The Fishing Capital of the World – Tournament Season in Cabo San Lucas

It’s the biggest day of the year in a place built on big-game sportfishing. It’s the day of the famous shotgun start, when boats speed out of the Cabo San Lucas Marina before dispersing in whichever direction the captain thinks the fish might be biting, anglers strapped into fighting chairs hoping to pull in the qualifying black or blue marlin that will earn their team a check in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It, of course, is the opening of Bisbee’s Black & Blue Tournament, AKA “The Super Bowl of Sportfishing” and “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament.”

Oh by the way:  that day is today!

Actually, the tournament started a little early this year, on Monday, when Black & Blue founder Bob Bisbee, Sr. – who started it all back in 1982, and passed away on June 18 – had his ashes scattered by family near Land’s End.

But the shotgun start was this morning at 8 a.m. The Black & Blue is now underway, with fishing on tap today, tomorrow and Friday, before the winners are crowned at an awards celebration on Saturday.

The Black & Blue Marlin Tournament has come a long way in 36 years, from the inaugural event in which six boats competed for $10,000 in prize money, to today’s million dollar plus purses. But the spirit remains the same. It’s a celebration of fishing, and a celebration of Cabo San Lucas, the place that became a world-class tourist destination in only 50 years…starting from the day the town’s 300 or so residents started phasing out the lone industry, the cannery, to save the big catches for visiting fishermen.

Nowadays, it’s not just the Black & Blue that brings anglers. Los Cabos has a full-fledged fishing tournament season, and as of today, fishing season is at its highest pitch.

What might be termed “fishing tournament season” unofficially kicks off in June in Los Cabos, continuing through November. But the season really begins in earnest with the first of Bisbee’s trio of annual tournaments, the East Cape Offshore. This year’s ECO, held in August, broke records for its prize money, which reached an all-time high for the tournament of over $657,000.

The second tournament, Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore–familiarly known as “Little Bisbee’s” to differentiate it from the Black & Blue, or “Big Bisbee’s”–isn’t so little anymore. This year’s LCO, which just finished Sunday, also saw a record prize money payout: $1,165,000. That makes it the 8th fishing tournament in the world to top the million mark.

Over 120 teams competed in the LCO this year – 123 to be exact, comprising 763 anglers – and the tournament continued its commitment to charity, donating over a ton of fish caught during the four-day event, or an estimated 8,607 meals to local families.

The Black & Blue, naturally, leads the list of tournaments with lucrative prize money, and its 2006 payout of over 4.6 million dollars remains the richest of all-time. But although it remains the biggest, the Black & Blue isn’t the last major tournament of the Los Cabos fishing season. That honor belongs to the WON Tuna Jackpot, which takes place Nov. 7 – 10….a mere two weeks from now.

WON, for the uninitiated, is the Western Outdoor News, a California based sportsman’s weekly that has a long history with Los Cabos, dating back to the 1950s, when Baja columnist Ray Cannon’s rave fishing reviews helped put the area on the destination travel map. The WON Tuna Jackpot paid out over $677,000 to winners last year, and this year’s prize money is expected to top $750,000.

The enormous payouts and charity efforts are the reason Cabo San Lucas becomes the fishing capital of the world this time of year, and why fishing season in Los Cabos continues to lure so many anglers.

Where else in the world can you spend your autumn weekends fishing, with a chance to make so much money?

For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

  • Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit:  Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament.

Keywords:  Bisbee’s Black and Blue, marlin fishing in Cabo, fishing in Cabo, fishing tournaments in Cabo, events in Cabo, October events in Cabo, WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot, Los Cabos Billfish Tournament,

Upcoming Event Calendar

September

Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) – Sep. 16

October

25th Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Oct. 28 – Nov. 10

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

November

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolución (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

 December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

January 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – March 6, 13, 20, 27

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

 

 

