. The team that weighs in a tuna or yellowtail with that weight known only to the director, wins the $5,000. In case of a tie, there will be a drawing among those teams for the sole winner. If no fish with the weight is weighed in, the two closes teams UNDER the weight, and ABOVE the weight, will be in a two-team drawing.