My husband and I fell in love with the Sea of Cortez back in 1976 when we came to do some deep sea fishing. Needless to say we were “hooked!” After that we continued to come to San Carlos every year on vacation. Once we retired we decided to make San Carlos our winter home.
I first got involved in one of the San Carlos Fishing Tournaments about 10 years ago when I participated in the LADIES INTERNATIONAL FISHNG TOURNAMENT for the first time. We also became members of the San Carlos Yacht Club where I eventually got acquainted with the Cantina Cup and the Labor Day Tournament which is now known as THE HAMMER DOWN.
I started running the Ladies tournament about 6 years ago. Recently I took over the responsibility of the San Carlos Yacht Club/ Rescate tournament as well. I am honored to say that Wade Earl, who has been the amazing person who has been running the Hammer Down for the last 6+ years, asked me to take over this tournament for him. I hope I can make him proud. He has done so much for the community and for that we are all forever grateful.
Thank you Wade from all of us.

We lost an amazing and dear friend from our San Carlos fishing community since our last tournament, Carroll Moran. He was always there to support anyone who needed it. Sadly on December 11, 2020 he passed away. He was one of the most generous persons in every sense of the word. He and his wife Holly always helped these tournaments be successful. His boat Baby Girl has a special story about her too. It is the name of a precious dog that Carroll and Holly lost after many years of joy she brought them. She was so special that they named their new boat after her. We will miss seeing Carroll’s smile and his never ending love of fishing. We want to honor him by dedicating this Hammer Down Tournament to Carroll. Goodbye my friend. Rest easy. No one that ever knew you will forget you.

In July, the San Carlos community lost a true friend with the passing of Betty Lou Hammer. Betty spent most of her life fishing up and down the Sea Of Cortez with her family and friends for more than 70 years. She was a stellar fisher woman and her list of catches over the years could easily compete with the world’s best anglers. Betty Lou enjoyed and served the San Carlos community in many ways over the years. As the President of the Rescate Auxiliary Board, a founding member of the Friday Night Club, and in 1984 she co-founded the Labor Day Invitational Tournament, now the HammerDown, with her husband, Bill. Through those efforts and the many other community events she organized, Betty raised countless dollars to help establish and sustain programs in the San Carlos community. Causes like the Castaway Kids and the San Carlos Rescate were near to her heart. Betty's kindness, generosity and her love for the San Carlos community and its people will be missed.

Ed loved everyone and often demonstrated his love through his and his wife’s hospitality. In addition to being the “King" of the grill he was also an avid hunter and fisherman. Ed and Cathy his wife of 46 years shared a life full of adventures. They really enjoyed the times they spent in Tucson and San Carlos as well as many other places where they traveled. Ed and his grandsons participated in the various fishing tournaments in San Carlos. He lived life with no regrets. And what a life he lived. Rest in Peace dear friend.