InTheBite

Capt. Greg DiStefano: What it Takes to Make Captain of the Year

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Captain Greg DiStefano, El Suertudo, 80-foot Weaver

Homeport: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

900 points include: Bisbee’s Black and Blue, 1st Place Release Division; Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament, 3rd Place Release Division; Los Cabos Billfish Tournament, 2nd Place Release Division

Captain Greg DiStefano is no stranger to either tournament victory or magazine write ups. In addition to his skill catching blacks and blues in tournament situations, there is a near 100% chance that DiStefano and owner/2018 WINNERS international division angler Guy Yocom have caught a bigger yellowfin tuna than you. In 2012, the pair won a million dollars for catching a world record 427-pound yellowfin on a Mustad hook. DiStefano’s experience fishing the waters surrounding Cabo San Lucas is extensive and marked by successful endeavor. When discussing his approach to tournament fishing, DiStefano is laid back and thoughtful.

“We focus on pre-fishing. Go do your own thing and focus on what you’re doing,” he recommends. “Forget what everybody else is doing. Focus on what you see and not what you hear on the radio or at the bar. We don’t expect people to tell us the truth if we asked… so we don’t ask them,” DiStefano says with a laugh as he describes his tournament preparation. “This year we pre-fished a lot with just the crew. Guy gives us the tools and says, ‘We’ll see you when the tournament comes,’” DiStefano says. “We couldn’t do it without him. He gives us every bit of opportunity – he says, ‘Go for it.’ He doesn’t ask a bunch of questions, he lets us do our thing. It really helps having an owner who understands what it takes to be successful. He is an all-around great guy. It also really helps to have a family that supports us, with all the travel that is involved.”

While the majority of the El Suertudo’s Captain of the Year points came from finishes in the releases divisions, the team is also accomplished in targeting large marlin for the scales. In the Los Cabos Offshore Tournament, the team finished third in the release division and weighed a 361. “We pulled the hooks on a good one on the second day of the Black and Blue – when nobody caught anything,” DiStefano recalls. The El Suertudo, roughly translated the Lucky One, is marked by stability of captain and crew. “I’ve worked with the owner for 12 years. My mate Oswaldo and I have been together for 11 years. We have the yellowfin record and a bluefin line class record,” DiStefano says. Guy Yocom owns the boat. For tournaments, he brings his buddies down to fish. Anglers on El Suertudo include Yocom, Bruce McDonald, Chris Kirkley, Greg Chase, Gary Mason and Azam Flores.

Running the cockpit are first mate Oswaldo “Balin” Ortega – first mate, Noe Cruz and Alfonso Ortega, Oswaldo’s father. When tournament marlin fishing, DiStefano deploys mullet or mud flap dredges, two teasers (squid chains mainly) and a five lure spread. When it comes to their pitch baits, the El Suertudo’s arsenal includes sierra mackeral, horse ballyhoo, and rigged caballitos (goggle eyes). More than the spread and putting in the time to prefish, DiStefano credits the close relationships of those who fish together.

“Balin and I are really close friends. We’re all dedicated to the boat and to fishing, but we’re also really competitive. We race cars off road in Baja – my boss does it, too. We’re very competitive.” DiStefano’s southern California roots are evidenced by his laid back, reflective manner and approach to fishing. He grew up in San Clemente, California in south Orange County. While much of the operation is based out of Cabo San Lucas, Guy Yocom also owns a 61-foot boat in Dana Point, California. The current El Suertudo is an 80-foot Weaver. “We’ve been extremely happy with the Weaver. We bought it used a year and a half ago out of Texas. It’s a 2008. Jim Weaver builds an amazing boat.”

Captain Greg DiStefano and El Suertudo’s 2018 campaign took top honors in a hotly contested Los Sueños International Division. DiStefano’s 900 points were enough to best the five other captains who finished within 200 points of the lead. Congratulations also goes to Captains Brent Gaskill (Builder’s Choice) and Cookie Murray (Auspicious) who finished in a second place tie with 800 points on the year. Captain Greg DiStefano is also the first Cabo-based captain to win Captain of the Year honors.

