Barracuda Bash Blog

2012-01-30T18:17:00.001-05:00

thats right i got the first shirt

2011-07-18T21:05:00.000-04:00

our helpers,many many shirts

2011-07-18T21:03:00.000-04:00

Another year

2011-07-18T21:00:00.001-04:00

Lets party

2011-07-16T13:47:00.000-04:00

Another year another money cuda

2011-07-16T13:45:00.000-04:00

The Capt took took it all again

2011-07-16T13:43:00.000-04:00

I got One

2011-07-16T13:41:00.000-04:00

2011-07-16T13:40:00.000-04:00

15 years go by very fast

2011-07-16T13:39:00.000-04:00

Agreat Capt. and family

2011-07-16T13:36:00.001-04:00

sO YOU WANT TO CATCH BARRACUDA?

2011-07-16T13:33:00.000-04:00

THANK YOU ALL

2011-07-16T13:32:00.000-04:00

ANOTHER YEAR,and we are still here

2011-07-16T13:28:00.000-04:00

Postponed!

2011-04-02T15:30:00.000-04:00

This was supposed to be the 1st morning of the fishing tournamnet, but the ocean didn't cooperate! Three fishermen from Massachusetts...planning strategies or just catching up?

Relaxing with a beer instead!

Up on the roof of the Vistalmar visiting with friends

The Send Off!

2011-02-23T16:49:00.002-05:00

2011 Barracuda Bash-2nd day

2011-02-21T15:31:00.001-05:00

waiting to go fishing

A sea of blue shirts

Rosie giving instructions

part of the Massachusetts contingent....Rick, Jim, Leslie & John

The fishermen and women...

New Photos

2011-01-04T11:51:00.001-05:00

Leslie McDonald just sent me a bunch of photos that she took at the 2009 Barracuda Bash, so I thought I'd post some of them here. More for another day, too.

Barracuda Bash 2009

2010-11-30T07:39:00.001-05:00

Waiting to fish

Dom Polo in his boat

having fun at the party....Doug!

Starting to think about the 2011 Bash!

2010-11-27T10:43:00.001-05:00

A few photos from previous bashes--Barb and one of the fish she caught!

And this looks like Jim....

Barracuda Bash 2008

2010-08-23T12:53:00.000-04:00

Jack & Brian

Terry

I'd rather be shopping

2010-04-11T08:11:00.000-04:00

The "Chopping Block"

2010-04-11T08:09:00.000-04:00

If you teach them to fish, be prepared for the consequences!!!

2010-04-11T08:04:00.001-04:00

Captain "Yan", Rosie,Steve and his winning fish, Nate and his "Sol".

2010-04-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

Celebrating the day

2010-04-11T07:51:00.000-04:00

The guys from Mass.

2010-04-11T07:47:00.000-04:00

Just another day at work

2010-04-11T07:40:00.001-04:00

Capt shows the big cuda,it was as big as him almost

2010-03-16T22:00:00.001-04:00

The car ferry

2010-02-26T16:36:00.000-05:00

makes a great sunset ride,if you don't get off you dont pay return from punta sam

weatherman steve always knows how the wind blows

2010-02-23T09:17:00.000-05:00

Im in the big money range

2009-11-01T06:13:00.000-05:00

me and my capt,are thinking how to spend the big bucks

hide the beer and get in line

2009-10-09T16:57:00.001-04:00

thats right im not only the staff but im the boss,so get in line,NOW

Another casualty of the economy......

2009-08-27T15:28:00.003-04:00

Saw this notice on the Vistalmar blog this morning & I got an email from Steve. We had talked about it last weekend & they made the decision. Quite a few people have emailed to tell them they weren't coming & they are going for a much shorter time . Hopefully it will come back bigger & better in 2011!

"To all our loyal friends of the Barracuda Bash: We regretfully want to inform you all that we are postponing the 2010 bash, due to the economy. It will return next year( 2011) in Feb. bigger and better then ever. We are sorry but their is no other way; many thanks and see you all next year in Feb 2011."

We will be on Isla Jan/feb 2010--see you then--The Bash will happen again in 2011.

2003 photos

2009-08-17T02:42:00.000-04:00

Xool and Alan B. The boat with the 2 Alans! And both from CT.....

