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To the Rescue After Hurricane Odile

Sport-fishing boats help evacuate families due to water and food shortages in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Cabo Storm Victims

Cabo Storm Victims

Captain Roy “Wilkes” Hammock was responsible for bringing over the Winkler-Romero family, pictured here. They made it safely to the docks at Marina Mazatlan. (Photo courtesy of Michael P. Wilson) Michael P. Wilson

After Hurricane Odile ravaged the southern cape of the Baja Peninsula, fishermen stepped up to the plate and came to the rescue. With food and water running low in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, and the area narrowly missing a second hit from Tropical Storm Polo, anglers utilized their fishing boats to organize a ferry mission, evacuating Mexican residents to safer mainland areas.

About 60 Mexican nationals between the ages of 3 and 65 were evacuated and safely brought to Mazatlán, a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

Ty and Krista Valli, of the 68-foot Hatteras Reel Quest, immediately offered to assist. Captain Roy “Wilkes” Hammock used his 65-foot Viking Expedition to bring families to the docks at Marina Mazatlan. Chad Herren, of the 61-foot Blackwell Wild Hooker, helped with the evacuation too. And owner John Williams and Capt. Kevin Pahl “Cubby” of the boat II SUCCESS, a 60-foot Hatteras, also shuttled storm victims to safety.

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“It was not about paperwork, or passports, or where you were from,” said Krista Valli, in response to the evacuation efforts. “It was all about safety.”

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