Jim Flick Invitational Returns to Cabo del Sol Golf Courses in November

Los Cabos currently has three courses ranked among the 100 Best in the World, but only one of them regularly hosts tournaments. That’s the Cabo del Sol Ocean Course, which along with its neighboring Desert Course, is the site of the annual Los Cabos Pro-Am and the Jim Flick Invitational.

The latter also showcases a pro-am format, with professionals competing for $100,000 over 72-holes of stroke play, and foursomes (featuring one professional and three amateurs) battling in handicap-adjusted best ball formats to win a 5-day trip to the birthplace of golf, St. Andrews in Scotland. The 2017 Jim Flick Invitational is scheduled for November 7 – 12.

Formerly the TaylorMade Invitational, the tournament was recently renamed in honor of the late Jim Flick, a PGA Professional and golf instructor for more than 50 years. Flick taught golf in 23 countries and worked with pros like Tom Lehman and Jack Nicklaus, with whom he founded the Nicklaus-Flick Golf Schools.

Nicklaus’s breathtaking Ocean Course is of course the star attraction. Ranked in the top 100 in the world for 15 years running by GOLF Magazine, the Ocean Course hugs the coastline, offering stunning mountain, desert and Sea of Cortez views before concluding with what Nicklaus himself has called “the three finest holes in golf.”

Although lacking the same accolades as its Ocean neighbor, Tom Weiskopf’s Desert loop also offers an unforgettable golfing experience, and is certainly worthy of sharing the Cabo del Sol imprimatur.  The scenically sculpted layout is currently rated as the 6th best course in Mexico, and was included among Golf Week’s 50 top courses in Mexico and the Caribbean for 2017.

The inaugural Jim Flick Invitational in 2016 was won by Michael Block, head professional at the Arroyo Trabuco Country Club in Mission Viejo, California; and in the team category by the foursome of Jason Marciniec, Alan Marthinsen, Chris Raftis and Bill Sarris. As a bonus, nearly $40,000 was raised for the PGA of America’s Junior League Golf during the post-tournament Trophy Night.

Jack Nicklaus was honored with the first ever Jim Flick Trophy last year, an appropriate selection given the relationship between Nicklaus and Flick, Nicklaus’ unrivaled status as 18-time major champion, and his contributions to Los Cabos golf.

Nicklaus effectively put Los Cabos on the golfing map in the early 1990s with spectacular layouts at Palmilla, Eldorado and Cabo del Sol (Ocean); and has since built upon this legacy with the magnificent Quivira, challenging Campestre, and a unique collaboration with Greg Norman at Puerto Los Cabos. His son Jackie accepted the trophy on his behalf.

This second edition of the Jim Flick Invitational will boast an impressive list of sponsors, headlined by the PGA, Corona, Pepsi and Adidas. For registration and other information, visit jimflickinvitational.com.

For tips on resorts or rental accommodations, including luxury villas, Call Us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of the Jim Flick Invitational.

 

 

Los Cabos Fishing Report – June 11, 2017

June 11, 2017

As we move further towards the official start of the summer season the climate is progressively warming, though conditions remain very comfortable, with high temperatures averaging about 85 degrees, mild considering the time or year. Winds have been predominately from the Pacific, out of the southwest, in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and further north ocean conditions have been much calmer, this is also where the ocean temperatures are reaching up to 80 degrees, while on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas the water temperatures are in the 67 to 70 degree range. So all of the fishing activity is now on the Sea of Cortez side of the Peninsula, from Chileno towards Vinorama. Very green water on the Pacific, with the cleanest blue water now found north of Punta Gorda and towards the San Luis Bank.

Bait supplies are mostly consisting now of caballito and mullet, only very limited amounts of sardinas are being netted, they commonly migrate elsewhere this time of year as the warmer currents move in. More schools of bolito are moving onto the offshore fishing grounds, always a very favorable sign, as they are a preferred food source for many gamefish.

The action for striped marlin was much improved this week, though now with the full moon phase these fish can become more finicky during daylight hours. One of the more productive spots was the 1150 area, with many charters reportedly having three or four hooks ups per outing, the stripers were coming up on trolling lures and rigged baits, as well as being spotted tailing on the surface and striking on dropped back baits, sizes ranged to 130 lb. The billfish were found spread out through the region, but not as numerous as they were on the grounds further offshore.

With the warmer water we are finally seeing some dorado appear, still no significant numbers, but at least they are showing up on a daily basis, most of them weighing in the 5 to 15 lb. range, there were a few reports of larger bulls hooked up and lost. Wahoo were also in the mix, anglers reported hooking into these speedsters while trolling various baits as well as on Rapalas, again no numbers, but a chance at a couple of fish, weights ranged from 20 to 35 lb.