Los Cabos Fishing Report – October 14, 2018

October 14, 2018

Weather patterns are now feeling like fall, evening and early morning temperatures are cooling off to about the 70 degree range, daytime highs still reaching into the upper 80s. We are seeing greater numbers of anglers now arriving, the next five week period is the busiest season of the year. Hurricane Sergio which had headed far west, nearly half way to Hawaii, pulled a U-turn and came back rapidly to strike the central Baja region as a weakening tropical storm, but still made quite a mess of the areas which it did strike, before continuing on towards mainland Mexico, this all happened on Friday morning. The Los Cabos area did receive some isolated rain showers early Friday, along with increased storm swells, followed by 20 mph wind gusts from the south,

Ocean temperatures were reaching into the upper 80s, we do expect that this has peaked after the long hot summer and now we will see water temperatures begin to cool off in the coming weeks. Schooling sardinas are still being found near the PLC marina channel entrance, heavy charter pressure will soon have the fleet scrambling to maintain sufficient bait supplies.

This week the fleet concentrated most effort on the Iman to San Luis Banks where the yellowfin tuna were the main target species. We saw many more smaller sized yellowfin tuna and white skipjack in recent days, fish ranging from 5 to 15 lb., but the larger tuna up to 70 lb. plus were still on these same grounds, just getting them to bite became more of a challenge. Drift fishing while chumming with sardinas and strips of squid continued to be the most productive option.

Only a few dorado and wahoo being seen, mainly on the same grounds as the tuna were found. No consistent bite for these species at this time. Same for the bottom action, strong currents continued and this made it harder for angles to fish the bottom structure, a mix of snapper, pargo, cabrilla, bonito, pompano and amberjack were accounted for, but there were more triggerfish than anything else.

Quite a few sailfish were found on these same fishing grounds, as these fish do prefer the warmest of currents, a handful of black marlin, striped marlin and blue marlin were also reported, spread out and not in any significant numbers.

Closer to shore a few early seasons sierra were reported, as well as smaller sized roosterfish, again these were in limited numbers.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 84 charters for the week. Anglers reported a fish count of:  2 black marlin, 1 striped marlin, 8 sailfish, 1 blue marlin, 9 dorado, 3 wahoo, 220 yellowfin tuna, 22 bonito, 310 white skipjack, 26 red snapper, 5 amberjack, 10 barred pargo, 4 pompano, 2 surgeon fish, 9 yellow snapper, 13 cabrilla, 5 sierra, 2 roosterfish and 150 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

Not-So-Still Life – Looking Forward to A New Season of Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo

The still life is a traditional staple of representational painting, a long-lived genre that allows artists to showcase their own inimitable style as they tackle rather commonplace subject matter like fruit or flowers.

Visitors to San Jose del Cabo will discover the colonial style city – whose name, along with that of sister city Cabo San Lucas, contributes to the Los Cabos moniker used for the municipality at large – is awash in talented painters. But despite its surfeit of artists, many of whom have their own still lifes on display in the historic, gallery-rich Art District, the city’s most famous art work isn’t a painting at all, but rather the Art Walk held weekly during the high tourist season.

Think of it as the not-so-still-life.

Each Thursday evening from November to June, art lovers and those seeking a bit of local color pour into the city, not only flooding the officially designated Distrito del Arte – with its voluminous galleries and charming cobblestone streets – but the better part of the historic downtown area between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m.

Galleries stay open late to publicize featured paintings, sculptures and other artworks; downtown monuments like City Hall and Parroquia San Jose are outlined by colorful lights; arts and crafts makers spread out their wares on tables or along the sidewalks; and wandering musicians serenade passersby strolling hand in hand, or those taking a breather at local bars and restaurants.

There are plenty of both, by the way. San Jose del Cabo is home to the original Baja Brewing Company and dozens of superb restaurants, from Mexican traditionalists like Jazmin’s and La Lupita to internationally representative eateries like La Dolce. But the true Thursday night magnets are the galleries which line the well-lit streets of the historic Art District. There’s Galeria de Ida Victoria, which in addition to hosting the region’s finest custom framing studio, also represents some of the finest contemporary Mexican artists. Patricia Mendoza Gallery and Casa Dahlia also spotlight the work of contemporary Mexican artists and artisans; traditional Mexican folk art like glassware and jewelry is on display at La Sacristia; and Mata Ortiz Gallery offers some wonderful examples of its namesake pottery style, whose history dates back over a thousand years but was reinvigorated by modern Chihuahua master Juan Quezada. Those with a more international orientation, meanwhile, can ponder the “sacred abstract art” at Dharmesh Anand, or be awestruck by Muvezi’s visually arresting work from Shona stone sculptors in Zimbabwe.

