Kindly note, this tournament is strictly by invitation only. Unfortunately, those without an invitation will not be able to participate. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to an exceptional event with our invited participants.

Schedule of Events:
Day 1 (9/25) - Travel and Arrival to Hotel Palmas de Cortez
Day 2 (9/26) - Fishing 
Day 3 (9/27) - Fishing and Evening Poker Tournament
Day 4 (9/28) - Free Day and Evening Awards Banquet
Day 5 (9/29) - Time to go home!

Date:
Sept 25rd thru Sept 29th 2024

Cost per team of 3 (DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE):
$4200 for a team of 3. Teams of 2 or 4 are also allowed, contact TL for more information
Non-refundable deposit : $600/team

Price Includes:
Room for five days and four nights (triple occupancy)
Lunch on the days we fish
Group airport transfers
T-shirts
Entry fee into the fishing jackpot
Entry into our own poker tournament
Awards banquet

Boats:
Two SUPER DELUXE CRUISERS are available for an additional $1800/team.  These are available by lottery only.

Location:
Palmas de cortez

Team Registration:

1. Use the registration form here, or send the following information to tl2dig@comcast.net

   • Team Captain – your name

   • Team member names

   • Team name

   • Email address

   • Phone number

   • T-shirt sizes 

2. Venmo your team deposit: https://venmo.com/u/Tim-Hodge-6

Sponsorship:
We have sponsorship's available. If you would like to help us with the cost we would be happy to take your money . 
All sponsorship money is used for tournament prizes and freebies.  Your name or your company's name
will be on the webiste, t-shirts and banner. You will also receive recognition at the awards banquet and my
own personal undying gratitude.  To become a sponsor complete the sponsorship form here.

Keep the rod tip up and the line tight, El Jefe. TL

Entry

1. $100.00 deposit per angler. Included in sign up fee

2.There will be a maximum of 4 anglers per team, plus two crewmembers. For a total of 6 people per boat. The extra two people can be fishing crew.

3. You must enter as a team.

4. A team may consist of 1 to 4 anglers.

5. All anglers of a team will fish from the same boat

6. One boat per team

Winners

1. The winning team will be determined by weight of fish at the scales at the Palmas de Cortez dock.

2. Any fish must have an official weight to be considered.

3. Largest Tuna 1/3 the jackpot -- Largest Dorado 1/3 the jackpot -- Largest Wahoo 1/3 the jackpot. Largest catch and release team will win three duffle bags. Should any species not be caught the pot will be divided by the remining species.

4. Score cards will be provided to document C&R billfish. Boat skipper daily must sign cards

5. No whining losers. The tournament director will equally ignore all verbal protests. Written protest will be used as toilet paper. Tournament director (Tim Hodge) will have final say as to interpretation of any and all rules.

6. No handing off of fish from other boats.

7. The overall jackpot will be determined by entries.

8. In the event of a tie, a coin toss will determine the winner.

9. Winnings will be given to the team captain to be divided as the team members see fit.

Fishing

1. There are no restrictions on tackle other than the fish must be taken on hook and line using rod and reel. More than one team member may fight the fish, and team members or crew may assist the angler by touching the main line at any time during the fight. The rod may touch the railing during the fight.

2. Encouragement may be yelled at angler. As well as criticism and derogatory statements. Soft caressing or nuzzling of angler is strictly prohibited.

3. Consumption of cerveza during the fight and for the many hours in between is acceptable.

4. All fish must be caught and weighed between 7:00 am and 6:00pm.

Lines out of the water in time to allow boats to get to the dock by 3:30pm

Fishing up to the dock is allowed as long as boat is not delayed past 3:30pm

Extra time will be allowed to land fish if fish is hooked prior to “Lines out of the water” time. Skipper must verify time.

5. Fishing Days will be 09/26/24 and 09/27/24.

6. Mexican daily bag limits will be enforced.

7. No vessel entered in the tournament may be involved in the handing-off or receiving anything from another vessel after initial buying of bait. Including fish, bait, tackle, etc. this rule may be waived if someone’s safety, health or buzz is at risk

8. No live bait shall be on any vessel entered in the tournament prior to shotgun start.

9. No Crying.

Harvested and Catch and Release

1. Target meat fish are:

Dorado        Tuna        Wahoo

2. Target billfish are:

Marlin (Black, Blue and Striped), Sailfish, Swordfish.

3. Billfish will not count towards prize money.

4. Billfish should be treated as catch and release only for purposes of this tournament. 

5. Photos of all fish are encouraged for the enjoyment of all.

These rules are meant to be a general guideline. The success of the tournament will rely on the honesty and integrity of all involved. (We’re doomed.)