2004 photos

2009-08-16T14:37:00.002-04:00

I decided I'd better start putting up some photos on here, so I'm starting back in '03-'04. Brian, Sandia & George

Camile & Jenny!

At least part of the group that fished!

I AWAYS CATCH CUDA WHEN IM OUT WITH MY DAD

2009-07-10T19:11:00.000-04:00

they don't stay out long enough,if we did i know i would have gotten a big cuda.

after a few beers at the bash,i can dance

2009-07-09T17:27:00.000-04:00

well i think i can anyway.

two pretty ladies at the party

2009-07-09T17:24:00.000-04:00

wheres my mom?

ROSIE LOUIS AND STEVE

2009-07-01T15:47:00.000-04:00

Louis has been with the bash from the begining.

AND THEY DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

2009-07-01T15:45:00.000-04:00

not a bad looking couple,well lady anyway.

I won the raffle,i won the raffle.

2009-06-29T18:20:00.000-04:00

you can drink it but i want the bottle.

2009-06-29T18:15:00.001-04:00

BETTER LATE THEN NEVER,

2009-06-29T18:12:00.001-04:00

we couldn't find the paper work the night of the party

I GUESS I HAVE TO SHOW THE OLD PEOPLE HOW TO FISH

2009-06-23T06:50:00.001-04:00

Do I get to keep all my barracuda?

2009-06-13T12:38:00.001-04:00

Cuda Bill and Brian

TINO THE DINNER COOK SAYS WAIT TO YOU SEE MY BILL

2009-06-08T06:36:00.003-04:00

tino aways gives us great food at a very fair cost

THE PAPER WORK HAS TO BE DONE

2009-06-08T06:33:00.000-04:00

THE PARTY GETS BETTER EVERY YEAR,FOR THE LOCAL FISHERMEN ANYWAY

2009-06-05T16:11:00.001-04:00

THE LOCAL FISHERMEN SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING THE PARTY

2009-06-05T16:07:00.001-04:00

DOM POLO WITH A CUDA HE CAUGHT DURING THE BASH

2009-06-04T18:12:00.005-04:00

The only trouble was he wasn't supposed to touch the line! so it don't count.

CAPTS. AND FIRST MATES AND ROSIE,2008

2009-05-27T11:08:00.002-04:00

I have to pay for the Barracuda Bash somehow...

