Propelled by 25 marlin releases, Team Tejas wins $101,730!
June 7-9, 2018 – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – The fifth installment of the PELAGIC Triple Crown of Fishing – Cabo Summer Slam overflowed with excitement as a 31-team tournament fleet cashed in on a red-hot marlin bite south of the border. Taking place in the infamously-dubbed “Mexico’s Las Vegas”, Cabo San Lucas once again played host to an eclectic group of anglers including: tournament regulars & tournament rookies; an all-female team from Texas; a 72-year-old marlin maniac; and San Antonio Spurs’ 5-time NBA Champion and future Hall of Famer, Tim Duncan.
Team TEJAS celebrates a $101,730 payday // Tournament blast off as seen from the "eye in the sky" // All stacked up and ready to roll! // The iconic "Land's End" arch // 5-time NBA Champion, Tim Ducan, of Veteran's Outdoors fished with the AVENTURA/19's TOY Team during the 2018 Cabo Summer Slam 
The Cabo Summer Slam is a team event with cash and awards to well over $200,000 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 were 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.
The PELAGIC Girls show off the custom Cabo Summer Slam Tournament rods designed by Seeker Rods // 140 billfish were caught and released over the 2-day event // Team BAJA MARK stoked on winning a new PELAGIC Aquapak Backpack during the opening night Mega raffle // Los Juevos cranking out a mix of new and oldies rock 
During registration on Thursday, June 7th, all teams were welcomed with great prizes amidst the tournament kick-off party extravaganza and super raffle. Hosted once again by Cabo Marina’s favorite fishing bar & grill, Baja Cantina, the atmosphere was electric as Los Juevos played a great mix of new and oldies rock music, while the PelagicGIRLs raffled off some incredible prizes. Premium gifts from PELAGIC such as their all-new AquaPak backpacks & duffel bags, high-end polarized sunglasses, and Limited-Edition Marlin Magic Lures were among the most-coveted items; while Seeker Fishing Rods provided some incredible Cabo Summer Slam Tournament Edition Rods as both raffle items and prizes for the eventual winning teams.
Team CHUPACABRA fired up and ready to get on the fish! // Port Captain, Vicente Martinez, Cabo San Lucas Mayor, Raymundo Zamora Ceseña, and API Director, Montaño Cota prepare to signal the start of the 5th Annual Cabo Summer Slam // Team TEJAS *locked and loaded 
Day one of the tournament provided great action for the fleet, which released 88 striped marlin in total and saw some hefty tuna weighed at the scales. Team TEJAS aboard their high-speed 42’ Yellowfin Center Console ended the day with 1500 billfish release points (15 striped marlin) putting them atop the division and securing them all levels of billfish daily jackpots.
Team FEELIN' AZUL with a Tournment best 66.5-lb. yellowfin tuna // Team VIVIANA entered the Dorado categories at the last minute and were rewarded with the lone Dorado of the Tournament 
Gamefish weigh-ins took place at Gricelda’s Smokehouse, whom graciously hosted the tournament’s official weigh station. Team FEELIN’ AZUL weighed-in a tournament best 66.5 lb. yellowfin tuna to earn them the tuna category daily, while VIVIANA secured a jackpot with their 12.7 lb. dorado.
Boats were greeted each morning by a spectacular Cabo sunrise // Teams galloping at full throttle during the shotgun start 
Day two started with clear skies and calm winds welcomed by a vibrant “just another Cabo sunrise”. Smooth seas provided the opportunity for teams prowl the warm waters off Cabo in search of their desired pelagic quarry.
Team TEJAS with the pedal to the metal // Team GO DEEPER readies for the Day 2 shotgun start 
Billfish reports remained steady with the tournament fleet releasing 52 total billfish (51 marlin, 1 sailfish). Teams TEJAS and GO DEEPER both posted scores of 1000-points (10 striped marlin releases); however, TEJAS bested GO DEEPER by achieving their release total first earning them the daily billfish jackpots. Combined with their 1500-points from day one, TEJAS put up a staggering 2500 two-day point total (25 marlin releases) propelling them to the winner’s circle while completely sweeping all level of the billfish daily jackpots. Their total tournament earnings: $101,730.00
Team SALTY N' SWEET with a 26.1 lb. wahoo on Day 2, securing them a check for $18,100! 
The weigh station bustled with life as teams escorted their best tuna, wahoo, or dorado up the docks. Anticipation was abound when Team Salty ‘N Sweet – an all ladies fishing team aboard BEAST OF BURDEN – brought the tournament’s lone wahoo to the scales. Their 26.1 lb. ono earned them top honors in the wahoo category as well double daily jackpot payments for a grand total of: $18,100.00
Team DREAM CATCHER and the biggest yellowfin tuna for Day 2 - a 54.5 lber. 