Your tournament Director and El Jefe TL

Hola Anglers,

 We are only a week away from going to Los Cabos. We are actually going to the east cape village of Los Barrilles about 90 miles north of Cabo San Lucas on the Sea of Cortez. We will be staying at the Hotel Palmas De Cortez. Your transportation to the hotel has been arranged. I will be bringing a large number of you down from Sacramento. We will meet at our assigned gate the morning we depart. You will be able to find us by looking for a group of shady characters hanging around a loudmouth with a large yellow foam finger with the T.L. Hodge Sportfishing logo on it.

Passports, Passports, Passports. Do not forget your CURRENT passport you will need it to get on the plane here in the US and in Mexico

Upon arrival in Mexico we will go through customs then regroup and pick up others from other flights. We will then board our shuttle to the hotel. The shuttle driver will be holding a sign that reads East Cape transfers-TT Cabo Del Este. He should also be holding a T.L. Hodge Sportfishinglogo.

The shuttle driver will be OUTSIDE the terminal. Don't be distracted by anyone inside the terminal offering you a ride. Depending on your flight's arrival time you may have to wait a short time for other anglers to arrive before leaving the airport..


When we first arrive at the hotel, we will get our room assignments and have a cold cerveza .Then at about 5:00 pm we will enjoya welcome party at the patio by the swim up bar where you will get a chance to sample some smoked fish from our tournament sponsor and official weigh master Baja Papas. We will then confirm our boat reservations for the next day. Upon check-in you should receive your meal tickets. They can be used at ether restaurant on the property. BEVERAGES ARE NOT INCLUDED. Watch your bar tab. It can run up in a hurry when you're buying rounds at the swim up bar! You will be expected to settle your room charges at the end of your stay.

To confirm our boats, we will need to meet at the boat dispatch office. It is in the main lobby under the big palapa.. It is open from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. You will need to talk to Anibal and book your boat, food and drink preferences for the next day. Lunch on the boat is included in your package. DRINKS ARE NOT! I like the burritos. They ROCK. You should get some big water bottles - at least 2 per angler. Gets pretty hot out there. You should also order as many beers as you can afford. It is best to get to the dispatch office early. It is not unheard of for other people "not with our tournament" to try to get your boat.

Mexican fishing license is required and can be purchased at Anibals office when booking your boat. Please bring $25 per angler

Sunday our day will begin at 6:00 am with breakfast in Tico's restaurant.You should be ready to board your boat by 6:30 am. At 7:00 am we will have a flairgun start. We will fish from 7:00 to 3:30. If you did not arrange to get bait with Anibal the night before bring $25 for bait per day per boat. You will also need cash to tip your Captain and crew. $75 per day per boat average. If your Captain and Mate worked their asses off for you, show them you appreciate it.

When you arrive back at the dock from a spectacular day of fishing, a representative from Baja Papas Smoke House will be there. Tell them you are with the TL Hodge Tournament. He will ask you what you want done with your fish. Baja Papas will handle all fish competing in the tournament. The processed price is about $2.00 per pound fresh frozen and $4.00 a pound smoked. The smoked tuna is to die for!!

You will now be expected to head to the swim up bar and begin lying about the days' fishing. Your food vouchers are good for either restaurant for dinner or you might choose to go into Los Barrilles and have dinner and beer at Baja Papas or Tio Pablos. Don't forget to book your food and boat for the next day with Anibal between 6:00 and 9:00 pm.

We will do this all again on Monday. It's not a bad idea to use pesos when in Mexico. The exchange rate is in your favor. If you pay with dollars at the bar, they will give you 10 to 1. The bank exchange rate is around 20 to 1. Simply put, use the ATM. The ATM gives out pesos. Just remember... 200 pesos is only about $10 so get at least 1000 that's about $50 and make it worth the ATM charge.

Monday night will be our poker tournament in the inside bar at the Palmas.

Tuesday is a free day. A bunch off us will rent quads and ride up the arroyos in the desert.. You may prefer to hang out by the pool, snorkel, golf or just nurse the hangover you got from playing poker all night.

Awards banquet:
Tuesday night at 7:00 pm we will have our awards banquet at Baja Papas. I'm asking everyone that catches fish to donate part of your catch to this event. It will be great to feast upon the bounty that YOU caught in this incredibleenvironment. We are inviting our boat captains this year so be prepared to buy them a beer and spend some time talking to them.

We will be presenting the big check to a lucky winning team. Eating our catch, drinking Mexican beers

Wednesday
We will settle our room charges and board the shuttle to the smokehouse where we will pay for our fish and load it up in either your ice chest or the ones sold by the smokehouse for $20. I suggest the ones from the smoke house. No need to pay extra baggage fees for an empty ice chest on the way down. Off to the airport for home. We will have an early shuttle for people with earlier flights than 4:30. There will also be a shuttle provided for those staying till the 8th

I want to thank you for participating in our tournament and look forward to seeing you there.  

El Jefe   (Tim Hodge)

TL Hodge Construction, Inc.
916.541.0650
TL2dig@comcast.net