Yellowfin tuna often become more picky during the full moon period, but they are definitely in the area, most of these fish are now concentrated from the San Luis to Vinorama areas, ranging from smaller footballs to over 60 lb. Best chance of hooking a nicer sized yellowfin  was while slow trolling with live caballito. The tuna were shy though and anglers were fortunate to land one or two, striking more frequently on lighter leaders

With the large influx of schooling mullet along the shorelines, this has brought in increased numbers of roosterfish, last week we saw a lot of fish in the 15 to 25 lb. class, but in recent days we have seen some much larger roosters, included an 80 lb. class fish that was successfully landed and carefully released.

Not all that much bottom fishing going on, as more anglers were now opting to targeting other available species. So far we have yet to see the amberjack and dogtooth appear close to shore over the rocky structure, but we are expecting that this action could happen at any given time, as this is the normal time frame in the coming weeks, with water temperatures now near 80 degrees, that means anything can happen at any time.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 62 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 13 striped marlin, 11 wahoo, 14 dorado, 1 amberjack, 8 pompano, 3 bonito, 38 yellowfin tuna, 9 yellow snapper, 4 barred pargo, 8 leopard grouper, 5 island jack, 12 surgeon fish, 26 huachinango, 15 jack crevalle, 55 roosterfish, 1 yellowtail, 12 sierra and 55 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

Eric Brictson / Operator

619 488-1859

Los Cabos (624) 142-1147

e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com

WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM

Los Cabos Fishing Report – May 21, 2017

May 21, 2017

Late spring now, this past week was fairly quiet for the amount of visiting anglers we would expect to normally see, who knows what is creating the slack in tourism, we should see more activity the end of this month. Winds were finally weakening, after a couple of weeks of persistent south winds, as well as northerly’s at the same time, definitely still in the midst of crazy transition period. We need a couple weeks of hot and calm weather to get the fishing back on track. Recently the climate has been on the cool side,  with highs of 95 degrees, lows about 65 degrees, very ideal, comfortable climate for this time of year, surely it will become much warmer soon enough.

Ocean water temperatures have ranged from 70 degrees on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, to 76 degrees off of San Jose del Cabo and to the north, actually a couple of degrees warmer closer to shore than it is further offshore. Sardinas supplies are becoming more limited, even surf conditions have been light, this is normal for this time of so far. Sometimes patterns can be later than normal, this appears to be what is happening this season.

The striped marlin bite has never really become red hot this year, normally the month of May is the peak season for stripers off of San Jose del Cabo. At this time they are finding limited numbers of marlin scattered anywhere from four or five, to fifteen or more miles offshore. Anglers are finding occasional tailing fish that will readily take larger baitfish once encountered, some boats are having multiple chances per day. Only a rare report of any dorado strikes, should be soon that we start to see some nice dorado move into the area. Wahoo very and far between as well, an occasional strike reported, most of them incidental and not being successful for actually landing the fish.

Highlight this past week out of San Jose del Cabo was looking for the regenerated yellowfin tuna action between Iman Bank and Vinorama. Anglers were using what available sardinas they could obtain and some people were using chuck bait from skipjack with success as well. The bite was sporadic, most days the best chances were found early in the day, daily totals ranged from one or two fish per charter, up to a half of dozen, sizes were ranging from 15 lb. to 45 lb.., average size fish in the 30 to 40 lb. class, nice grade fish for this early in the season. Lots of yellowfin tuna are now on these grounds, but are finicky as they often can be, gorging on the available natural food source, also a problem with too many aggressive black skipjack and of course the ever present sea lions can be a factor as well.

Not all that much action reported off the bottom structure, a few leopard grouper, amberjack, yellow snapper and barred pargo, more triggerfish than anything else, a few pushing up to 8 lb. Inshore the hot roosterfish action tapered way down, but we should see it redevelop on any given day, also sierra are still patrolling the shore, now in the later part of their preferred winter colder water season.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 59 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 5 striped marlin, 1 wahoo, 96 yellowfin tuna, 5 amberjack, 13 yellow snapper, 8 barred pargo, 10 leopard grouper, 3 island jack, 8 huachinango, 1 dogtooth snapper, 1 surgeonfish,18 roosterfish, 38 sierra and 80 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

Eric Brictson / Operator

619 488-1859

Los Cabos (624) 142-1147

e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com

WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM

NORRA Mexican 1000 Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Without doubt, the Baja California peninsula’s most iconic annual event is the Baja 1000,
a high-octane, high-adrenaline off-road challenge for motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs and other four-wheel vehicles that unfolds over 1,000 miles of rugged terrain.