These and other galleries gladly welcome perambulators to experience the city’s thriving art scene (only Tijuana and Todos Santos rival San José as Baja art meccas), keeping their doors open well after dark, and often inviting artists to interact with guests and answer questions about their work. Cheese and wine, of course, often make their inevitable appearances as well; sip and snack staples in any bohemian milieu.

All in all, it’s a complete feast for the senses, and the 2018-2019 Art Walk season promises to be the biggest and best yet, with a fresh slate of exhibitions and fresh new looks at San Jose’s dramatic downtown makeover.

Now is a good time to clear a spot on your upcoming calendar, as the traditional seasonal kick-off – the first Thursday of November – is only three weeks away. And as always, the start of Art Walk season is celebrated contemporaneously with Day of the Dead remembrances across Mexico, so visitors can look forward to seeing personalized altars and other Day of the Dead specific symbols (from candy skulls to Catrina figures), as well as the latest works from top local artists.

For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

 Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit: ArtCabo.com.

Keywords:  Art Walk, San Jose del Cabo, art in Cabo, events in Cabo, culture in Cabo, things to do in Cabo,

Upcoming Event Calendar

September

Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) – Sep. 16

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina – Oct. 9, 11, 13

San Jose del Cabo Restaurant Week – Oct. 13 – 20

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – TBD

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 18 – 21

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 23 – 27

25th Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Oct. 28 – Nov. 10

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

November

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolución (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

 December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

January 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – March 6, 13, 20, 27

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

Los Cabos Fishing Report – October 7, 2018

October 7, 2018

We are now seeing the first wave of fall season anglers arriving, the coming weeks will be very busy. Weather patterns are changing, slight chill now early in the morning, still very humid, some intense sunshine, we had no rain this past week, scattered tropical clouds and, increased swells due to distant hurricane, with relatively light winds. Ocean water temperatures were in the 86 degrees range, still very conductive for fueling storms. Last week we saw Hurricane Rosa pass off to the west and end up making landfall in Northern Baja as a tropical storm. This week we are following Hurricane Sergio, which is presently far off to the west, nearly half way to Hawaii. The deal with Sergio is that forecasts predict this system will make a u turn late this weekend and head back northeast towards the Central Baja, almost unprecedented to have a tropical storm be that far west and then move all the way back to the Baja. We will be following this through the week and hope that this storm does not swift to the south.

As angling pressure increases we are going to see how supplies of sardinas hold up, this has been the main baitfish now being used, also the slabs of squid makes a good combination and option to have, if available. As we move into the fall season there will be more opportunities of looking for other larger baits like chihuil, small skipjack, caballito and later on sardineta and mackerel.

This week again the main center of action for local fleets was on the Iman Bank. With yellowfin tuna being the most common gamefish, ranging in sizes from 10 lb. to 70 lb. Mixed in were various skipjack and lots of pesky triggerfish. The bite was tough this week, the tuna would come up, but were very finicky and would strike at sporadic times. Most charters were doing well to land a couple of tuna while on other days anglers landed as many as five or more. Many of the yellowfin landed on these grounds averaged in the 25 to 60 lb. class, quality fish, just not in any significant numbers. These fish have been on these same areas for the entire summer and are becoming wiser to the increased boat traffic. Though we expect action to start spreading out some and hopefully we will see more dorado moving in, so far they have been scarce, an occasional one or two dorado in the 2 to 12 lb. range.

Wahoo action has been limited, though we are seeing a few fish brought in from the areas near Iman to Vinorama, most of these were under 30 lb., striking on lures as well as rigged chihuil. Wahoo do not often seem that active when the ocean temperature is this warm, as we see cooling currents we expect to have much better chances for these popular fish.

