Cancún Team Wins Big in International Fishing Tournament

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Mike Rape, an angler from Kansas City, secured victory in the 20th edition of the “Cosme Alberto Martinez Magaña” International Fishing Tournament, supported by a Cancún-based crew aboard the vessel Kianah II. Rape’s team achieved a total score of 11,040.86 points by catching blue marlin, sailfish, and hybrid marlin, as confirmed by the tournament’s official judge.

Tournament Standings and Key Performances

The second-place finisher was Isla Mujeres’ Barra Tuna, captained by Paul Cabada, which surprised competitors with a strong second-day performance after a slow start. The team accumulated 7,029.65 points overall, including a critical 951.45-point haul on the final day.

Puerto Aventuras’ Sum Beach claimed third place with 6,928.90 points, while Benjamin de la Peña’s My Time Out followed closely in fourth with 6,612.90 points. The awards ceremony took place at Playa Centro, where participants and spectators gathered to celebrate the results.

Mike Rape’s decisive lead was established on the tournament’s first day, with an initial score of 9,054.45 points. His team added 1,986.40 points on the second day to solidify their win. Rape, a seasoned angler with prior tournament victories in Miami, expressed enthusiasm for returning next year to defend his title.

Strategic Fishing and Crew Coordination

The Kianah II, registered in Puerto Juárez, targeted waters 30 kilometers north of Isla Contoy National Park, a hotspot for billfish. Rape’s crew successfully landed blue marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi, bonito, and large barracuda.

Cristian del Campo Trejo, captain of Barra Tuna, reported catching two white marlin, two sailfish, dorado, tuna, and bonitos near whale shark observation areas. He credited the team’s perseverance and unity for their strong finish.

Controversy Over Scoring

The crew of Beleza filed a complaint alleging inconsistent judging after their hybrid sailfish was denied 300 points, despite a similar catch being accepted for another vessel the previous day. Captain Reyes Tun emphasized the need for fairness, stating, “We weren’t contenders for the top spots, but rules should apply equally to all participants.”

The tournament concluded with celebrations and acknowledgments, reinforcing Cancún’s reputation as a premier destination for competitive sportfishing.