The Cuevas Dream Team with the tournament's winning 38-pound dorado. Photo courtesy Raul Villalobos Davis.

LOCAL DORADO FISHING TOURNAMENT

Sept. 6, 2004, Jeff Petersen, Loreto, Mexico, Local Dorado Tournament:

It was strictly for dorado. It being a local rod and gun club sponsored event it is Mexican in every way. A lot of campaneros knowing each other for a long time and such, the tournament always preceding events of Loreto's fiesta. A clear "right time" to be here for fishing, with outstanding cultural displays of dancing, etc., for three nights following the torneo.

Very large gatherings of Loreto locals, many pangas in procession bringing the virgin from Isla Carmen to the town this afternoon, for example. That sort of thing. Not a cabo style torneo, but down home hard fished event with potential for water this time of year, which indeed we had Saturday.

The winner received something like $3500 (with side bets all done through registration) and a lot of "beso, beso" from the crowd during presentations (Corona Girls present). Fine time. Always a slacking off period for dorado now. It's a good hunt.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Loreto and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Loreto may be found at Mexfish.com's main Loreto page.