Squid-stuffed marlin and dorado getting landed in Sea of Cortez

But he adds that dozens of T-shirts he'd planned on giving contestants were lost when the trunk atop his car flew open, spreading them along the peninsula highway.

So it could be said the tournament chairman has clothed the poor and stimulated the Mexican economy.

But seriously, Friedman confirmed reports that Sea of Cortez marlin and dorado are stuffed to the gills with squid, so it has been tricky to get them to bite.

However, Mary and Kenny Cochran of Torrance caught and released their first marlin, and Mary won the dorado contest with a 47-pound mahi-mahi.

Also releasing their first marlin were Lamar Lee and Emmett Olvera of Costa Mesa.

Winning the Bass Pro Shops/976tuna surf fishing portion of the contest -- by landing a multitude of species from the beach -- was Steve Kechichian, a 13-year-old taking a break from his far more significant battle against leukemia.

There were dicey moments. One involved a deckhand's foot becoming impaled by a large hook, which the deckhand merely pulled through and out another part of the skin. Another involved a "sugar episode" experienced by a diabetic, who turned out to be OK.

And there were beautiful moments, such as when Paul Harris of Agoura Hills and his brother, Jeff, were greeted by a 23-foot whale shark that swam alongside their boat long enough to tempt them to jump overboard and catch a Baja sleigh ride.

Then there was the partying, required of any Baja fiesta, at the Palmas de Cortez hotel bar.

Friedman was asked how much tequila was consumed. "Gallons," he said.

Cabo nightmare continues

Fishing is unseasonably poor, and a chief factor might be unrelenting fishing by large-scale commercial purse-seiners.

"Bad news was the seiners showed up again and wrapped all the fish," Fly Hooker Sportfishing Capt. George Landrum glumly reports. "The government allows it and now we don't have anything to fish for."

It makes no sense to allow such a large commercial fishing operation so close to -- or even within sight of -- tourists who contribute millions annually to the economy.

But when have Mexican fisheries laws and the means by which they're enforced made sense?

Roosters and more near La Paz