The biggest tuna of the day went to DREAM CATCHER – a solid yellowfin weighing 54.5 lbs. Unfortunately, the team chose not to enter the tuna category jackpot, therefore FEELIN’ AZUL and their day two 27.2 lb. tuna took the daily. Tallying a two-day combined tuna score of 93.7 lbs. (66. 5 + 27.2 lbs.), FEELIN’ AZUL was welcomed to the stage to receive the first-place tuna division trophy, custom Tournament Rod from Seeker, and a ceremonial check for: $14,315.00
A $19,800 pyaday for Team VIVIANA! 
The Dorado Division and associated jackpot categories were swept by Team VIVIANA earning them a tournament payout of: $19,800.00
Glenn Richardson taking home the Top Angler award with an impressive 15 marlin released over two days. 
An interesting story surrounds our award-winning, Top Overall Angler. At 72-years-young, Glenn Richardson, fishing with Capt. Wilks Hammock aboard EXPEDITION , registered for the tournament as the sole angler on his 65’ Viking. Glenn tallied a tournament-best, single-angler total of 15 marlin for 1500 release points, including back-to-back, double-header hooks-ups during the event!
Tucker Dunn released 7 striped marlin to take the Top Jr. Angler award // Tournament regular, Katie Kosich, took home the Top Female Angler Award for releasing 6 striped marlin. 
The Top Female Angler Award was presented to tournament regular, Katie Kosich, for releasing 6 striped marlin aboard EUGENE . Top Jr. Angler honors went to Tucker Dunn (age 15) aboard HOORAY for his 7 striped marlin releases. And, Honorary Top Jr. Angler was awarded to Cooper Schultz (age 7) for landing a 49.6 lb. yellowfin tuna aboard FEELIN’ AZUL . Congrats to all Top Anglers!
Former NBA Superstar, Tim Duncan, on the board in the Marlin Release division 
A feel-good shout-out surrounding the tournament goes to 5-time NBA Champion, Tim Duncan, of Veterans Outdoors, and RedRum Sportfishing Charters. Once a participant on a trip with Veterans Outdoors – a foundation which celebrates veterans of armed service – Tim now works with and chaperones fishing adventures for retired servicemen and women. Courtesy of Veterans Outdoors, retired Marine Corps Recon Sniper, Travis Cox, joined RedRum Sportfishing and the former NBA Superstar to fish the 5th Annual PELAGIC Cabo Summer Slam Tournament. Thanks to Tim Duncan, Veterans Outdoors, and RedRum Sportfishing Charters for putting together this great project. We’ll see you at next year’s tournament!
Cooper Schultz (age 7) was awarded Honorary Top Jr. Angler for a 49.6-lb. yellowfin he landed aboard FEELIN' AZUL 
After all was said and done, all fish weighed, and all 140 billfish releases were documented at tournament headquarters in Baja Cantina, the results were announced and trophies, prizes, and ceremonial checks awarded to the winning teams:
The entire crowd erupted at Tournament host Baja Cantina as Team TEJAS took to the stage to accept their $101,730 check and Top Billfish Awards! 
BILLFISH RELEASE DIVISION
1st Place – TEJAS – 2500 Release Points (25 marlin) – Tournament Earnings: $101,730.00
2nd Place – EXPEDITION – 1500 Release Points (15 marlin) – Tournament Earnings: $4,800.00
3rd Place – GO DEEPER – 1400 Release Points (14 marlin) – Tournament Earnings: $1,920.00
Taking the Top spot in the Tuna Division, as well as winning both and Day 1 and Day 2 tuna jackposts, earned Team FEELIN' AZUL a $14,315 check! 
TUNA DIVISION
1st Place – FEELIN’ AZUL – 93.7 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $14,315.00
2nd Place – SNEAK ATTACK – 82.1 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $2,400.00
3rd Place – DREAM CATCHER – 54.5 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $960.00
WAHOO DIVISION
1st Place – SALTY ‘N SWEET – 26.1 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $18,100.00
DORADO DIVISION
1st Place – VIVIANA – 12.7 lbs. – Tournament Earnings: $19,800.00
Thank you again to all tournament participants and our generous sponsors for making this another incredible event south of the border. We hope to see you all again in June 2019 for the 6th Annual PELAGIC Triple Crown of Fishing – Cabo Summer Slam Tournament!
Mark your calendars and come fish with PELAGIC! Below you will find our tournament calendar. Fish one, or fish them all!
- Marlin Magic Lure Tournament presented by PELAGIC – Kona, HI – June 26-28, 2018
- PELAGIC Rockstar! Tuna Tournament – Cabo San Lucas, MEX – November 2-4, 2018
- PELAGIC Rockstar! Offshore Tournament – Marina Pez Vela, Costa Rica – January 11-13, 2019
- PELAGIC Triple Crown of Fishing – Cabo Summer Slam – Cabo San Lucas, MEX – June 6-8, 2019
Check out additional photos from the tournament in the gallery below
