Author: That Baja Guy-Gary Graham

Just like the sailors in Greek poet Homer’s “Odyssey,” who were drawn by the songs of the mythological Sea Nymphs to the Island of the Faiakes, a young Stephen Jansen, then living beyond the curvature of the earth in Amsterdam, was captivated by the fascinating tales written by Erle Stanley Gardner, Ray Cannon, Gene Kira and others, of the extraordinary fishing in Baja’s Tip region nearly 6,000 miles away. In the early years, the bulk of the fishing by visiting anglers was done from boats and the results were phenomenal for fishermen from around the world. Although there were locals…

The “Golden Years” – the 1970s and 80’s – had been extraordinary decades for Blackman. They had established that Blackman Boats was here to stay … and not only were they staying, but they could deliver even larger boats than the 23- and 26-footers. Old customers were beginning to upgrade and new ones were impressed with what the Blackman offered. Blackman Boats was more successful than its owners had ever dreamed. This is where the third and final part of our story begins.(Part 1, Part 2) Family was important to the Blackmans. They were close, a team, and were there…

The fishing fleet lost a remarkable member of its tight-knit community on Dec. 2 when Mario Ghio, owner of Sportsman’s Seafood on Quivera Road in San Diego, succumbed after a debilitating battle with cancer. He is survived by his children Mia (James), Marisa (Rob), Mario, Jr. (Jessica), Giovanni and Briana; grandchildren Jocelyn, Riley, Lorenzo, Kingston and Mario. Ghio was admired by his peers who described him as many things including family man, friend, fisherman, legend and pioneer of the industry. He was always a gentleman who looked after his customers and employees. “I’ll never forget your radiant smile, friendly wit…

When we left Don Blackman in the first installment of “Don Blackman and His Fabulous Fish Machine,” his 23-foot Blackman prototype was launched and had quickly become the trailer boat of choice for an impressive list of seasoned anglers. Using a baseball metaphor, Blackman had swung for the fence with his boat. As he rounded third and headed home, he was already planning his next turn at bat in the upcoming decade. His next design would take him into the big leagues! Blackman not only swung for the fence, the result was a Grand Slam Home Run with his next…

The 16th Annual Western Outdoor News/Yamaha Los Cabo’s Tuna Jackpot Tournament has never been a charity tournament, yet there has always been a charity component. This year, the damage and destruction in the area brought about from the powerful winds and rain of Hurricane “Odile” destroying everything in its path, specifically the homes and properties of the families of sportfishing captains and crews. With that in mind, the tournament management determined that all proceeds (100% without any administration fees) would be used to build 15 homes for specifically selected families; in addition to the usual efforts on behalf of charity,…

When the powerful Category 4 Hurricane Odile walloped the tip of the Baja peninsula on September 14, it inflicted mayhem. Homes were destroyed, power and water were knocked out and lives were forever altered. Stunned inhabitants faced the seemingly insurmountable task of not just replacing their personal, local infrastructure, but regional and statewide as well. That was then and this is now – and the remarkable recovery has been well documented. In the sportfishing world, the “Odile damage” made it seem likely that the annual October fishing tournaments would be cancelled. Wayne Bisbee of the two Bisbee tournaments and Dan…

Don Blackman was “old school.” He built a family business delivering a remarkable, well-designed boat equipped to meet the expectations of a rapidly growing group of hardcore Southern California anglers who were seeking a trailer boat designed to their personal, exacting specifications. Born Feb. 18, 1929, in National City, Don was a fourth generation Californian. His mother, Leona, was born in Chula Vista in 1910 and her grandparents had moved to the San Diego area from Denver after purchasing a citrus orchard in Otay. Don’s father, Jack, moved from West Virginia to National City at the age of three along…

Continued from Brotherhood Part 1 The water off Newport Harbor was a magical place for three young boys to grow up, sharing their teen adventures in the warm California sun. Ralph Clock, David Denholm and Jerry Garrett fashioned a friendship that resulted in an adult brotherhood. Yet, their individual paths of pursuing sport fishing differed and the three accumulated extraordinary fishing exploits and the stories to go with them. And their stories have continued. David Denholm In 1985, Dave Denholm became one of the early supporters of tag and release when he performed that exercise on the first marlin of…

