Jun 28, 2021
LAGUNA MADRE CROWNED CHAMPS OF 2021 PELAGIC TRIPLE CROWN OF FISHING TOURNAMENT
A strong second day performance propels Top Angler, Kim Bullman, and Team Laguna Madre to the winner’s circle and the largest payout in event history - $131,000! Cloud Nine takes second place and $111,800.
June 10-12, 2021 – Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico – The Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament made its triumphant return to Cabo as it once again kicked-off Baja California’s big game fishing season after a year’s hiatus (due to the coronavirus pandemic) with its seventh annual tournament extravaganza. Fifty teams with anglers from all reaches of the United States, Mexico, and beyond ventured to Cabo excited and ready to vie for prestige and some serious cash in a fun, yet competitive event south of the border. And, with over HALF A MILLION DOLLARS in cash prizes on the line as well as perennial bragging rights, it was any one’s game to win.
LAGUNA MADRE takes the crown along with $131,000 in prize money! // The iconic Cabo Arch at Land's End.
The Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament is a team event with cash and awards to well over $500,000 and is structured to focus on catching the wide variety of bill and gamefish species that Cabo San Lucas is so well-known for. Awards are presented to teams and anglers for their performance in releasing the most aggregate billfish points and/or weighing the heaviest two-fish total of three offered gamefish species (tuna, wahoo, & dorado) during a two-day tournament.
Triple Crown hardware awaits the top teams. // Lady Electric Band bringing the rockin' good vibes during check-in at Baja Cantina.
The tournament fiesta officially commenced on Thursday, June 10th, as 213 anglers with their captains and crew were welcomed with a fine selection of tournament-branded apparel and plenty of schwag from Pelagic during check-in, followed by the captain’s meeting and kick-off party. Hosted for a seventh straight time at Cabo’s favorite fishing bar & grill – Baja Cantina – it was a packed house as tournament participants listened to the vibrant rock-n-roll sounds of Lady Electric Band, while enjoying good times, cold cervezas, in a welcoming open-air environment backdropped by the marina’s waterfront boardwalk.
Teams stocking up on the latest Pelagic Gear and enjoying the Kick-Off party festivities.
A classic Cabo sunrise welcomed the fifty-boat tournament fleet on day one of fishing as teams lined up near Cabo’s Land’s End Arch – the famed natural wonder where Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez waters converge – awaiting the 7:00am shotgun start. On cue, a single flare was shot to the sky as teams throttled up towards their desired fishing grounds signaling the official start of the Seventh Annual Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament.
An unmistakable Cabo sunrise as teams ready for the shotgun start. // And they're off!
The bite was hot from the start with teams calling in billfish releases as early as 7:26am, less than half-an-hour after lines-in. Over the course of the day, a total of 71 billfish were documented and released (70 striped marlin, 1 sailfish). Team CLOUD NINE, fishing aboard their 57’ Bertram, topped the fleet in the billfish release division with 900 release points (9 striped marlin), which secured them the win in all five levels of the daily billfish jackpots. For their day one sweep, the team earned a solid $99,800 payout, and combined with their second-place billfish finish, the team was awarded a massive $111,800.00.
CLOUD NINE pumped on their $111,800 payday anchored by 9 striped marlin releases on day one.
Gamefish weigh-ins took place next door to Baja Cantina at Gricelda’s Smokehouse, who graciously hosted the tournament’s official weigh station once again. First up to the scales was LET’S GO, with what would ultimately be the largest fish ever weighed in this tournament’s seven-year existence. After an impressively brutal four-hour battle with a large and fierce yellowfin tuna, Team LET’S GO prevailed, later hoisting the extraordinary fish on our scales for a weight of 234-lbs! Their efforts earned a day one sweep of both levels of tuna jackpots worth $15,400 and, combined with their first-place finish overall in the tuna division, the team walked away with a nice payday of $31,000.00.
LET'S GO with the largest fish ever weighed in the Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament's seven year history.
In the dorado category, Team LOS LOBOS scored a 19.7-lb fish to earn both daily jackpots and a payout of $20,800, while DR. PESCADO secured the wahoo category jackpots and a day one payout of $12,800 with their 26.2-lb ‘hoo.
LOS LOBOS takes down the Dorado category, and DR. PESCADO with their 26.2-lb. winning wahoo.
