The Billfish Foundation has named Captain Antonio Romero “Top Release Captain Worldwide for Striped Marlin” for 1999. This marks the 4th straight year the award has gone to a captain of Picante Bluewater Sportfishing, one of the premiere charter fleets on the entire Baja Peninsula. The Picante fleet is truly a star of The Billfish Foundation and Release Program. Boasting a release rate of over 99%, it's a remarkable performance especially when considering that Picante's fleet is catching over 1000 marlin every year!

The Picante fleet got its start when Phil Gentile entered the prestigious Bisbee's Black and Blue Marlin tournament in Cabo San Lucas. It was his very first fishing tournament ever, and not only did he win the event, he caught a monster 993 pounder, winning him a brand new Cabo 35 sportfisherman. Smart businessmen capitalize on just such opportunities. Gentile certainly qualifies, as he kept his newly won 35 in Cabo San Lucas and started what has become, Cabo San Lucas's premier charter company. [Picante has experienced tremendous growth and success, and is now ten boats strong.]

“Cabo Yachts, with their strong resale value, unsurpassed performance and fishability have been a cornerstone in the success of my business...”

In building a successful, profitable fleet, Phil believes in buying only the best quality boats money can buy, keeping his clients on the fish, even in extreme conditions. This “only the best will do” philosophy has resulted in the Picante fleet's exclusive use of Cabo Yachts. “Chartering can be hard on boats. When forming a fleet, many companies look to older, less expensive boats, thinking they'll provide a quicker return on their investment.” Says Gentile, “I approach my business differently. Cabo's low operating cost, strong resale value, and unsurpassed performance and fishability have been a cornerstone in the success of my business. With new Cabos, my operating cost is reduced greatly over what it would be with cheaper, low-quality boats!” Cabo Yachts require less time and money for maintenance, and allow more time fishing.

Maintenance is another key element that makes Cabo the obvious choice large fleet like Picante's. The Cabo's engine room alone can bring smiles to captains and mechanics alike. Well-thought out engineering makes access for regular maintenance quick and easy, while clean-up is a breeze thanks to a molded-gelcoat finish throughout. According to Phil, “Cabo Yachts require less time and money for maintenance, and allow more time fishing. This fact is another key to staying ahead of the competition.” Does it sound like the Picante Fleet will ever use anything other than a Cabo? As Gentile says, “I wouldn't even consider it.”

While Picante generally runs new boats with low hours, the captains have a sentimental favorite in the fleet, Picante Pride. The “Pride” was purchased new in 1996. Phil boasts, “With over 9600 hours, she still runs and looks like new. This kind of solid durability is something you simply don't see in the boating world, unless of course it's a Cabo.

The Picante fleet's captains couldn't be happier with Phil's choice of boats. This year's "Top Release Captain Worldwide for Striped Marlin", Antonio 'Tonio' Romero states unequivocally that the Picante fleet simply "wouldn't be where it is today if they used boats of lesser quality". For the last three years, he has run a Cabo, on average, more than 240 days a year. In addition to their durability, Tonio knows from experience that the Cabo's can do what many other boats can't. "When we're out in rough seas 30 miles offshore, on the fish, the other boats are hugging the shore.

They just don't have, the same confidence in their boats that we have in our Cabos and this is a great advantage for us, and more importantly, our clients.”