CABO PREPARES FOR TROPICAL STORM RAYMOND PRIOR TO ZANE GREY CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS

We are one week away from Zane Grey Championship Playoff media day, at Corazon Cabo Resort & Spa, but the resort and the surrounding community are bracing themselves for another unexpected event prior: Tropical Storm Raymond. 

Hurricane Priscilla just glanced to the West of Cabo San Lucas a few days ago, which has left the ground saturated, raising concerns for flash flooding, landslides and road washouts with the approaching storm with what meteorologists are calling a “one-two punch.” 

Tropical Storm Raymond is set to make landfall on the Baja California Peninsula Saturday evening, with the current forecast showing the center of circulation coming ashore anywhere between Isla Crescente on the west coast, to Cabo Frailes on the peninsula’s east coast. Los Cabos is expected to begin feeling the winds from Tropical Storm Raymond early tomorrow morning, between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. local time. 

The National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the region. Other than the flood and landslide risks, there is particular concern ocean conditions, including storm surge and rip currents. Rip currents and rough surf is part of what Los Cabos and the Baja California Peninsula is known for, with surfers flocking to beaches northwest of Cabo like Cerritos. Many of Cabo’s beaches are off-limits to swimmers year-round. Playa Medano, the beachfront bordering Corazon being one of the few exceptions in the area. Beachgoers should expect red and black flags on the beach warning swimmers to stay out of the water. 

For the angling clubs competing in the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs, there are additional concerns:

Lights Out Brought their Boat to Cabo
SFC Insider caught up with Rob Carmichael, who confirmed that he and his wife Jackie touched town in Cabo yesterday. Their 62’ Viking “Lights Out” has been in town for a few weeks after making the journey from the U.S. on a transport ship. Other than outfitting the boat with everything that was needed to compete and fish for the rest of the fall/winter season, now the crew have to make sure their boat is properly tied to accommodate the approaching storm. 

The Renegades’ boat ‘Magnifico’ is a Cabo Resident
Garrett Frazier, co-owner of the Third Coast Renegades Angling Club and co-founder of Anetik Performance keeps his 60’ Spencer “Magnifico” in Cabo. The same concerns facing Rob Carmichael are concerns of Frazier’s.

The New Jersey Sea Birds are Chartering through Pisces Sportfishing
The Atlantic Division runners-up will be visiting their charter boat upon landing next week to learn a little more about their 60+’ Viking and how it differs from their trusty battlewagon “Taylor Jean.”

The Texas Lone Stars are no Strangers to Cabo and Fishing with Friends
Similarly to the Sea Birds, their own boat is not on-site, but the condition of their friend’s boat needs to fare well through the storm to give them a fighting chance to win the title. 

The first half of the Lone Stars’ season was marred with mechanical issues with charters and favors with friends fishing. 

Cabo has Endured Bigger Storms Recently
Marina Cabo San Lucas is a sprawling facility with 380 slips and all the modern accommodations to handle superyachts, sportfishing boats and pleasure cruisers, but storm surge is always a concern in any storm, as are bilge pumps and high water alarms to ensure the rainwater is being pumped out. 

Hurricane Norma struck Cabo San Lucas as a Category 1 Hurricane on October 23, 2023. Marina Cabo escaped unscathed, but there was widespread damage in La Paz with more than 50 boats destroyed and docks damaged. 

We are keeping our fingers crossed for the effects of the storm to be minimal as well as remaining vigilant for everyone’s safety. 

More updates to come.