2009-05-24T13:01:00.003-04:00

Alan with Steve's metal detector

HOW THE HOTEL VISTALMAR HANDLINE BARRACUDA BASH GOT STARTED

2009-05-23T14:33:00.006-04:00

THE HOTEL VISTALMAR'S HAND LINE BARRACUDA BASH WAS STARTED 14 YEARS AGO. IT WAS STARTED TO HELP THE LOCAL FISHERMEN OUT BECAUSE THE LOBSTER SEASON WAS BAD AND NOT MANY FISHERMEN REALLY DEALT WITH THE TOURIST THAT PASSED THROUGH ISLA MUJERES, MEXICO OFF THE COAST OF CANCUN.
WE ASKED A LOCAL FISHERMAN TO TAKE US OUT FISHING AND HE AGREED BUT HAD NO POLES TO FISH WITH;WE WERE TOLD THEY DON'T USE POLES, THEY FISH WITH HAND LINES. SO WE SAID SHOW US HOW IT'S DONE AND OFF WE WENT TO FISH.WHAT A DAY THAT WAS! WE NEVER FISHED LIKE THAT BEFORE AND CAUGHT MANY BARRACUDA.
THAT NIGHT ALL WE DID WAS TALK ABOUT WHAT A GREAT WAY TO FISH THAT WAS AND WANTED TO DO MORE. WE ALSO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO HELP THE LOCAL FISHERMEN OUT, SO WE CAME UP WITH THE YEARLY BARRACUDA BASH. AT FIRST IT WAS CALLED THE BARRACUDA TOURNAMENT BUT ONCE WE FOUND OUT IF WE HAD A TOURNAMENT WE HAD TO PAY A BIG FEE WE CHANGED IT TO A BASH, A BASH HAD NO FEE.
SINCE ALL THE FISHERMEN THAT FISHED STAYED AT THE HOTEL VISTALMAR BACK THEN WE CHANGED THE NAME AGAIN TO THE HOTEL VISTALMAR'S HANDLINE BARRACUDA BASH AND IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT EVER SINCE.
SINCE WE NEW NOTHING ABOUT HAVING SUCH AN EVENT AND WE WANTED FISHERMEN, WE CAME UP WITH GIVING EACH FISHERMEN AND LOCAL CAPTS. A
T-SHIRT AND SINCE WE REALLY DIDN'T THINK A EIGHT HOUR FISHING BASH WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE BODIES OF THE PEOPLE FISHING ( EIGHT HOURS ON THE WATER TROLLING FOR BARRACUDA IS A VERY LONG TIME), WE CAME UP WITH TWO FOUR HOUR DAYS,THEN WE ADDED DINNER ON NIGHT TWO AND GAVE EVERYONE FISHING ALL THE BEER WATER OR SODA THEY COULD DRINK WHILE FISHING AND AT DINNER.
WE HAD ONE TROPHY GIVEN TO US AND THE WINNER GOT THIER PICTURE TAKEN WITH IT AND IT STAYED AT THE HOTEL VISTALMAR FOR THE NEXT YEAR. AS THE YEARS WENT BY AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE STARTED TO FISH THE BASH (PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT JUST HAPPEN TO BE ON ISLA MUJERES ON VACATION)-- WORD GOT OUT,WE HAD A WEB PAGE MADE AND GOT A SHIRT SPONSOR WHO BROUGHT TEN DOZEN TEE SHIRTS,THE SPONSOR GOT TO PICK THE COLOR. THEN WE GOT SOME GOOD FRIENDS TO BUY FOUR TROPHIES, ONE FOR THE BIGGEST BARRACUDA, ONE FOR THE CAPT OF THE BOAT,AND WE EVEN GAVE TROPHIES TO THE SECOND PLACE FISHERMEN AND CAPT. AND THAT'S THE WAY ITS BEEN EVER SINCE. NO ONE REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD EVER GO THIS FAR; ALL WE KNEW IS WE WOULD TAKE IT FOR AS LONG AS PEOPLE WANTED TO COME FISH THIS WAY.
WELL, IT'S BEEN 14 YEARS AND WE ARE GETTING STRONGER EACH YEAR,THANKS TO SOME GREAT FRIENDS AND SOME GREAT LOCAL CAPTS. AND THEIR BOATS. WE EVEN HAVE PRIZE MONEY FOR THE BIGGEST BARRACUDA AND FOR THE CAPT. OF THE WINNING BOAT; WITHOUT THE CAPT. THERE WOULD BE NO FISHING.
TO HELP PAY THE BILLS,DINNER,BAIT,SODA,WATER AND OF COURSE BEER WE HAVE A FEW RAFFLES AFTER SUPPER.
THE HOTEL VISTALMARS BARRACUDA BASH HAS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS MY WIFE AND I HAVE EVER DONE AND HOPE IT WILL GO ON FOREVER.WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING IT SO GREAT AND LIKE I ONCE SAID,SOME DAY WE WILL BE ON WILD WORLD OF SPORTS,SOME DAY.

EVEN SANTA CAME TO THE VISTALMAR HANDLINE BASH

2009-05-20T16:35:00.000-04:00

The Music Men Play at the Dinner

2009-05-20T16:33:00.001-04:00

WHAT CAN I SAY?

2009-05-17T11:13:00.000-04:00

A VIEW FROM THE HOTEL VISTALMAR

2009-05-17T11:11:00.000-04:00

GETTING READY FOR THE HOTEL VISTALMAR HANDLINE BARRACUDA BASH

2009-05-17T08:14:00.000-04:00

And the foxes came to the Barracuda Bash party!

2009-05-17T08:09:00.002-04:00

Brenda, Jenny & Donna

RAMON THE LOCAL FREE DIVER,JUST GOT LUNCH.

2009-05-16T11:28:00.000-04:00

SO YOU DON'T WANT BARRACUDA,HOW ABOUT A LOBSTER?

2009-05-16T11:24:00.000-04:00

Everyone wants their picture taken!

2009-05-15T16:48:00.001-04:00

TWO SMALL CUDA,BUT I DID CATCH THEM.

2009-05-11T18:32:00.000-04:00

THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE WHEN GOING NIGHT FISHING

2009-05-11T18:28:00.000-04:00

Steve and his proud Dad

2009-05-07T07:59:00.002-04:00

Rick ( 2008 winner) and Steve Stamm ( 2009 winner)

2009 winner, fish & capt.