Read about another InTheBite Captain of the Year, Capt. John Louis Dudas, here…

 

 

46th Annual White Marlin Open: Final Results

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The 46th White Marlin Open can be considered the most successful tournament yet for a number of reasons: 404 boats fishing for a World Record $6,186,870 in prize money is a good start.  The red hot billfishing set a tournament record for the number of billfish caught and released.  The prize money paid included two anglers that each won over $1,500,000, a blue marlin won $962,165, a tuna that took $935,915, a dolphin that won $74,900, and a shark that won $231,300.

As impressive as the payouts were, equally remarkable was the huge number of marlin caught & released.  By definition nobody saw them at the scales, but the release flags flew all week.  The tournament record was 1,358 whites caught in 2016 but the anglers toped that by over 100 fish.  The final count was 1,459 whites caught with 1,429 released with the top release boat, “Big Deal” out of Brielle, NJ breaking a 39-year-old record for most billfish releases by boat. The previous record was 26 white taken by the “Escapade” in 1980.   In addition to the white marlin, the boats took 47 blue marlin with 46 released, and 13 sailfish were released as were the 2 spearfish caught. The total number of all billfish caught in the 46th Open was a staggering 1,521.

In the money divisions, basically, the big fish in most categories on Thursday held their spots after the last day of fishing.  Ocean City, Maryland native Tommy Hinkle weighed a 79.5-pound white marlin on Thursday while fishing aboard the “Fish Whistle  out of Indian River DE.  The fish took 1st  place and netted Tommy $1,504,720.  Hinkle had also won the top white marlin in 2008 making Tommy the first angler in tournament history to win the top white marlin twice!  The “Backlash” out of VA Beach, VA kept their $1,502,450 for the 73.5-pound white caught on Monday by angler Michael Wagner from La Plata, MD.  “Chasing Tails” with angler Nate Walker, both from VA Beach, VA caught their 74-pound white on Monday and earned $135,000 (they were entered in fewer added entry levels than Backlash).

The 465.5-pound blue marlin caught on Tuesday by Craig Dickerson from Pasadena, MD aboard the “Haulin N Ballin” out of Ocean City, MD was the only qualifier in that division and Dickerson won $962,165 for his blue.

The “Crisdel” out of Ocean City, MD weighed in a 201-pound bigeye caught by Russell Garufi from Bishopville, MD on Monday and stayed in first the whole week to kept $935,915.  The

“Seakeeper” from Wilmington, DE weighed a 150.5-pound Allison tuna on Friday.  The angler was Andrew Semprevivo from Mystic Island, NJ who took 2nd place and won $135,432 for his efforts.  Ocean City native Ronnie Fields weighed a 145.5-pound tuna off the “Mjolnir” out of Bay Point, FL on Tuesday and held on to win $128,675.

The 277.5-pound mako shark caught Monday by Greg Robinson aboard the “Polarizer” out of OC, MD was the only shark weighed and held onto $231,300 won from the “Big Fish” pool.

The “Give It Away” out of Jupiter FL took over 1st place in the wahoo division with a monster 91-pound fish caught by Anne Aramandia from New Braufels, TX who won $24,475.  Other winners in the wahoo division were the “The Natural,” who won $23,475, “Keepin It Reel” who won $20,475 and the “Nighthawk” out of Brielle, NJ with angler Jay Monteverdi, also from Brielle who won $20,475.

The big winner in the dolphin division was the “Miss-Tress” out of Brielle, NJ with Randy Drozd also from Brielle.  The “Miss-Tress” was in the small boat dolphin division and the 38-pound dolphin weighed on Friday won $74,900. The 1st place 41-pounder taken off the “Playmate” out of OC, MD won $20,380 while the 2nd place dolphin was caught off the Stewart, FL boat

“Irene”.  Angler Frank Sinito form Jupiter, FL won just $3,000 as the boat was not entered in extra added skill levels.