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy, fish are jumpin’!” The waters of the Pacific off Newport Harbor lived up to the promise of that song in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s. It was a magical place for three young boys to grow up sharing their teen adventures in the warm California sun. Ralph Clock (A SMALL BOAT IN A BIG SEA), David Denholm and Jerry Garrett shared one common denominator…sport fishing. They fashioned a friendship, ultimately resulting in an adult brotherhood framed by the Tuna Club of Avalon. Yet while their individual paths of pursuing sport fishing differed, the…

Some had traveled many miles to enter the tournament season in Baja; some hopped on boats and traveled short distances up or down the Southern California/Baja Coasts; others were local. Yet, all were gathered for a single purpose – to compete for huge sums of money by catching and/or releasing the largest black or blue marlin or other gamefish including yellowfin tuna and dorado. The initial attraction is the first of the Bisbee trifecta: the East Cape Offshore or ECO. That is followed by the Los Cabos Offshore (LCO) before moving onto the largest sportfishing event of its kind, the…

Few tournaments have been as overlooked as the Stars & Stripes. Since my first participation at the event a year ago, when I mentioned the Stars & Stripes Tournament, the usual reaction was a blank look followed by, “What’s that?” Stars & Stripes was the inspiration of its chairman Dick “Dicko” Gebhard 18 years ago while he was served on the Orange County Big Brothers Big Sisters Board. He became frustrated with the typical, traditional “rubber-chicken” fund raising dinner affairs and suggested to his fellow board members that an “itty bitty fishing tournament” in Cabo San Lucas would be an…

It was long past the gray morning with all the whoops and hollers and promises – or were they threats? – To bring home the bacon in the form of a winning marlin. Now, it was time for more sun block as the sun was beginning to burn. The exposed skin was starting to sear under the relentless Baja sun … chrome plated fittings were becoming hot enough to blister. Heads nodded and drooped as the engines droned on and on. It was the first day of the 2010 Bisbee Black and Blue Tournament in Cabo San Lucas. The boat…

Last October I began my fall season by attending the Lynn Rose East Cape Classic Charity Tournament, a 25-year-old event held in Los Barriles, BCS. Rose, who owns a travel service in Orange County, Calif., gives back to the children of the community with the funds raised. Throughout the years, I have met some incredible sponsors, and last year was no exception. Nicholas Carlson, one of the managers at Pelican™ Products, Inc. was one of the participants. I was there to write a column accompanied by photos of the event, and many of my growing collection of cameras – from…

Stories of Baja We had seen the house many times over the past decade as we cruised the beach on our modified ATV. The bike had been retrofitted for fishing with rod holders, a special high-backed “buddy” seat for Yvonne and of course a cooler. We never thought the house to be anything notable. A Southern California contractor built it in the early 1970s, apparently from leftover material from the tract houses he had built in the States. So while it was a well constructed, four-bedroom, two bath, block-walled house with a double garage, it totally lacked character cosmetically. However,…

More than two dozen Representatives, Trustees, staff and members of IGFA donated countless hours volunteering to help in the booths of a whirlwind of fishing shows in March and April. Beginning with the Fred Hall Shows, both in Long Beach and Del Mar, then moving on to the Pacific Coast Sportfishing Festival and wrapping up with the popular Day at the Docks, IGFA with the help of a few of their friends managed to introduce many newcomers to the organization as well as reconnecting to the ever-growing group of West Coast members. They were there to greet and say “howdy”…

Jim Jenks, owner of the Ocean Pacific, had left his boat in the very capable hands of Captain Jon Ingram after spending the summer of 1986 fishing, diving and exploring the cluster of islands surrounding Vanuatu. Jenks returned to the States, and Captain Jon and the crew traveled the nearly 1,100 nautical miles to Brisbane, Australia. The cruise allowed ample time to review the ever-growing “to-do” list for the haul-outs and maintenance for both the mother ship and the Innovator in preparation for their next adventure at Lizard Island and the Ribbon Reefs … long lists developed during the two-year,…

