Turtles
Fishing Tournament
If you're looking to test your skills against other sport anglers, than southern Baja and the areas of Cabo San Lucas and the East Cape should be on your list of locations for world-class tournament fishing. Fishing tournaments sprout up every year in Baja but Los Cabos is home to more big-money tournaments than just about anywhere on earth. Tournament season starts in late June and runs into November with events in the East Cape, Cabo San Lucas and out of La Playita or Puerto Los Cabos north of San Jose del Cabo. We list the major tourneys in our Los Cabos tournament schedule but there are several smaller, more remote tournaments that take place throughout Baja Sur. The best part about the tournament scene is you don't have to be a tycoon to enter. Entry fees start in the low hundreds. The biggest money tournament, the Bisbee's Black & Blue, will set you back over $60,000 if you opt to enter across the board. Big fees reward with big winnings. The Bisbee's record is over $3.9 Million to one team in 2006 and nearly $2.5 Million to another in 2012! Not a bad return on the investment, right?.
STARS & STRIPES TOURNAMENT
June 27 – 30, 2013
The Stars and Stripes fishing and golf tournament was established in 1996 and has quickly become the largest, fundraiser of the year for one Southern California Big Brothers, Big Sisters club. In addition to serving the youth of Orange County, Stars and Stripes also gives back to the communities of Cabo San Lucas donating modern medical equipment and new ambulances. They end each event with a pretty amazing concert highlighted by recognized names like the Doobie Brothers performing live. A good time while raising cash for charity is a sure bet.
BISBEE'S EAST CAPE TOURNAMENT
July 23 – 27, 2013
Part of the Bisbee's Bluewater Cup Series, the East Cape Offshore tournament is seen by many as the first of two warm-up events for the big one... the Black and Blue that takes place in Cabo San Lucas in October. Hosted at the Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort, the event started in 2000 and marks it's 13th anniversary in 2013. 2012 saw 61 teams and 350 anglers compete with the top fish being a 262lb yellowfin tuna setting a new record for an East fishing tournament. However, no qualifying marlin came to the scales during this year.
LOS CABOS BILLFISH TOURNAMENT
October 15 – 19, 2013
The Los Cabos Billfish Tournament is a three-day big-fish
team event with honors going to the team that tallies the
most points per pound – prize money goes to the top three teams. A trophy and a smaller cash prize is awarded to the boat releasing the most billfish. The 2012 event was won with a 487lb black marlin that swept the daily jackpots, levels one thru three. Total winnings for team Bill Collector was $167,877.50 along with an invitation to the 2013 IGFA Offshore World Championship to be held in May in beautiful Quepos, Costa Rica.
BISBEE'S LOS CABOS OFFSHORE
October 18 – 20, 2013
The second of three Bisbee events in southern Baja, the Los Cabos Offshore tournament takes place a few days prior to the multi-million dollar Black and Blue. Many teams that fish the big one fish this as well – it's the prefect "pre-fishing" opportunity. in 2012, the tourney attracted 80 teams and 466 anglers with nearly $500,000 in prize money up for grabs. The team aboard Chupacabra came away with top honors for their 583lb blue marlin and a check for $206,973. Second place went to Sneak Attack with a 565lb blue for $189,837.
BISBEE'S BLACK AND BLUE
October 22 – 26, 2013
The big daddy of the them all has paid out big over it's 30+ year history.... two checks come to mind. In 2006 team Bad Company took it all with a check for over $3.9 Million. In 2012, team Frantic Pace did the same to the tune of nearly $2.5 Million. Sure, risking over $60,000 to enter across the board stings, but I bet hoisting a check as big as those takes the pain away quick! Now, you don't need to enter across the board, base entry fee is $5,000 and that can still make for a big payday.