In the Small Boat Division, it was Tommy Hinkle with the top white which helped his winnings grow to $1,504,720.  The heavy fish was taken by the “Reeldiculous” angler Graham Ward who caught a 121-pound yellowfin good for $108,000.

Top Release Anglers

White Marlin Open Grand Champion

Ed Russo from Carlstadt, NJ

Fishing on “Big Deal” out of Brielle, NJ

1,190 points, 17 white marlin released

2nd Place Angler

Robert Wedeking from Princeton, NJ

Fishing on “Override” out of Brielle, NJ

910 points, 13 white marlin released

3rd Place Angler    

Victor Roof, Jr.

Fishing on “Game On” out of Charleston, SC

875 points, 10 white marlin and 1 blue marlin released

4th Place Angler     

Nicholas Rodriguez from Dover, DE

Fishing on “Par Five” out of Dover, DE

735 points, 8 white marlin and 1 blue marlin released

5th Place Angler  

Dante Rodriguez from Egg Harbor, NJ

Fishing on “MJs” out of Cape May, NJ

735 points, 8 white marlin and 1 blue marlin released

Top Release Boats

1st Place Boat      

“Big Deal” out of Brielle, NJ

1,960 points, 27 white marlin released*

$84,150

2nd Place Boat    

“Uno Mas” out of Ocean City, MD

1,785 points, 23 white marlin and 1 blue marlin released

$31,860

3rd Place Boat  

“Tar Heel” out of Wanchese, NC

1,750 points, 25 white marlin released

$28,800

* Broke a 39-year-old Tournament Record for most release points by a boat.  The previous record was 1,949 billfish pts. by the “Escapade “ in 1980 which consisted of 24 white marlin released and 2 boated.  The “Big Deal” out of Brielle, NJ caught and released 27 white marlin to earn the WMO top release boat ever.

Full Time – 77’ of Performance by Paul Mann

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Delivered to South Florida, the FULL TIME is the latest offering from Paul Mann. When tested for it’s final performance numbers the boat (with tower attached and with 16 crew aboard) went 45 kt (52 MPH) WOT. Even at 1250 RPMs tests showed over 18 kt. She’s equipped with state-of-the-art 16-cylinder Tier 3 MTU Series 2000 M96 engines. These brawny built for long-distance power plants not only generate up to 2600 HP per engine, but also have a power-to-weight ratio that contributes to fuel efficiency.

FULL TIME’s fit and finish matches her performance numbers.  This four-stateroom luxury sportfish yacht features three full heads plus a day head, galley and salon with custom teak joinery, including select areas of solid teak flooring. As you move throughout the spacious layout from the living quarters to the master suite and each stateroom, luxury and conveniences are abundant. The exterior teak package consists of a solid teak transom, drip molding, toe-rail, cockpit deck, back bulkhead, and mezzanine. In addition, the fly-bridge has all the richness of wraparound seating with teak caps, rod storage, (2) built-in custom freezers and the comforts of a/c, along with a custom teak Palm Beach-style helm pod.

36th Annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament Updates

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Good luck to all the participants! Check back to InTheBite for updates or follow Reel Time Apps Live Leaderboard Here

Live radio feed at Pirates Cove BillFish Tournament 

DAY 2  –

70 out of 71 boats laying today. Check back later for more..

DAY 1 Standings:

SiriusXM’s New Fish Mapping Brings Advantages to Offshore Anglers

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SiruisXM Marine is changing the landscape of offshore weather and satellite service. The latest offering, Fish Mapping, is a service that compiles and analyzes a number of variables to pinpoint the fishiest areas. From temperature breaks and locating weed lines to staying on top of offshore weather, SiriusXM offers everything you need offshore in a single service. It is available now and ready to make a difference for your time on the water. Visit: www.siriusxm.com/fishmapping

Oh, and by adding SiriusXM Marine radio, the days of worrying about having to listen to whatever music your buddy happens to have on his phone are over too!

