4th Annual MPE Loreto Tournament
May 19-21, 2023
For Images or Additional Information
That Baja Guy – Gary Graham
thatbajaguy@gmail.com
Cellular (760) 522 3710
Loreto, B.C.S., Mexico
The 4th Annual MPE Loreto Tournament held May 19-21, 2023, dazzled as the attendance and prize money broke records for the 4th year in a row as fifty-eight teams competed for over $802, 100 in cash prizes over the past weekend.
Cloaked in ideal weather, the fishing conditions in the Sea of Cortez were excellent. The event’s boundary consisted of fishing 65 miles up and down the coast + 50 miles off the coast from the Marina for notable catches in the Dorado and Yellowtail Categories or Catch and Release in the Billfish Category.
Congratulations to Team Bullrider in the Dorado Division with their 44.1-pound fish earning them $118,550.
In the Yellowtail Division, First Place went to Team Los Cazadores (Fins Up) for the largest fish weighing in at 41.2 pounds.
“Another historical achievement never considered before was establishing the Loreto area as a billfish hotspot. Once again, for the 4th year in a row, the number of billfish caught and released by the fleet exceeded triple digits,” according to Director Enrique Salcedo.
In that Division, adding their second Jackpot win over the past three events was Team La Chingona, participating in the event for the third time this year.
Martha McNab: “We love this tournament. Everything about it is top-rate – the competition, the facility, and the beautiful location. Everyone at MPE goes out of their way to accommodate the participants. The camaraderie on the docks among the owners, captains, and crew makes this event unique. I hope it maintains its quality and attempts are not made to grow it beyond the facility’s capacity. A big thank you to Enrique, Wendy, and all the staff for all their hard work! There is no other tournament like this one in Baja, and we will return next year!“
Team Count 58
Angler Count 191
Billfish Count 159
Dorado Count 27
Yellowtail Count 33
TOP CATCH; RELEASE TEAMS
Team La Chingona had 20 catches for $31,100.00
Day 2 C & R Jackpot ALL 12 catches $130,500.00
Total Payout $161,600.00.
Sneak Attack 15
2ND Place Overall 15 catches $11,200.00
Day 1 Catch & Release Jackpot ALL 13 catches $131,000.00
Total $142,200.00.
HEAVIEST TOURNAMENT YELLOWTAIL
Los Cazadores (Fins Up) John Grubb 41.20
1ST PLACE YT 41.2 LBS $15,550.00
DAY 1 500 1K JP 41.2 LBS $25,500.00
DAY 2 500 1K JP 41.2 LBS $23,000.00
Total $64,050.00.
Team MILF (Baja Dream) Kenny Golden 33.33
2ND PLACE YT OVERALL 33.3 LBS $5,850.00
Total $5,850.00.
Los Ken (Chica Italina) Arturo Cosio
3rd Place YT 32.30 lbs.
EL DIABLO
DAY 1 Yellowtail JACKPOT 3K 5K 31.1 LBS $41,000.00
HEAVIEST TOURNAMENT DORADO
Bullrider Trenton Twamley 44.10 pounds
1ST PLACE DORADO OVERALL 44.1 LBS $15,550.00
DAY 2 $500 $1K $3K DORADO JACKPOT $103,000.00
Total $118,550.00.
Retriever Martha Macnab 43.20 pounds
2ND PLACE DORADO Overall 43.2 lbs $5,850.00
Total $167,850.00
The Jackpot (Mora) Francisco Astiazaran
3RD PLACE DORADO 41.2 lbs
OVERTIME
DAY 2 Dorado 5K Jackpot 36.9 LBS $60,000.00
Total $60,000.00
Next year’s event is scheduled for May 17-19, 2024.