Sometimes fishing is more than bent rods and screaming reels. Sometimes it’s the people behind the curtain … the people who keep the sport alive. The Port of San Diego’s recent Day at the Docks was highlighted by the honoring of Tommy Gomes of Catalina Offshore Products and Tom Gruber of the San Diego Rod & Reel Club by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). They were cited for their lifetime commitment to sport fishing and youth activities in the San Diego area. The citations were presented by Michael Farrior, IGFA Trustee and Historian, along with the 17 IGFA Representatives…

Juan Pablo “Tropicana” Martinez, Loreto, Baja California Sur, reported capturing a strange fish of almost six feet in length last Saturday in the waters of the Bay National Park of Loreto. This strange looking fish was identified as a louvar (imperialis luvarus). According to information provided, the louvar was captured in the Bay National Park of Loreto, a park which was created by a Presidential Decree and approved by the Mexican Federal Congress on July 19, 1996, which covers slightly less than 800 square miles of the Sea of Cortez, ranging from Isla Coronado in the north to Isla Catalana…

With the assistance of very friendly and helpful locals, Christmas Island had exceeded all expectations. Both the crew and guests had been pulled on and had pulled back on fish they had only read about, great trevally (GTs) – tackle busters for sure – voracious wahoo, blue marlin and bonefish by the dozens. The gang had been reduced into an aching, sun-baked bunch ready to resume their ultimate fishing adventure into a Jurassic Park of sorts. After making sure the deck-loaded “Innovator” was secure, Captain Groesbeck stowed the gear and completed his final inspection as he walked around the OP.…

Baja Viscaino Peninsula Located in the heart of Baja’s midsection, Baja Viscaino Peninsula hasn’t received the recognition due it over the years. Commercial airlines fly over at 30,000 feet hauling planeloads of passengers to the tip of the peninsula. Sportfishers and private yachts straight-line right past far offshore, going down the coast … and only seeking coastal shelter when the weather turns grumpy. Passenger cars and RVs thunder down the road past the now-paved turnoffs, hell bent on reaching the “promised land” farther south. Guilty as charged. My trusty Roadtrek and I barreled on to our more southern destinations until…

January 12, 2014: To the delight of big game anglers everywhere, news reverberated across the web that Captain Bubba Carter, who currently fishes out of Los Sueños, Costa Rica, released his 20,000th billfish! A multitude of his friends and fans eagerly jumped on line to congratulate him and share in his celebration. This 57-year old veteran Captain currently is operating his Island Boatworks charter boat, Tijereta for charter out of Los Sueños throughout the year. But he acquired his love of fishing and boating as a child when his father ran a fishing charter boat in the summer and built…

In our first edition of the Ocean Pacific/Jim Jenks story, after years of planning, meetings and a huge dose of California Dreamin’, Jim Jenks had signed the contract to begin the first step toward his dream of building his boat. On July 7, 1983, the Spokane Chronicle had published that “Jones Goodell announced Jim Jenks had ordered a 90′ Ocean yacht equipped to carry a 32′ to 34′ day boat constructed in the Seattle area at their Tacoma yard.” He had hired a captain who shared his excitement, Peter Groesbeck, from San Diego, and the two had become instant friends…

The 1960s were stimulating times in Southern California; the ’40s had birthed a generation of “baby boomers,” born to parents who had lived through two World Wars and the Great Depression. Their offspring enjoyed the climate of freedoms that came with parents who were now too preoccupied with making a living to focus on directing the activities of their children. This generation learned early to be independent … if they wanted something done, they did it themselves. And they thrived on this concept. The ocean, the surf and the sand in Southern California provided the perfect lab for the future…

The winning teams in the 15th annual four-day Western Outdoor News/Yamaha Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot tournament divided $542,000 in prize money while raising an unprecedented amount for local charities. One hundred thirty four teams from as far away as Japan entered the angling competition and did battle for cash and prizes. A good time was had by all, and the tournament raised money for local charities in the area. Team Reel Quest with Dick Landfield of Fairway Ford; Bob Smith, Cabo San Lucas and Minerva’s Tackle; Bill Savage, Las Vegas; and Henry Arres, Temecula; arrived at the scale a few…