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East Cape Tournaments: the Summer Shoot Out Series
Short answer: beyond the Bisbee's circuit, the East Cape summer has its own series: the Dorado Shoot Out in mid-July, the Ladies Shoot Out in late July and the Tuna & Wahoo Shoot Out in September, hosted by Van Wormer Resorts in Los Barriles. If your trip lines up with those dates and you fish out of Cabo, the same season that feeds those tournaments works for you here.
The Van Wormer Shoot Out series
The Van Wormer family resorts in Los Barriles — Palmas de Cortez among them — host a compact-format tournament series each summer that is an East Cape tradition: the Dorado Shoot Out in mid-July, the Ladies Shoot Out (anglers are all women) in late July and the Tuna & Wahoo Shoot Out in September. And while the vibe is beach-and-family, the prizes are no token gesture: the biggest dorado of the Shoot Out has been paid with a brand-new 4x4 pickup, recent editions have handed out over half a million dollars in purse and prizes, and the awards dinner raffles off another $50,000 in gear. There's a reason the pangas and cruisers of Los Barriles book out weeks ahead.
The same season, fished from Cabo
What makes those tournaments possible is the season — and the season is not exclusive to the East Cape: dorado stack up from August through October (July already produces) and wahoo run October through December on Cabo San Lucas banks too. If your dates match the series but your base is Cabo, we build the equivalent charter: dorado in summer, tuna and wahoo in fall, with a local captain and the right boat for each fishery.
Boats and useful links
For dorado and wahoo with a small team, the Cabo Express 31 and Cabo Express 35; for full groups, the Cabo Express 45. Exact dates for each edition are published by Van Wormer Resorts; our tournament guide covers the region's full calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When are the East Cape Shoot Out tournaments?
The Dorado Shoot Out in mid-July, the Ladies Shoot Out in late July and the Tuna & Wahoo Shoot Out in September, all based in Los Barriles. Exact dates for each edition are published by Van Wormer Resorts.
Can I fish those same species out of Cabo San Lucas?
Yes: dorado run strong August through October, tuna September through December and wahoo October through December on the local banks. We build the charter around your target species and travel dates.
How far is Los Barriles from Cabo?
Roughly an hour and a half to two hours by road. Many visitors combine both: tournament or beach time on the East Cape, and fishing or yacht days from the Cabo San Lucas marina.