We heard of some better blue marlin action off of the fishing grounds closer to Cabo San Lucas, off of San Jose del Cabo a few blues to over 200 lb. were reported, as well as many more sailfish in local waters now, these fish like the warmest of waters, sailfish up to 100 lb. were landed off the same grounds where the yellowfin tuna were schooling.

Not much bottom action now, stronger currents and anglers that did try mainly had a variety of smaller sized pargo, bonito, triggerfish, cabrilla, we did see a few amberjack, one that was over 40 lb. Also one golden leopard grouper was caught.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 69 charters for the week. Anglers reported a fish count of:  1 striped marlin, 11 sailfish, 1 black marlin, 2 blue marlin, 18 dorado, 9 wahoo, 115 yellowfin tuna, 10 bonito, 230 white skipjack, 16 red snapper, 3 amberjack, 12 barred pargo, 6 pompano, 4 surgeon fish, 12 yellow snapper, 16 cabrilla, 1 golden leopard grouper and 140 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

Celebrations, Concerts & Competitions – October Events in Cabo San Lucas

October traditionally marks the start of high tourist season in Los Cabos–and although such calendar distinctions mean less now than they used to, as the cape cities have evolved into year-round travel destinations–the month remains important for signature regional events like Sammy Hagar’s birthday bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina, and Bisbee’s Black & Blue and Los Cabos Offshore marlin fishing tournaments.

Sammy Hagar’s 71st Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina (Oct. 9, 11, 13)

Every year since 1990, loyal “Redheads” from around the world have flocked to Cabo San Lucas for Sammy Hagar’s Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina. In 2018, the former Van Halen and Montrose celebrates his 71st year on the planet with an all-star cast of visiting musicians, including The Circle members Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham, and Vic Johnson. Shows are scheduled for October 9, 11 and 13. General admission tickets are available to winners of a random drawing, but those who aren’t selected will still have an opportunity to attend. Some dinner show tickets will be made available in early October on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament (Oct. 14 – 18)

Just as September is El Mes de la Patria, the “the country’s month,” in México, October is the month of the fishing tournament in Cabo San Lucas. Bisbee’s two cash-rich tournaments–the Los Cabos Offshore and Black & Blue–get most of the publicity, but the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament also sends out a siren call to big-game fishermen eager for big-money prizes and jackpots. The three tournaments combined last year to pay out over $4,735,000 to the winners. The 20th annual LCBT has three entry levels:  a $5,000 base entry for each 6-person team; daily jackpots for the largest tuna, wahoo and dorado; and daily billfish release jackpots. Optional marlin only jackpots are available to teams that paid base entry. Registration and the post-tournament gala awards ceremony will both be hosted by Playa Grande, a Solmar Group resort.

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore (October 18 – 21)

Commonly known as “Little Bisbee’s,” to differentiate it from the “Big Bisbee’s” Black & Blue marlin fishing tournament that also takes place each October in Los Cabos, the Los Cabos Offshore dates back to 2002, and is considered a more laid-back, charity focused endeavor than the Black & Blue. Cash prizes are awarded to the teams with the three biggest qualifying fish in the game and billfish categories at the LCO, and large amounts of money are always donated to local causes. Base entry for teams is $1,500 U.S., with $17,000 necessary for “across the board” entry in all jackpots and challenges.

Bisbee’s Black & Blue (October 23 – 27)

Oft billed as “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament,” thanks to its million dollar payouts, this marlin fishing tournament originally premiered in 1981, and remains to this day the highest profile annual event in Los Cabos. The $4.165 million payout in 2006 was and still is the largest in sportfishing history. Base entry for this millionaire maker is $5,000 U.S. per team, and requires a $71,500 U.S. outlay across all categories, jackpots and challenges. Prizes are awarded for the top five catches of black and blue marlin, assuming they meet the minimum standards (300 lbs.).