Excitement is Building for 2019 MidAtlantic Tournament!

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Middle Canyons Hot and Cape May is Ideal Location!

You could run out of adjectives describing the current billfish bite along the canyons off the mid-Atlantic coast but safe to say “it doesn’t get much better then this!”  A combination of cobalt blue water, abundant schools of forage species and ideal weather have produced incredible action with white marlin and blue marlin for those making the run offshore.  And, with the 2019 MidAtlantic tournament just days away, this world-class bite couldn’t happen at a better time!  That’s right!  We’re just a few days away from sportfishing’s “Main Event” on the tournament calendar and preparation for this year’s event has reached a feverish pace.  Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey put the Mid in MidAtlantic and, as always, will be “home base” for the tournament which is set for its annual run the week of August 18-23.  At Canyon Club Resort Marina participants are right smack in the middle of the action enjoying the best access to the fish whether running north to the Hudson Canyon or south to the Norfolk Canyon as well as every canyon in between!  In fact, during the recent White Marlin Open, Ed Russo garnered the Top Angler award for the tournament among a field of over 2000 anglers and 400 boats with 17 white marlin released and his boat, Big Deal, won the prestigious Top Boat award for 28 white marlin released during three days of fishing including 15 in one day while sailing from Canyon Club Resort Marina for the event!

Tournament entries have been flowing in at a steady pace and while Canyon Club Resort Marina is filling up, some slips are still available for vessels of various sizes.  Join the tournament fleet at Canyon Club Resort Marina along with many of the MidAtlantic’s previous winners who sail from Cape May each year.  Besides a world class marina that offers all the amenities to pamper tournament participants, family, crew and friends during the best week on the tournament calendar, you’ll also be at the tournament’s epicenter with access to the “Big Top” tent which includes the “Sponsors Midway” where you’ll find the latest in gear and services offered by MidAtlantic exhibiting sponsors.  For dockage information and slip reservations give Paul Hoffman a call at 609-884-0199.

The tournament’s base entry fee of $3000 includes all dockside social activities for up to six people.  Proceeds from ten optional calcuttas with fees ranging from $1000 to $6000 provide the prize money for the tournament.  Last   year well over $3 million was paid out and the MidAtlantic continues to be, boat-for-boat, the richest big gamefishing tournament in the world.  The event’s prize structure provides numerous big payouts each year and last year eight winners walked off the awards podium with checks greater than six figures while eight others won $25,000 or more!

Participants will select three days to fish during the week of August 19-23 with cash prizes awarded in various ways for white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, dolphin and wahoo weighed as well as billfish released.  Minimum weights are 65 pounds for white marlin, 400 pounds for blue marlin and 50 pounds for tuna (big eye, yellowfin or true albacore) to win cash.  All boats must fish within 125 miles of the Cape May Sea Buoy regardless of sailing port.

The MidAtlantic gets underway on Sunday, August 18 when late registration, calcutta entries and a cocktail reception will take place from 1 – 4:30 p.m. at Canyon Club Resort Marina and the event’s only satellite venue, Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland.  For your convenience registration can also be completed online prior to the tournament at www.themidatlantic.com.  You’ll also find complete rules, schedule, calcutta information, points and prize breakdowns and a link to purchase 2019 tournament apparel.  For additional tournament information contact Tournament Director Aaron Hoffman at 609-884-0177.  Be sure to follow the action via the South Jersey Tournaments App which can be downloaded for free on any IOS or Android device from the Apple App and Google Play stores.  Additionally, follow the tournament on Facebook at The MidAtlantic Tournament; on Twitter; @midatl and on Instagram; @themidatlantictournament.