2009-05-06T07:40:00.002-04:00

Photo of Steve Stamm, his winning fish--42 lbs! and the captain of his boat.......taken at Velasquez'
photo courtesy of the Stamm family!

let's party, where's the beer?

2009-05-01T18:23:00.001-04:00

What do you mean we didn't win.....

2009-05-01T09:19:00.004-04:00

It was a hell of a battle --it took us both to get it in the boat!

PASSING THE FIRST PLACE TROPHY FROM IOWA TO TEXAS

2009-05-01T09:15:00.001-04:00

STEVE STAMM THE WINNER OF THE 2009 HANDLINE BARRACUDA BASH,42 POUNDS

2009-04-29T17:59:00.000-04:00

We need one more boat; this one will do!

2009-04-28T13:02:00.001-04:00

OK, You Didn't Win, But Here's One For You,Are You Happy Now??

2009-04-27T19:53:00.001-04:00

The guys from TEXAS came and walked away winners!

2009-04-27T19:48:00.002-04:00

Come on! Just give me the 1st place money now!

2009-04-27T17:49:00.001-04:00

AND YOU SAID BARRACUDA DON'T BITE,BUT YOU SHOULD SEE THE CUDA.

2009-04-27T17:47:00.000-04:00

STAN THE MAN,Our Very 1st Handline Winner,WAY BACK WHEN .

2009-04-26T07:44:00.001-04:00

And the years fly by.......

2009-04-26T07:42:00.001-04:00

The smallest Boat In The Tournament With The Best Fishermen of the Tournament!

2009-04-25T06:34:00.002-04:00

I may not catch barracuda during the tournament but I do catch fish on a handline

2009-04-23T12:11:00.002-04:00

Another 2nd place winner!

2009-04-23T12:06:00.001-04:00

Cary with Steve & Rosie with Dick off to the side

TEXAS BILL AND BIG JACK

2009-04-23T07:49:00.002-04:00

Jack has fished every tournament & Bill has fished in 12 of them & has won a few times.

TWO TIME HANDLINE WINNER TEXAS BILL WHO HAS FISH WITH US NOW ABOUT 12 YEARS STRAIGHT

2009-04-23T07:45:00.001-04:00

The Fabulous T-Shirt Sponsors--Sandia & Brian

2009-04-23T04:07:00.001-04:00

The Founders of the HOTEL VISTALMAR'S HANDLINE BARRACUDA BASH,started 15 years ago

2009-04-22T14:30:00.001-04:00

ROSIE THE REAL BOSS OF THE BARRACUDA HANDLINE BASH AND THE YOUNGEST FISHERMAN ,WHICO

2009-04-22T14:23:00.002-04:00

ANOTHER FIRST TIME HANDLINING AT THE BASH,

2009-04-22T08:15:00.002-04:00

And This IsJust The First Day Handlining Barracuda

2009-04-22T06:54:00.001-04:00

Alan & Ann-- the trophy sponsors

2009-04-22T06:49:00.002-04:00

NOT BAD FOR THE FIRST TIME HANDLINE BARRACUDA FISHING,DON'T YOU THINK

2009-04-21T16:00:00.000-04:00

SO WHERE IS THE REST OF THE FISHERMEN?

2009-04-21T09:48:00.000-04:00

THE JAMQUEEN,AT HER BEST,JUST ONE MORE

2009-04-21T08:34:00.001-04:00

I TOLD YOU ALL I WOULD WIN,NOT BAD FOR A COUNTRY BOY.

2009-04-21T08:29:00.000-04:00

and you said handline fishing was hard to do,your joking right/

2009-04-20T18:55:00.001-04:00

That's right, That's Right,I'm Good Looking And a Hella Fisherman

2009-04-20T18:52:00.001-04:00

AND WHERE DO YOU THINK YOUR GOING

2009-04-20T18:47:00.000-04:00

ANOTHER YEAR,ANOTHER GREAT GROUP.

2009-04-20T18:44:00.000-04:00

2009-04-20T06:42:00.001-04:00

BARB V.2nd PLACE,2006

2009-04-19T18:46:00.002-04:00

WINNING CAPT.AND GANG

2009-04-19T18:40:00.001-04:00