There are still 287 days left until the 2022 edition of Bisbee’s Black and Blue, the “World’s Richest Fishing Tournament” and the marquee event 
held annually in Los Cabos.
But some of the other top fishing tournaments come sooner…and in any case, it’s never too early to start making plans to go destination fishing. Particularly when the tournaments offer such an impressive range of cash and prizes.
With that in mind, here’s an early look at some of the top tournaments on the 2022 fishing tournament calendar in Los Cabos.
East Cape Dorado Shoot Out – July 16th, 2022
This is one of the largest fishing tournaments in Southern Baja, with an average turnout of 130 teams each year. What makes it so popular? The opportunity to win a brand new, fully-loaded 2022 Volkswagen 4×4 Amarok pickup truck, of course. The rules are simple, catch the biggest dorado on July 16th and you win the truck. There will also be great prizes for 2nd and 3rd place, as well as for the largest tuna and largest wahoo caught that day. The beauty of this one-day tournament format is that anyone can win. After the tournament, Palmas De Cortez in Los Barriles will host the award ceremony, which is unlike any in Baja, with dinner, music, a raffle, and more. The combined jackpot prizes here typically average $130,000. Entry is $600 per team.
Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – August 2nd to 6th, 2022
The East Cape Offshore is always first, and kicks off Bisbee’s 2022 series starting August 2nd. 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. In 2021, a record 97 teams competed for $1,582,975. The 97 teams beat the previous year’s record of 72 by 25, while the ECO topped the previous year’s record payout by nearly half a million dollars. 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, 2022 for the ECO).
East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Tournament – August 20th, 2022
Similar to the East Cape Dorado Shootout with its drive-away first prize, the biggest wahoo caught on August 21st will earn one lucky fisherman a showroom fresh 2022 Volkswagen Polo. In total, over $100,000 in cash and prizes are expected to be up for grabs, including great raffle prizes, return trips, fishing outings, and much more. The entry fee is only $600 per team and includes dinner at the awards ceremony.
Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – October 16th to 20th, 2022
Just as September is El Mes de la Patria, the “the country’s month,” in Mexico, October is the month of the fishing tournament in Cabo San Lucas. Bisbee’s two cash-rich tournaments–the Los Cabos Offshore and Black & Blue–get most of the publicity, but the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament also sends out a siren call to big-game fishermen eager for big-money prizes and jackpots. Team Sneak Attack led by owner Shawn Guttersen and captain Vicente Bojorquez captured first place and the largest marlin jackpot in the 2021 LCBT, as well as an invitation to Quepos for the Costa Offshore World Championship to go along with the cool $498,140, in prize money, after bagging a 554 lb. black marlin. The latter wasn’t quite as big as the 593 lb. black marlin that won Team El Suertudo top honors in 2020, but considering it only took a single day (due to weather conditions) for Sneak Attack to top last year’s winning check of 344,700, no one was complaining! Base entry in 2022 is $5,000 per team, or 25,000 all-in, across-the-board for all jackpots and prizes.
Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – October 20th to 23rd, 2022
Commonly known as “Little Bisbee’s,” to differentiate it from the “Big Bisbee’s” Black & Blue marlin fishing tournament that also takes place each October in Los Cabos, the Los Cabos Offshore dates back to 2002, and is considered a more laid-back, charity focused endeavor than the Black & Blue…despite the massive payouts on the line. In 2021, for example, 187 teams competed for $1,965,200, smashing the previous marks of 128 teams and $1,457,000 in payouts. 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.
Bisbee’s Black & Blue – October 25th to 29th, 2022
Oft billed as “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament,” thanks to its million dollar payouts, this marlin fishing tournament originally premiered in 1981, and remains to this day the highest profile annual event in Los Cabos. If you wonder why, consider the 2021 tournament, when the 2020 records of 127 teams for $4.6 million were completely obliterated as 198 teams competed for the $9,725,000 in cash on the line. 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.
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: East Cape Dorado Shoot Out
Upcoming Events Calendar
January
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28
Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Twin Dolphin and Cabo del Sol – Jan. 9 – 13
Tropic of Cancer Music Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 12 – 16
Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 30 – Feb. 5; Feb. 7 – 11
February
Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 30 – Feb. 5; Feb. 7 – 11
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25
Todos Santos Open Studio Tour – Feb. 4 – 6
Valentine’s Day– Feb. 14
Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 26 – Mar. 1
Cabo Collegiate Golf Tournament at Querencia – Feb. 27 – Mar. 1
March
Cabo Collegiate Golf Tournament at Querencia – Feb. 27 – Mar. 1
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Mar. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25
East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 20
April
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Apr. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Semana Santa – Apr. 10 – 17
End of Whale Watching Season – Apr. 15
May
Cinco de Mayo – May 5
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 5, 12, 19, 26
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – May 6, 13, 20, 27
Dia de la Madre – May 10
Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival – May 15 – 18
Premier Golf Pro-Am Tournament – May 15 – 21
June
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jun. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Jun. 3, 10, 17, 24
July
East Cape Dorado Shoot Out – Jul. 16
August
Los Cabos Open of Tennis – Aug. 1 – 6
Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – Aug. 2 – 6
East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot – Aug. 20
September
Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16
October
Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 16 – 20
Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – Oct. 20 – 23
Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 25 – 29
November
Day of the Dead – Nov. 2
SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 15 – 20
Please let me know what you think about this!