It’s the 2019 MidAtlantic!  It’s only a few days away and it’s gonna be another dandy!  Come join the fun and perhaps you’ll have the opportunity to join the winners on the podium and be in a photo with a big check!

Team “El Suertudo” Wins 20th Annual Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore

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LOS BARRILES, BCS, Mex. – Team “El Suertudo” won top dollar at the 20th Annual Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore fishing tournament with a 381-pound blue marlin caught in the first hours of the first day.

The $619,800 was the largest payout in the history of the event, according to tournament director Wayne Bisbee.  Total prize payout for all categories in the big game fishing tournament was $771,599.50.

Sixty-five boats with 260 anglers competed during the two-day event in Baja California’s Sea of Cortez.

The winning blue marlin was caught by team member Bruce McDonald in 21 minutes.  Team “El Suertudo,” from Southern California, is a frequent big game fishing tournament participant and money winner, acknowledged Bisbee.

Other winners included Team “Carajos” from Sinaloa, Mex., with four blue marlin $6,587 for 3rd place in the Release Division; Team “Tag Team,” Southern California, $11,087.50, four marlin for 2nd place in the Release Division; and Team “Second Wind,”, $34,255 for 1st place with three blue marlin and four striped marlin in the Release Division.

The Day One Tuna Jackpot went to Team “Snafu” with a 50.8-pound yellowfin worth $18,275.  The Day Two Tuna Jackpot went to Team “Hotel Buenavista” with a 60.8-pound fish worth $31,395.  Day Two winning angler was Esaul Valdez of the host Buenavista Beach Resort Hotel while his brother Felipe won Day One.

The tourney’s biggest dorado (mahi-mahi) was a 34-pound fish caught by Team “Los Compadres,” Los Barriles, BCS, worth $50,200.

Contact Gary Graham-That Baja Guy at thatbajaguy@gmail.com or 760 522-3710

Live Updates of the 2019 White Marlin Open

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46tTH ANNUAL WHITE MARLIN OPEN – This is the BIGGEST one yet! There’s a total of 404 boats entered and over $6.1 MILLION in prize money.

Good luck to all the participants! Check back to InTheBite for updates or Click HERE to watch the live stream and all the action as it unfolds – Scales open at 4pm!

World’s Largest & Richest Billfish Tournament

DAY 4 – 

Scales just opened up and there’s a new front runner! Fish Whistle with a 79.5 white marlin caught by angler Tom Hinkle. Worth approx 1.4m Let’s see what comes in next!

White Marlin Open Biggest Fish 79.5 lbs Fish Whistle

DAY 3:

New Small Boat Tuna Leader!

$100,000 Tuna

Largest Tuna 201lbs White Marlin Open Day 3

It was a rainy day at the scale but the fish don’t care!  There were several dolphin weighed, with HELLSEA bringing in the heaviest at 22 pounds which took the Daily Dolphin category and $16,000.  A 54.5 pound wahoo caught aboard the Nighthawk III took the Daily Wahoo category and will make some delicious dinners.  The big story of the day was the 121 pound tuna caught by Graham Ward on Reeldiculous.  It is the new leader in the Small Boat Tuna category and took the Daily Tuna prize.  It is currently worth $100,000.  Check out all of the live action tomorrow streaming live on the MarlinCam!

DAY 2:

DAY 1 –  

Day 1 Leaderboard:

