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DianaT
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Local Fishing Tournaments???
This question is sincere and not meant to cause a flaming war, but just looking for the opinions of others. BTW, we don't really fish, so maybe our
opinion does not count. 
When there are local fishing tournaments in Baja, with good prizes we have a bit of a problem when prizes are won by gringo visitors when we know how
much the cash would mean to a local fisherman.
For example, last year in BA. While Barb and Tim were with Juan when they took third place, Juan caught the winning fish so the prize stayed
local---a good thing.
But second place was taken by a gringo who was really, IMHO, obnoxious---I stood next to him and his wife for a couple of minutes and all they did was
complain and say that the tournament was fixed. They were quite sure the first place fish came from someone's local freezer----we both quickly
avoided being anywhere near these people.
Yes, the second place people would have been obnoxious anywhere they were, but we just really would have liked to see the second place prize money go
to a local.
Over the years, like I say, we don't fish so we do not participate, but we have seen this happen in other places where the prize money does not stay
local.
Just curious as to the opinion of others----maybe I am missing something that would change my opinion.
[Edited on 7-18-2009 by jdtrotter]
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vandenberg
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Don't tournaments usally require an entree fee, out of which the prize money is divided between winning participants ?
How many Mexican fishermen do you believe have enough funds to pay these fees, some time considerable ?
Be satisfied that at least some money goes to the locals who supply the vessels and equipment to gringos.
Plus the money those fishermen bring to the local economy. Your argument doesn't hold water.
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BMG
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I too am ignorant on the ins and outs of fishing tournaments. My first reaction is that anyone who enters is entitled to a shot to win regardless of
whether they are local or not.
Cheating is a different story. Seems hard for me to think that a frozen fish could win though. Did you get photos of the winning fish?
I have heard about bass fishermen catching a big fish before a tourney and caging it so they could retrieve it during the event. Don't know how many
other ways there are too cheat, but my guess is there are plenty.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vandenberg
Don't tournaments usally require an entree fee, out of which the prize money is divided between winning participants ?
How many Mexican fishermen do you believe have enough funds to pay these fees, some time considerable ?
Be satisfied that at least some money goes to the locals who supply the vessels and equipment to gringos.
Plus the money those fishermen bring to the local economy. Your argument doesn't hold water. |
I should have been a little clearer, I believe. We are talking about two entirely different type of fishing tournaments. The one in BA, and I
believe this is only the fourth year for this governor's cup, is a community affair. I believe the entry fee is only 50 pesos +/- and the
participants are almost ALL local fishermen and others in the town who fish. We have seen others like this, and these are the type to which I was
referring.
It is a community affair---all the fish are cooked for the community. There have only been about 4 or 5 tourists up to this point. It is not like
the big fancy tournaments with big entry fees, swarms of tourists, and huge prizes.
I do believe the big fancy ones like in Loreto and Cabo are very different.
[Edited on 7-18-2009 by jdtrotter]
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BMG
Cheating is a different story. Seems hard for me to think that a frozen fish could win though. Did you get photos of the winning fish?
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Don't know if I have that one on film, but we watched the fish come in where they were weighed and measured----the obnoxious second place people, I
forgot to mention, were also barely able to stand up let alone see straight. 
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vandenberg
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Diane, You're fighting your own argument.
By stating that there are only a very few gringos participating, would winning by one of them be remote.
And since the catch goes to the locals, I can see only a win situation for everyone involved.
Poor sports you will find everywhere and in every sport.
Just ignore them or, if you feel up to it, tell them what you think.
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BMG
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
| Quote: | Originally posted by BMG
Cheating is a different story. Seems hard for me to think that a frozen fish could win though. Did you get photos of the winning fish?
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Don't know if I have that one on film, but we watched the fish come in where they were weighed and measured----the obnoxious second place people, I
forgot to mention, were also barely able to stand up let alone see straight.
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With that camera and telephoto lens you haul around, I'm surprised you don't have photos of the fish being caught with it's eyes staring back.
Sounds to me like, even though a small tournament, it's open to all comers. Therefore, anyone should have a chance to win. Good thing I wasn't there
'cause I would have won for sure and just one of the fish I catch would be plenty to feed the entire town.
As for being able to stand, I've had to use a wall on occasion for added support. And seeing straight has never been one of my strong points.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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DianaT
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I am very sure that the behavior of those people really affected how I felt when they took the second place prize money---as this years tournament is
approaching, I just cannot get that picture out of my mind. 
You two are probably correct---if you pay to enter, and maybe as time goes on, it will draw more tourist money to the area as more tourist services
develop----
And, the director of the tournament seemed quite pleased to see the first woman participant (Barb)---he was very friendly and encouraging.
OK, I change my stand, but I will still cheer for the locals to go home with the money. 
BMG--I didn't have that lens last year, but look out, this year I am going for the EYES! Now if I can just get them to hold the tournament when the
light is not so bright.
Thanks for the feedback--
Diane
[Edited on 7-18-2009 by jdtrotter]
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vandenberg
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BMG
Don't know how many other ways there are too cheat, but my guess is there are plenty. |
I used to run trips out of my establishment in Sacramento. On one of those salmom trips the "winner takes all" pot had a buddy of mine and another
participant at about a dead heat for largest fish. Somehow I manages to insert 6 to7 1lb lead weights into the gullet of my buddy's with the rod butt.