Día de Muertos (Oct. 31 – Nov. 2)

México observes many holidays, but none quite so visually distinctive and emotionally resonant as El Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). This holiday to honor deceased family and friends dates back to the time of the Aztecs–who dedicated a festival to Mictecacihuatl, queen of the underworld, each August–but now takes place contemporaneously with the Catholic observance of Allhallowtide. Traditionally, it is thought that the souls of children return on Nov. 1, and the souls of adults on Nov. 2. Families will often build ofrendas (altars) in their homes, welcoming back the spirits of the departed with some of their favorite food and drinks, as well as special holiday themed items like cempasúchil flowers (Aztec marigolds), calaveras de azúcar (candy skulls), and a sweet bread called pan de muerto.

For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

 

  • Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit: Bisbee’s Black & Blue.

Upcoming Event Calendar

September

Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) – Sep. 16

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina – Oct. 9, 11, 13

San Jose del Cabo Restaurant Week – Oct. 13 – 20

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – TBD

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 18 – 21

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 23 – 27

25th Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Oct. 28 – Nov. 10

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

November

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolución (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

 December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

January 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – March 6, 13, 20, 27

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

 

Destination Wellness – Medical Tourism in Los Cabos

Travelers don’t just flock to cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo for the year-round sunshine and gorgeous golden sand beaches, the abundant big-game sportfishing and spectacular seaside golf courses.

For many visitors–particularly from the U.S.–Los Cabos also offers an opportunity to receive high quality medical and dental care for a fraction of what they would pay at home.

Health and beauty options like cosmetic surgery or dental work may not be the sole reasons for the vacation, mind you. More likely, they’re added bonuses that can be fitted in between pampering massages and poolside margaritas.

But there’s no question that affordable medical care is a very real consideration, and that it contributes significantly to the overall attractiveness of Los Cabos as a travel destination.

The truth is, medical tourism is now big business in Los Cabos…and in Mexico as a whole, with the sector accounting for a whopping 4.6 billion dollars in 2016.

Medical Centers in Los Cabos

Los Cabos’ growth as a medical tourism destination has translated to an impressive new slate of state-of-the-art centers and facilities.

Most impressive, perhaps is Hospital H+ Los Cabos, which opened in 2016 in the 20-mile tourist corridor which connects Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo (at Km. 24.5, just behind the fashionable new fine dining food court, El Merkado). The spacious modern facility boasts a full range of medical services, from 24-hour triage and intensive care to surgical areas, specialty clinics, laboratories and blood banks, radiology and ultrasound imaging, and private rooms for extended patient stays. H+ Los Cabos also features a tremendous roster of on-call specialists: including doctors in Cardiology, Coloproctology, Gastroenterology, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pathology, Pediatrics, Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, and Urology.

Hospiten is the next highly acclaimed medical center expected to open and rival H+ for state-of-the-art testing and treatment. It’s currently under construction just outside Cabo San Lucas (near Plaza San Lucas, the corridor based home to Walmart and other popular shops and stores). Hospiten is an international medical group, with several locations already serving patients in Spain, as well as throughout Latin America and the Caribbean; including in the premier Mexican resort destination of Cancun.

Choosing the Right Doctors & Facilities

Even with the most high-profile health care centers, a thorough vetting is recommended to ensure you’re completely comfortable with the quality and cost of your preferred services.

The easiest way to do this is simply to consult the approved list of hospitals and medical facilities that has been put together, and is constantly updated, by the U.S. Consulate General.

The U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana, in conjunction with its branch in Los Cabos, has compiled a list of regional clinics, hospitals and ambulance services that meet their criteria (read: U.S. standards) for quality care. High-quality treatment is rarely the reason for removal of hospitals and clinics from this list, by the way, but rather predatory billing practices. Feel free to contact the U.S. Consulate offices for more specific information about various regional medical facilities.

If the facility you wish to use is not approved by the U.S. Consulate, that’s not necessarily a black mark, since the Consulate generally only evaluates the very largest hospitals and clinics, and acts primarily on complaints. Ask your preferred medical care facility to share estimated billing costs ahead of time, and to provide you with a complete record of their official accreditations, as well as those of their doctors.

Insurance

Regardless of whether you’ve decided to pay for your destination health care out-of-pocket, it’s also important to investigate the possible insurance ramifications for accidents or other unforeseen health issues (complications from pre-existing conditions, etc.) while traveling abroad.