Day two was welcomed with light winds and mild temperatures, setting the stage for another incredible day of fishing off the tip of Baja.
Another amazing shotgun start on day two. // Striped marlin once again the main quarry.
The steady billfish action continued with another 69 documented striped marlin releases by the fifty-team fleet. At the end of the day, it was LAGUNA MADRE aboard their 60’ Viking besting the tournament field by scoring 1100 billfish release points (11 striped marlin) to secure all billfish jackpots for day two. Coming from behind in dramatic fashion with a last-minute release, LAGUNA MADRE sky-rocketed from near the bottom of the pack after day one with just 200 billfish release points, to the top of the leader board to end the tournament and secure the championship with 1300 points!
Propelled by Kim Bullman’s impressive performance as both Top Female & Top Overall Angler (800 release points), LAGUNA MADRE was awarded as the Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Grand Champions, winning 1st Place Billfish Division and sweeping all levels of day two billfish jackpots. Collectively, they were awarded the largest single payout in tournament history: $131,000.00!
LAGUNA MADRE hoisting the victory check. // Kim Bullman taking the Top Female AND Top Overall Angler awards.
The weigh station at Gricelda’s Smokehouse was the main boardwalk attraction of the weekend as our weigh masters once again scored team’s heaviest tuna, wahoo, or dorado. It was another banner day LOS LOBOS as this team weighed the tournament’s heaviest wahoo (26.9 lbs.) while also scoring another dorado weighing 18.3-lbs (combined dorado weight with day one for 38-lbs). Their fish earned them first place trophies in both the Wahoo & Dorado Divisions, while also securing multiple daily jackpots for each species. LOS LOBOS walked away with some well-deserved smiles and a grand payment of $72,400.00.
LOS LOBOS with a solid performance, weighing in the tourney's largest wahoo and securing first place in both the Wahoo & Dorado Divisions.
BIG PAPI scored the largest dorado of the tournament to secure second place overall in the dorado category with a fish weighing 27.2-lbs. Along with the day two 1K level jackpot secured by their catch, the team earned a nice payout of $19,200.00.
BIG PAPI with the largest dorado of the tournament and nice $19,200 check.
Team LISTO earned second place in the tuna division with a day two yellowfin weighing 45.4-lbs while also sweeping the day two jackpots for a payout of $21,400.00.
A 45.4-lb. yellowfin tuna on day two helped secure a $21,400 check for LISTO.
The Top Jr. Angler was awarded to Finn Gunderson who scored 100 billfish release points for his striped marlin catch while fishing with his family aboard SUERCHINGO. Congrats Finn!
Finn Gunderson of SUERCHINGO all smiles with the Top Jr. Angler award.
After weigh-ins concluded and all 140 billfish were properly documented at tournament headquarters in Baja Cantina, the results were announced and trophies, prizes, and ceremonial checks awarded to the winning teams, presented by Tournament Director, Colin Sarfeh, and Team Pelagic's, Gianna Goots:
Billfish Release Division
1st Place – LAGUNA MADRE – 1300 Release Points (13 marlin) – Tournament Earnings: $131,000.00
2nd Place – CLOUD NINE – 1200 Release Points (12 marlin) – Tournament Earnings: $111,800.00
3rd Place – HOORAY – 1100 Release Points (11 marlin) – Tournament Earnings: $4,800.00
Tuna Division
1st Place – LET’S GO – 234.0 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $31,000.00
2nd Place – LISTO – 45.4 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $21,400.00
3rd Place – TEAM PELAGIC – 40.8 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $2,400.00
Wahoo Division
1st Place – LOS LOBOS – 26.9 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $72,400.00
2nd Place – DR. PESCADO – 26.2 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $18,800.00
3rd Place – GO DEEPER – 12.6 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $2,400.00
Dorado Division
1st Place – LOS LOBOS – 38.0 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $72,400.00
2nd Place – BIG PAPI – 27.2 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $19,200.00
3rd Place – BILL COLLECTOR – 17.5 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $2,400.00
11 of 50 teams earned cash payouts!
Thank you again to all tournament participants and our generous sponsors for making this another unforgettable event south of the border. We hope to see you all again June 9-11, 2022 for the 8th Annual PELAGIC Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament in Cabo!
For more information and upcoming dates for all events in the Pelagic International Tournament Series, please visit www.PelagicTournaments.com.