Won the prize and spend the money (considerable) at the local Bodega Bay saloon. The look at the woman" face at the cleaning station, was priceless,
when all that lead rolled out off that fish when she opened it up.
Now I'm waiting for my punishment for all those "mal"things I 've done in my life.
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Cypress
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Tournaments? See "Fishing Rodeos" down along the MS coast. Big time events. Been going on for many years. Cheaters? Wouldn't even think about it.
They'll nail 'em.
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BornFisher
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Every tournament has controversies and many have cheats. I`ve fished 5 out of la Salina and have seen problems in them all. From no "Blue Tailed
Tuna", to changing the weigh in time, to rumors of Ensenada fish market fish, to fish placed in the wrong category, to endless arguments over rules.
But as far as who should win, put your money up and play.
BTW my money would be on the locals!!!
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msteve1014
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If they only wanted locals, or Mexican citizens to enter, they would make that one of the rules. I think they know that it draws people and money into
the areas that hold these contests, and that is part of the plan.
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backninedan
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I was at the Loreto marina yesterday and observed several near punch outs at the ramp. Tempers always seem to get short at tourny time. That and the
consumption of vast quantities of cerveza by many entrants, makes for great free entertainment.
I have fished in several tournies here and find that they are just not my cup of tea. Too much running at max speed hunting fish. I would much
rather take my time and enjoy the trip...but then thats just my opinion and we all know what opinions are worth.
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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I happen to know that all the money that Juan and Barb won got spent in very short order in the community...so the prize money eventually got to the
locals anyway!!! Everyone...except the 2nd prize guys...were happy to see Barb
smiling from ear to ear.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BornFisher
Every tournament has controversies .... to changing the weigh in time,
BTW my money would be on the locals!!! |
You mean the time they end is not supposed to be flexible??
Ah well, this is what we really enjoy at the fishing tournaments.
Things are changing and I am sure with the new road, etc., more and more tourists will come and probably participate---my money will also remain with
the locals.
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rts551
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Diane
Last year in the La Bocana tournament Two first place prizes (YT and Dorado) were won by a Gringo... Damn if he didn't give the whole 30,000 Pesos to
the boat captain.
Not everyone is obnoxious.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
Diane
Last year in the La Bocana tournament Two first place prizes (YT and Dorado) were won by a Gringo... Damn if he didn't give the whole 30,000 Pesos to
the boat captain.
Not everyone is obnoxious. |
Thanks Ralph
That is a good thing--- well, I assume the boat captain was a local.
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Osprey
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As a pure act of charity I stay out of all the small tourneys that local Mexicans could win. I mean, I'm just saying.....
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Cypress
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Osprey,
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Pescador
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Diane, I wrote about this last year when the Copa Gobernador was being held in Loreto. The Copa tournaments were developed by Agundez for economic
stimulation in small communities in Baja California Sur. Agundez thought that it would be a great idea for social interaction if the tourists and
gringos were included and everyone would be able to communicate and get along well and friendships and understanding would develop. Actually that is
not quite the case. I won several of these in Santa Rosalia and San Bruno and because I was able to communicate with the locals I soon learned that
the prevailing attitude was that things were a little unfair when a guy in a panga with a handline was competing with a guy who had a $40-50K boat
with all the electronics needed to find locations and fish and do it rapidly and quickly. Since they were forced into a competition where there was a
lot of inequality to begin with, several people that I know started to figure it was OK to bring in fish from other areas and "thaw out" fish that had
been caught at another time. Even though the tournament director was high up in the Bisbee Black and Blue tournaments, he took a rather lackadaisical
approach to the whole thing and we found people starting the day before, boats leaving way before the starting time, boats with too many people on
board, illegal equipment, handing off fish between boats, and numerous other infractions that would have never been tolerated in actual tourney
conditions.
I still decided to compete but refused to do anything but act as a deckhand for my Mexican friends and if they won they were told that I was not
going to accept any part of the winnings and that they would receive 100% . My ego would like to go out and win everyone of these things and a good
friend and I had planned on entering every tournament up and down the peninsula, but my common sense won out and I now use it more of a charity event
for fishing friends who can more adequately use the winnings.
The really good part of the tournaments is where the kids and others who fish from shore. They really get into it and since it is pretty much below
the dignity of the gringos witht the big boats, it is a pretty fair competition, especially among the younger anglers for whom a $100 dollar prize
goes a long ways to instant stardom.
I have also heard the whining and complaining from some of the gringo contestants who whine about being knocked out of their place by a late entry
or some other thing and because they don't understand anything of what is going on, tend to let their blatant racism show through their interactions
and blame it on "those guys who don't play fair".
One year we had a split tournament with one division going to yellowtail and the other division going to squid. We actually had the winning squid
but since the prize was a new panga and motor, we felt like we were stealing from the person in second place who really needed the boat. I get a good
feeling when I see this boat on the water so many years later and know that the person has been able to feed his family and take care of things
financially by winning that boat, whereas it would have been a different situation for me.
Hopefully, this will be the last year for these tournaments, I think that they have created more problems that they have helped. But that usually
seems to be the case where government steps in to do something and things end up in an entirely different place due to the lack of foresight in the
initial planning.
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