Many U.S. based health insurance policies are only in force domestically, and thus it may be advisable, as a purely precautionary measure, to enroll in a travelers’ medical insurance plan for the duration of your Los Cabos vacation.

For more information about medical tourism and health care in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

 Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

 Photo credit: Hospital H+ Los Cabos.

Upcoming Event Calendar

September

Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) – Sep. 16

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina – Oct. 9, 11, 13

San Jose del Cabo Restaurant Week – Oct. 13 – 20

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – TBD

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 18 – 21

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 23 – 27

25th Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Oct. 28 – Nov. 10

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

November

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolución (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

January 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – March 6, 13, 20, 27

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

 

 

Life Luxe Jazz & Golf Experience Coming to Los Cabos in November

The Life Luxe Jazz concert series, a unique luxury cultural experience, will be held Nov. 1 – 4 at Quivira Los Cabos, an upscale resort community situated on the Pacific Coast north of Cabo San Lucas. Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort, an acclaimed adults-only beachfront hotel, will serve as the host site for this one-of-a-kind lifestyle event.

According to concert organizers, “Life Luxe Jazz…brings people together with common interests in music, culture and exceptional cuisine, with the goal of building bridges across borders.” To support cultural exchange, jazz workshops will be hosted to enrich the lives of and introduce jazz culture to Los Cabos youth through education and engagement with jazz artists.

Patrons can register to participate in the Life Luxe Jazz Golf Tournament at Quivira Golf Club, a spectacular Jack Nicklaus-designed course that scales the heights at Land’s End. The venue, named Golf Magazine’s “Best New International Course” when it opened in 2014, was recently voted to Golf Digest’s elite list of the “World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.” Marked by sheer cliffs, massive dunes and desert foothills, the 7,085-yard, par-72 layout offers breathtaking thrills, unforgettable challenges and more oceanfront exposure than any other course in Los Cabos. In a destination revered for its unique mountain-desert-ocean setting, Quivira, an aesthetic tour de force with panoramic views of the Pacific from every hole, stands apart as one of the most daring, eclectic courses Nicklaus has ever built.

Registration for the tournament, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 a.m., is $295 per player. Fee includes green fees, golf cart, unlimited food and drinks (Baja cuisine, top-shelf tequila) at the club’s four comfort stations, swag bags and tournament awards. Completing the experience at Quivira is a thatched-roof clubhouse that offers a large rectangular bar, a casual steakhouse and ample outdoor seating overlooking the sea. Tournament winners will receive their awards and be recognized on stage at the concert event the night of Nov. 3.

The star-studded line-up will be led by Grammy-winning contemporary jazz and R&B singer Norman Brown, who has sold nearly two million albums. Other artists slated to perform, all of whom have reached the top of Billboard’s smooth jazz charts, include Mindi Abair, Bobby Caldwell, Boney James, Michael Manson, Keiko Matsui, Maysa, Meli’sa Morgan, Najee, Gregory Porter, Lin Rountree, Kirk Whalum and Zoe Wood.

The all-day concerts will be held on an expansive stretch of pristine beach in front of Pueblo Bonito Pacifica. Food and drink stations will be plentiful. The resort’s large circular firepits, artfully carved into the sand by the hotel staff, will be lit in the evening. In addition, several free concerts will be scheduled for the residents of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

A variety of ticket packages are currently on sale, ranging from luxury open seating, exclusive cabana loungers and stage-front sectional sofa loungers.  Elite VIP climate-controlled beachfront viewing areas in The Towers at Pacifica, an exclusive “resort within a resort,” are also available.

The four-day festival will feature a live jazz sunset cruise on Nov. 2 spotlighting the music of Ernest Quarles and Lindsey Webster. Guests can enjoy a specially prepared menu, multiple bars, and close-up views of El Arco (The Arch), Cabo’s iconic rock formation at Land’s End.

 For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo credit:  Quivira Los Cabos.