When the event premiered in 1967 – as a race from Tijuana to La Paz – it was under the auspices of the National Off-Road Racing Association, formed the year before by a group of enthusiasts led by Ed Pearlman and Don Francisco. The latter had been involved in the early 1950s with the Carrera Panamericana, an over 2,000 mile road race across much of mainland Mexico that was then considered the most dangerous racing event in the world. It was Francisco that flew all around Baja to chart a viable course for the first race, Pearlman who handled press and promotion. This was the beginning of the legendary Baja 1000.

NORRA backed out of the race following the OPEC Oil Crisis in 1973, and there was no race at all in 1974. In 1975, eager to continue the tradition, Baja California governor Milton Castellanos convinced promoter Mickey Thompson and his SCORE (Southern California Off-Road Enterprises) organization to take over the race, which they did in 1975. The Baja 1000 has been run under the SCORE banner ever since.

But it was the first few years under NORRA that set the standard for modern off-road racing, and drew celebrity contestants like Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones, as well as Hollywood movie stars like James Garner and Steve McQueen.

In order to honor that heritage, NORRA restarted the Mexican 1000 in 2010 as a fun, vintage-style rally race. Dubbed “The Happiest Race on Earth,” the new look Mexican 1000 features a mix of restored motorcycles, cars and trucks from the glory era of the Baja 1000, as well as modern desert rally cars. Classes are divided by eras to keep it fun and competitive for all, with high-speed off-road stages linked by controlled-speed highway portions.

The 50th anniversary running of the NORRA Mexican 1000 takes place April 23 – 27, 2017, coursing down the peninsula from Ensenada to San Felipe, San Felipe to Bahia de los Angeles, Bahia de los Angeles to Loreto, Loreto to La Paz, and finishing in San Jose del Cabo, site of the post-race awards ceremony.

To find out more about this legendary event and its fascinating history, visit https://www.norra.com/.

Photo courtesy of National Off-Road Racing Association.

 

 

 

14th Annual Todos Santos Film Festival Kicks Off Tonight

Los Cabos burst upon the cinematic circuit in 2012, with a flurry of red carpet galas and glamorous  soirees featuring A-list movie stars. The arrival of the Los Cabos International Film Festival was good news for Baja California Sur based cinephiles, but hardly a novelty since the nearby pueblo magico of Todos Santos had been hosting its own celebration of motion pictures since 2004.

The most traditional and long-running local film festival returns tonight, March 1, with a celebration of Youth in Video – one of the festival’s more enduring programs – at La Morena restaurant in Todos Santos; an evening of special screenings at the historic Teatro-Cine General Manuel Marquez de Leon; and, in the state capital of La Paz, a documentary about Mexican revolutionary hero Pancho Villa, as well as awards honoring the director, Carlos Bolado, distinguished actor Damian Alcazar, and actor and native son Enoc Leaño.

The 14th annual edition of the Todos Santos Film Festival will conclude Sunday, March 5. In the interim, locals and visitors alike are invited to enjoy a slate of fine films representing the best of contemporary Mexican and Latin American cinema. Given its proximity to Los Cabos – Todos Santos is less than an hour by car from Cabo San Lucas – the festival is one of the region’s most popular cultural attractions.

El Festival de Cine Todos Santos, as it is known in Spanish, was originally founded by local resident Sylvia Perel. Born in Argentina, Perel took a degree in Art History and founded and directed The Latino Film Festival in San Francisco before settling in Baja California Sur in 2000. Her meticulously curated Todos Santos Film Festival has, from its inception, been dedicated to promoting cinematic culture in the region, and in recent years has increasingly established a presence in nearby Pescadero, as well as in La Paz. Screenings will once again be held in all three communities this year: at Casa Ejidal in Pescadero, and at Cinemex and other select locations in La Paz.

The primary showcase, however, remains the beautifully renovated Teatro-Cine General Manuel Marquez de Leon, a vintage theater which first opened in 1944 across from the plaza principal in Todos Santos. Named for a 19th century military leader and freedom fighter, the Marquez on the marquee was a native of the mining community of San Antonio, but resided for many years in Todos Santos. His name also graces the international airport in La Paz.

Although all screenings are in Spanish, gringos needn’t feel excluded. Each of the  films screened at the 14th annual Todos Santos Film Festival will be accompanied by English subtitles. For a complete program of movie listings, or for information about tickets, visit www.todossantoscine.org.

