By Bob Blum- Tournament Director
18th annual LTHU Rancho Leonero Tournament June 8-9-10, 2014
My wife, Carole, and I have fished in this tournament for 12 years. Last year over a three day period 54 billfish were caught. I didn’t think that we would ever top that, but this year 17 teams caught and released 81 marlin and one sailfish.
Even more amazing were the roosterfish. Our group caught and released 38 roosters- none under 40 lbs. and some up to 80 lbs. Only one team, Phil and Pam Bensimon of Team Whiskey Tango, fished exclusively for the gallos, and they caught 14 of them. Most everyone else would try for an hour or so and then head offshore- but not far offshore- to fish for marlin. I caught a 50 lber and Carole got a 70 lber and then I told our captain,” Let’s go fish for something that’s easy like a marlin.” Roosterfish pull HARD!
Our tournament runs for three days, but only a teams best two day totals count for the final score. This 
year the scores were very close. Our team, Team Gefiltefish, in spite of catching 8 marlin and a roosterfish on our two best days only finished in fourth place. If we had caught one more marlin on either day we would have won. When I let slip that I had “farmed” two marlin, Gary Barnes- Webb said, “You’re not a Gefiltefisher, you’re a Gefiltefarmer.”
First place with 469.5 points was Team No Sabe Nada fishing on
Agua Dulce.
Tom Gruber, Lou Duchene, Jon Plemons, Jim Simonson
They won a trip for two back to Rancho Leonero with a day of ponga fishing.
Second place with 462.5 points was Team Whiskey Tango fishing on El Guapo
Pam and Phil Bensimon won gift certificates to Fisherman’s Landing.
Third place went to Team Nosotros Champos with 450 points
Chris Kugel , Mark Rossell, Terese and Mark Waznys also won gift certificates.
There was also an award for most billfish over the three days. Several teams ONLY caught 12, but Nosotros Champos caught 13, and they got a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses.
Next years tournament will be June 7-8-9, 2015. Call 1-800-646-2252 to reserve your room and boat.