Upcoming Event Calendar

 October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina – Oct. 9, 11, 13

San Jose del Cabo Restaurant Week – Oct. 13 – 20

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – TBD

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 18 – 21

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 23 – 27

25th Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Oct. 28 – Nov. 10

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

November

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolución (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

 December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

January 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – March 6, 13, 20, 27

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Los Cabos Fishing Report – September 16, 2018

September 16, 2018 

We are starting to see the first wave of early fall anglers arriving, still only moderate numbers, but more people than we have seen in recent weeks. This is now the four year anniversary of when Hurricane Odile devastated the Los Cabos area. This week the weather has been calm, last week we saw some isolated unpredictable thundershowers that did bring some fairly heavy rainfall amounts in some areas. No new storms that we see presently on the forecast, but tropical systems can develop rapidly this time of year, another few weeks of the normal storm season, so we will be watching closely. Meanwhile the Philippines is now enduring the battering of a Super Typhon and the East Coast of the United Sates is dealing with Hurricane Florence. All is quiet in the Eastern Pacific at this time. Winds were very light this week, swells were moderate, supplies of sardinas were sufficient and anglers were enjoying great ocean conditions, though days were still very warm and humidity is high, as it normally is during the month of September.

Anglers were using both sardinas and strips of squid, some chihuil also now being caught for bait as well. Yellowfin tuna were found from the Gordo Banks to Iman and San Luis. Smaller football tuna mainly being found on the Gordo Banks, though on Iman and San Luis the yellowfin tuna were avenging 50 to 70 lb. Finicky at times, lots of patience and persistence needed, drift fishing while chumming, dealing with lots of triggerfish and needlefish stealing baits. At times tuna could be seen boiling and jumping out of the water, but proved to have lock jaw, but then would go on the bite sporadically, some days early, sometimes much later in the day. Anglers were doing well to land one, two or three of these quality tuna.

Only a few dorado being found, most of these were under ten pounds, most of these a bit closer to shore than where the tuna were schooling. Wahoo were very few and far between, though every few days we heard about someone catching one. Only a few small roosterfish found close to shore. Off the bottom we did not see any consistent action, though a couple of nice cabrilla in the 40 to 50 pound class were accounted for. A handful of red snapper, bonito and a couple of dogtooth snapper in the 20 to 30 lb. range.

Heard of great striped marlin action on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, our local grounds produced scattered billfish action for sailfish, striped and blue marlin.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 62 charters for this week. Anglers reported a fish count of: 9  striped marlin, 3 sailfish, 2 blue marlin, 3 wahoo, 14 dorado, 105 yellowfin tuna, 16 bonito, 2 barred pargo, 14 red snapper, 2 dogtooth snapper, 12 cabrilla and 75 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

Newly Launched Website TheCaboRealEstate.Com Offers Premier Listings and Buyer/Seller Resources for the Los Cabos Real Estate Market

Los Cabos, BCS, Release:  September 12, 2018.  For Immediate Release.

Not just any real estate website, but www.TheCaboRealEstate.Com  launched this week, establishing for the first time an authoritative, “go-to” online resource for those interested in buying or selling property in the exciting and rapidly growing Los Cabos real estate market.

Although the trademark registered website is new for 2018, its launch has been highly anticipated thanks to a uniquely impressive pedigree. www.TheCaboRealEstate.Com  owner and lead broker Michael Aviani has been a trusted name in Los Cabos real estate for over 30 years, founding benchmark local property management companies Los Cabos Real Estate www.LosCabosRealEstate.Pro   and Los Cabos Vacation Rentals www.LosCabosVillas.Com , and helping countless numbers of people fulfill their lifelong dream of owning ocean view homes in a sun-splashed tropical paradise.

Aviani’s decades of regional experience are on full display in www.TheCaboRealEstate.Com , which features a comprehensive directory of local property listings, from luxurious homes and villas to scenically situated condos and residences. The website’s slate of real estate tools and resources also includes up-to-date information on what’s new, and spotlights the best of what’s available in the most exclusive neighborhoods and communities in Los Cabos.

Los Cabos, of course, is the Baja California Sur municipality that’s home to popular resort destinations Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, as well as the tourist corridor which connects the cape cities, and other lightly populated but stunningly beautiful coastal communities overlooking both the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez.