Photo courtesy of the Todos Santos Film Festival.

Bisbees Black & Blue Marlin Tournament Final Fish

Dramatic finishes are a Bisbee’s tradition and the 33rd edition of the Black & Blue continued that trend quite nicely.Bisbees BB 2013 Winner
Today’s last fish on the last day was also the biggest. Linda Williams, fishing aboard her 60 Hatteras II Success,
whipped a monster blue marlin after a battle lasting just under two hours. When her prize was hoisted aloft at the scales, the crowd of several thousand roared as the weight–774 pounds–was announced. It was the largest fish of the tournament and the largest ever weighed by a lady angler in the Black & Blue.

“This was a fish of a lifetime and one definitely on my bucket list, especially in the Black & Blue,” a tired Williams said afterwards. “I love this tournament and I love the people.”

Williams, who is from Alta Loma, California, was fishing with her long-time skipper, Capt.  Kevin Pahl and mates Antonio Zuniga Ruiz, David Reed, Craig Pani and her friend, Jan Howard. The fish was fooled by a Hi-5 Petrolero lure made in Cabo. The acrylic plunger with a black, orange and silver skirt had a red eye, a combination that has fooled several previous big Bisbee’s fish.

“I love lady anglers,” Pahl says. “They do what they’re told by the crew and Linda did a great job on that fish. She really whipped it. We’ve waited a long time for this moment.” The big blue measured 125 inches from the lower jaw to the fork of the tail and had a girth of 72 inches.

“I think this week we showed what lady anglers can do,” Williams added. “We can compete on this level without question.”

II Success’s trophy wasn’t the only fish of the last day. Angler Austin Angel and his family team aboard Sea Angel, a 58 F&S homeported in Baytown, Texas, got on the board with a 313-pound blue that was also fooled by an orange-based lure. His brother, Capt. BC Angel, was at the helm.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he explained. “I’m fishing with my dad and little brother in the Black & Blue and we weighed a qualifying fish. Great day!”

Four other boats brought in marlin that failed to meet the 300-pound minimum weight. Fantasmas, Sporty Game, Reel Pain II and Titan all weighed fish, although the latter two teams are also contending for the top release boat title.

“This is just an awesome way to end the week and I can’t remember how many times we’ve come down to the last day with the biggest fish. We really do like to save the best for last,” says Tournament Director Wayne Bisbee.

Living in Los Cabos: Fighting For Our Lives

Living in Los Cabos: Fighting For Our Lives

By Carol Billups

Living in Los Cabos: Fighting For Our Lives

I just bumper-stickered my car; I think that’s only the second time so you know it’s got to be a big issue. And it is.

For some time now environmentalists in the area have been warning against a move by a Canadian company, Vista Gold, to destroy the Sierra Laguna biosphere by putting in an open pit mine of approximately 800 hectares (about 1,800 acres) just outside the neighboring town of Todos Santos. In addition to the environmental damage of simply ripping open a mountain they will be using arsenic to leach the gold, which may find its way into the water supply for all of our area. If that weren’t stupid enough, the area is already a biological preserve and the nearest town was declared a “Pueblo Magico” only a few years ago. Obviously someone used to think they were worth saving.

Pictures are worth a thousand words: you can see plenty at the website http://www.bajasurenpeligro.com/ . The YouTube film they show is in Spanish, but the meaning is clear enough. First what the area looks like today and some of the animals and plants (many endangered, I believe) who call it home; then photos of similar mines in operation elsewhere. You can sign up to be against the mine (contra la mina) on the site as well.

Now here’s the grossest stupidity of the whole disaster: in 2008 they estimated that over the 10 year span of time the mine would be in operation the value of the gold produced would be about $200 million, or about $20 million per year. Which is certainly less than the area produces with tourism, with ecotourism being our fastest growing sector!!! And might I add that the tourist income stays in Mexico; the income from the gold mine will go to Canadian investors. The number of years it would take for the environment to recover is unknown, but the old gold mining area of El Trifuno in our state is still barren over 150 years after that mine was closed. Stupid!

This morning Canaco, a sort of Chamber of Commerce, held a big meeting trying to rally opposition to the mine among the business community. According to reports our Congress is strongly opposed, it’s only a matter of if they can work quickly enough to block the mine. Our administrator, who attended the meeting, reports that there was a forceful movement by the attendees to hold a mass demonstration against the mine just in case any of our government officials are tempted to move forward with the permits. Vista Gold’s website, last I visited, reported that they had all permits in place. Who knows?