There’s one record from Bisbee’s Black and Blue tournament that may never be broken. That’s the
993 lb. blue marlin caught by Team Picante in 1994. Not only is it the biggest ever caught during the 40 year history of the “world’s richest fishing tournament”, it’s one of the largest ever caught in Cabo San Lucas.
All the other records, though? They’re almost certain to be broken. In fact, many were broken during the 2020 season, when Bisbee’s trio of big money tournaments were held safely in the middle of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
The first, Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore, broke records for attendance and the largest purse in the history of the tournament, as well as the largest fish ever caught. A record 72 teams competed for the record 1.1 million dollar purse – the first time the tournament had ever cracked the million dollar mark – with the added bonus of a 704 lb. blue marlin being reeled in. That too, of course, was the largest in the history of the event.
The records kept falling in October, with both the Los Cabos Offshore and Black and Blue tournaments besting their best ever marks for attendance and prize money. The Los Cabos Offshore topped the million dollar mark for the second year in succession, with prize pools and jackpots totaling $1,457,000 for the 128 participating teams.
The Black and Blue had one less team – a mere 127 comprising 883 anglers! – but smashed its own record with $4,649,350 in total prize money. That bested the former mark, set in 2006, of $4,165,960; which for well over a decade had been the largest payout in sportfishing history.
When all was said and done, prize money for the three tournaments combined totaled $7,206,350…and you guessed it! That too was a record.
But the most remarkable fact may be that of the ten fishing tournaments worldwide with prize payouts of over a million dollars, Bisbee’s has three of them! And all are held annually in beautiful Los Cabos.
This year, Bisbee’s is looking to break those records all over again. It won’t be easy, but if all of them were broken in the midst of a pandemic, imagine what will happen if the season takes place during a time of relative normality?
The 2021 season starts, as is traditional, with the East Cape Offshore. This year’s three-day tournament is scheduled for August 3rd to 7th. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three qualifiers in marlin, tuna and dorado categories, with the awards celebration taking place afterwards at the Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort. Base entry for the event is $1500 per team, with additional fees for daily jackpots ($32,000 “across the board”). Prize money is based on entry fees received, with 60% going to the billfish winners, and 20% each to top tuna and dorado anglers. For first-timers, each tournament in the Bisbee’s series has an Early Bird Drawing. The winner of the drawing gets a free entry to the following year’s tournament. To be eligible the paid entry (base entry only) must be received by the Early Bird Deadline (June 30th, 2021 for the ECO).
The Los Cabos Offshore comes next, taking place October 14th to 17th. Commonly known as “Little Bisbee’s,” to differentiate it from the “Big Bisbee’s” Black and Blue, the Los Cabos Offshore dates back to 2002, and is considered a more laid-back, charity focused endeavor than the Black & Blue. Cash prizes are awarded to the teams with the three biggest qualifying fish in the game and billfish categories at the LCO, and large amounts of fish/meals are always donated to local families in need. Base entry for teams is $1,500 U.S., with $22,500 necessary for “across the board” entry in all jackpots and challenges. The Early Bird Deadline for the LCO this year is August 31st.
And of course the “Super Bowl of Sportfishing”, Bisbee’s Black and Blue, serves as the season finale, from October 19th to 23rd. Base entry for this millionaire maker is $5,000 U.S. per team, and requires a $71,500 U.S. outlay across all categories, jackpots and challenges. Prizes are awarded for the top five catches of black and blue marlin, assuming they meet the minimum standards (300 lbs.). Early Bird Deadline this year, as for the LCO, is August 31st.
Could this be the year the prize payout exceeds five million? Don’t bet against it!
Bisbee’s tournaments of late are proof positive that records are made to be broken.
So if you’re a fisherman (or fisherwoman), don’t you want an opportunity to make history? In 40 years, Bisbee’s Black and Blue has paid out close to 100 million dollars, including 16 individual team checks for over one million dollars, five checks over two million, and two checks for over three million.
Is this the year a check tops four million? Are you the one cashing it? There’s only one way to find out.
For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.
Photo credit: Picante Sportfishing
Upcoming Events Calendar
February
Todos Santos Writers Workshop (Virtual Session) – Jan. 31 – Feb. 6
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day) – Feb. 5
Valentine’s Day – Feb. 14
Día de la Bandera Mexicana (Flag Day) – Feb. 24
Cabo Collegiate Golf Tournament – Feb. 28 – Mar. 2
March
Cabo Collegiate Golf Tournament – Feb. – Mar. 2
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26
Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 18 – 21
Semana Santa – Mar. 28. – Apr. 3
April
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 1, 8, 15, 22
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23
Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race – Apr. 23 – 26
NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally Road Race – Apr. 23 – 30
May
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 6, 13, 20, 27
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – May 7, 14, 21, 28
June
Los Cabos Open of Surf – Jun. 3 -7
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jun. 3, 10, 17, 24
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Jun. 4, 11, 18, 25
Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament– Jun. 10 – 12
Stars and Stripes Golf and Fishing Tournament – Jun. 23 – 27
July
East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 17
Los Cabos Open of Tennis – Jul. 19 – 24
Ladies Only Fishing Tournament at Palmas de Cortez – Jul. 22 – 26
August
Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – Aug. 3 – 7
Wahoo Gold Cup Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 21
September
Mexico Independence Day – Sep. 16
October
Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 10 – 14
Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 14 – 17
Bisbee’s Black and Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 19 – 23
November
WON Tuna Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Nov. 3 – 6
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26
SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 15 – 20
December
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Official Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15
Nochebuena – Dec. 24
Navidad – Dec. 25
Nochevieja – Dec. 31
Please let me know what you think about this!