Los Cabos is currently in the midst of an unprecedented building boom, with a spectacular portfolio of residential properties under development from the Pacific Coast north of Cabo San Lucas to the Bay of Palms on the region’s breathtakingly beautiful East Cape.

What that means is that there has never been a better time to buy or sell real estate in Los Cabos, or a better time to unveil a comprehensive and trusted resource like www.TheCaboRealEstate.Com  than right now.

For more information and to see first-hand all the premium listings and tools now available at the site, visit https://thecaborealestate.com .

 About Michael Aviani, Owner/Broker for TheCaboRealEstate.Com

Michael Aviani is the Los Cabos real estate pro, with over three decades of experience buying and selling properties in the Land’s End region.

Michael fell in love with Los Cabos at first sight, but it took more than 35 trips after his first visit in 1985 before he decided to relocate permanently. He sold his house in Capistrano Beach, California in 1991 and settled into a new life in San Jose del Cabo, founding Los Cabos Real Estate in 1992, and sister company Los Cabos Vacation Rentals in 1998. He’s been a full-time resident ever since, and became a dual citizen of Mexico and the U.S. in 2005.

 Press Contact:

Name:  Michael Aviani

Company:  Los Cabos Real Estate

Phone:  866-568-7859 from the U.S.; 624-142-2100 in Mexico

Email:  Info@TheCaboRealEstate.com .

Los Cabos Fishing Report – September 9, 2018

September 9, 2018

Light crowds of tourists now, will not be long before the busy fall season begins. Tropical storm season is in the peak period now, when historically the most Hurricanes have formed and also made landfall on the Southern Baja Peninsula. At this time there are no new systems threatening, Hurricane Olivia has headed far off on a westerly track heading for possible landfall in Hawaii. The next Eastern Pacific storm will be named Paul, hard to predict the weather more than a few days in advance this time of year. On Wednesday we did have some isolated heavy rainfall, but only in small areas, not widespread. This is the time of year when forecast call for almost daily scattered thundershowers, more often these form over the hills in the afternoon, but they are always very unpredictable as exactly where and when they happen. Ocean temperatures are warming, up into the 85 to 87 degree range. Swells were moderate for this time of year. Winds were gusting more than last week, mainly after mid-day.

Schooling sardinas were once again found in closer range, now off the San Jose Estuary. Slabs of squids were also a main bait source being used. Most productive area where local fleets are now fishing have been from the Gordo Banks to Iman and San Luis Banks. Yellowfin tuna remained the most common gamefish species being found. Sizes of the tuna have ranged from 10 lb. to 90 lb. Higher numbers of the larger grade of fish were found near Iman and San Luis Banks, but a handful of the nicer yellowfin were also found on the Gordo Banks. Gordo was producing a lot of the smaller sized tuna as well, while Iman and San Luis there were mainly larger sized fish being hooked into. The bite was sporadic, some day’s early, other days late, other day’s finicky, typical tuna fishing. The best method was to have both sardinas and squid, drift fishing while chumming. A few anglers reported success catching chihuil baitfish and slow trolling them, though these baitfish proved difficult and time consuming to try and catch. Anglers seriously targeting the tuna were accounting for an average of one to three of the nicer sized fish, when targeting the smaller tuna, often they were able to catch quick limits of five fish per person.

Very few dorado were seen this past week, we heard of reports of good numbers of these fish being found in the San Diego area, maybe this is where they all are, last season the better dorado action locally was later in the fall and through December, that might be the same pattern this season. Very few wahoo were reported this week, an occasional fish on the troll, but nothing consistent and no particular time of day either.

Bottom action was limited to a few bonito, cabrilla, red snapper, pargo and triggerfish. Not much inshore action seen, not the time of year for that.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 50 charters for this week. Anglers reported a fish count of: 2 black marlin, 3  striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 4 dorado, 3 wahoo, 112 yellowfin tuna, 9 bonito, 5 yellow snapper, 3 barred pargo, 10 red snapper, 7 cabrilla (leopard grouper), and 24 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