White Marlin

8/5/19, Chasin Tail, Nathan Walker, 74, $1,450,000.00

8/5/19, Reel Chaos, Brandon Dick-Giordano, 70, $1,500,000.00

Tuna

8/5/19, Crisdel, Russell Garufi, 201, $940,000.00

8/5/19, Theresa Jean, Chuck Metz, 101, $88,000.00

8/5/19, BAR South, Rob Gothier, 77.5, $36,000.00

8/5/19, Eastbound, Billy Fox, 69, $66,000.00

8/5/19, Priceless, Sean Garry, 64.5, $98,000.00

Dolphin

8/5/19, Game Changer, Rob Howes, 35.5, $18,000.00

8/5/19, Ditchdigger Too, John Albanese III, 30.5, $1,500.00

8/5/19, Top Notch, Jim Kwortnik, 27, $1,000.00

8/5/19, Heatwave, Brett Clarence, 26.5, $75,000.00

Wahoo

8/5/19, The Natural, Kyle McLaughlin, 82, $18,000.00

8/5/19, Caneelin, Sarah Bohlman, 54.5, $2,000.00

8/5/19 Sweetums, Terry Dorris, 50.5, $1,500.00

Shark

8/5/19, Polarizer, Greg Robinson, 277.5, $225,000.00

Chasin Tail is first to the scales with a 74lb. qualifying white marlin.

201lbs big eye tuna hauled in by the Crisdel out of Islamorada, FL.

 

Airmar Announces New Wide Beam Chirp-Ready Transducer Aimed For Freshwater and Inshore Anglers

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TM165HW Enhances Performance of Today’s Leading Fishfinders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  MILFORD, NH. (August 2, 2019) – AIRMAR® Technology Corporation, a world leader in ultrasonic sonar and Chirp technology, is pleased to announce the TM165HW, a 600 watt, Chirp-ready transducer in an easy-to-upgrade transom mount housing. “Anglers in the freshwater market have asked us for a high performance, 600 watt, transom mount Chirp option as an alternative to conventional 600 watt transducers,” stated Jennifer Matsis, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The TM165HW provides anglers with better ability to find bass and crappie in structure and more sensitivity to detect bottom hugging walleye on soft bottom. Anglers, overall can expect more detailed returns of fish and baitfish targets over a greater area under their boat” Matsis added.

The TM165HW delivers an ideal combination of power, sensitivity and coverage for bass, walleye, and inshore anglers looking to enhance their fishfinder’s performance.  Traditionally, high frequency transducers provide the best resolution, but normally have a narrow beamwidth that limits the viewable area under the boat. The patent-pending, ceramic design enables the TM165HW to deliver an average beamwidth of 30° across the entire high frequency band of 150-250 kHz. The results are three times the total coverage and more fish revealed in a wider area under the boat than is possible with traditional non-Chirp transducers. In addition to providing vast bottom coverage, the wide beam enables excellent fish detection in the upper water column, an area missed by most narrow beam transducers. Airmar’s expanding series of wide beam transducers deliver large, crisp return images on the display with a noise-free, clear picture of the action below. The TM165HW is perfect for fishing boats up to 25 feet (8 meters).

The TM165HW is initially available with an Airmar Mix & Match cable that easily pairs with all major fishfinder brands when connected with the appropriate adapter.  At this point, the sonar unit connected to the TM165HW may need to be manually set to High Chirp at power up.  With manual setup, the TM165HW is compatible with with Lowrance HDS Live/ HDS Carbon, Humminbird Helix, Raymarine Axiom Pro and Simrad EVO 3 sonar units.  All Sonar manufacturers will have future releases of software which will recognize Transducer ID™ in the TM165HW and will automatically set to the correct parameters.

Dealers can order the TM165HW by contacting Gemeco Marine Accessories or AIRMAR EMEA.   MSRP for the new TM165HW is $499.00.

2019 Texas Billfish Classic Final Results

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Texas Billfish Classic
July 17-20, 2019
Freeport, Texas
 
28 boats, 22 blue marlin, 4 white marlin, 7 sailfish 
Release Division:
1st Place: Done Deal, Captain Jason Buck
6 blues, 1 white
2nd Place: Bali Ha’i, Captain Anthony Lopez
4 blues
3rd Place: Amigo, Captain Brad Shoenfeld
3 blues
 
Heaviest Marlin:
Amigo, Captain Brad Shoenfeld
643- pounds