By Pete Gray
We recently wrapped up our 28th Annual Rich Topp Palmas de Cortez Fall Spectacular and it was certainly a great one. The fishing was great, the people were fantastic, the resort was beautiful, and the weather was good.
Several members of the Topp family came to honor our friend Rich Topp who passed away this past May. Rich was with us almost every year of the tournament. He loved Palmas de Cortez and even owned a couple of condo weeks and a boat at the resort. His smile and generosity made him quite famous and so well liked by visitors and employees at Palmas. It was truly an honor to have his wife Peggy, daughter Nicole and her family, son Jeff and his wife as well as Riche’s brothers and sister and their spouses come join in the celebration. His brother Gerry even donated $1000 cash for the “Big Fish Rich” prize. Daughter Nicole gave a beautiful tribute to her father at the awards ceremony that certainly brought tears to all.
Most of the group arrived Thursday and pre-fished Friday, including myself and my friends and tournament helpers Mark and John. Friday the seas were flat, and the fish were biting! We hooked several striped marlin and dorado. Tons of action most of the day fishing aboard one of the Palmas cruisers Pez Vella. Others that fished had similar results and added some 30 pound yellowfin tuna in the mix too. Several including the Topp family rented quads and side by sides from Jimmy at Can Doo Rentals and had
a blast hitting the trails to Punta Pescadero and the waterfalls and washes of Los Barriles. Can Doo gives Let’s Talk Hookup listeners a special discount and always has the best vehicles in the east cape.
Day 1 of the tournament was Saturday and there was a bit of wind blowing, but as most captains will say- that helps the fish bite- and it certainly did as several teams had great 
fishing including wahoo, tuna, dorado and lots of stripe marlin. Top fish of the day and leading the “Big Fish Rich” prize was Team No Bananas with a 38.4 pound wahoo. Last years winner- part of a great group from the Dana Point Yacht Club Team Oh Shit caught 3 wahoo and lots of dorado and were in solid contention. Regulars and past winners Team Go Ugly Earlier had a wahoo, tuna and lots of dorado were also there along with several other teams going into Sunday our final day of the tournament.
Day 2 was a bit breezy too but very fishable, and most boats went south and scored some tuna, wahoo, plenty of dorado and marlin too. My tournament team went down to Cabo Pulmo and had a fantastic scuba dive with Pilu at Cabo Pulmo Divers. Although the park has become very popular and has way too many people diving this time of year, it is still spectacular. They do manage the park well but they need to cut down on the number of divers that each business can bring in my opinion. 
At the final tally with 14 teams there were 28 billfish caught and released, 41 dorado, 11 tuna and 8 wahoo. Winners were team No Bananas with 337 points. Drew, Deb and Kathy scored a trip to return and defend their title next year from Palmas de Cortez, $200 cash from Statewide Stripes. They had 3 released marlin, 5 tuna 5 dorado and 2 wahoo. They also won the “Big Fish Rich” $1000 cash for the largest gamefish with a 38.4 pound wahoo, they won the largest wahoo or Dorado with the same fish worth $200 cash from Statewide Stripes. 2nd place was last years winners Team Oh Shit with Dave and Dan. The had 252 points for 2 released marlin, 9 dorado and 3 wahoo. They won $200 cash from Statewide stripes and 2 – $75 gift cards to Fishermans Landing Tackle. 3rd place was Dave, Curtis and Brenton Team Go Ugly Earlier with 202 points. They won $200 cash from Statewide Stripes, 2- $50 gift cards to Fishermans Landing Tackl
e for 1 released marlin, 4 tuna, seven dorado and a wahoo. They won another $200 from Statewide Stripes for the largest tuna at 21.2 pounds. Most billfish released award went to Team Battle Born Mafia with Alan, Andy, Justin and Matt . They won a gift certificate for a pair of Costa Sunglasses. All winner also received great trophies courtesy of Palmas de Cortez. Special thanks to Nicole Topp for the very moving tribute to her dad at the awards ceremony.
Thanks to Eddie and Shannon Dalmal for all their help and support and arranging the great tournament t-shirts that everyone received as well as the trophies. Thanks to my buddies Mark and John for running the tournament. Thanks to Jeff Topp for the fantastic Rich Topp cozies that everyone received. Thanks to Dave at Statewide Stripes for his $1000 donation. Thanks to Gerry Topp for his $1000 donation. Thanks to the VanWormer family for their support and participation. Thanks to all the members of the Topp family for coming to pay tribute to Rich! Special thanks to Nicole Topp for the very moving tribute to her dad at the awards ceremony. Thanks to Holly from the Dana Point Yacht Club for organizing her group and thanks to all the regulars and new arrivals that help make the tournament a huge success each year. We will have the 29th annual Rich Topp/ Lets Talk Hookup/ Palmas de Cortez Fall spectacular October 5th to the 9th, 2023. You are invited to join the fun. Call VanWormer Resorts at 877-777-TUNA (8862) and sign up. Do it soon as this time of the year always sells out! I will see you there!
