Los Cabos, which includes Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, is a world-famous sports-fishing mecca. It’s on the southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico. There, you’ll find many world-renowned Los Cabos fishing tournaments to choose from, year-after-year. And, there are three fishing tournaments that draw the best sports fishermen from around the world, all hosted by Bisbee’s.
Spanning from July through October, Bisbee’s hosts the three Los Cabos fishing tournaments that escalate from one to the next. In July, the East Cape Offshore tournament is the first of two warm-up competitions before the big Los Cabos fishing tournament in late October. Then, the second is called Los Cabos Offshore. It takes place just days before the big multi-million-dollar tournament – Bisbee’s Black and Blue.
Brief history of Los Cabos fishing
Before tourism exploded in Los Cabos, the southern tip of Baja California Sur was dotted with tiny fishing villages. That’s due to the rich waters where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. This is home to great quantities of black and blue marlin, tuna, dorado, wahoo, and many more species. In fact, the Sea of Cortez is the most biologically diverse body of water on Earth. To explain, it supports over 900 varieties of fish.
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Bisbee’s Los Cabos fishing tournaments have been taking place for over 30 years. Started back in 1981 by Bob Bisbee Sr., the Bisbee’s Black and Blue tournament has grown from six teams, with winnings of around $10,000, to more than 150 teams, with millions of dollars up for grabs. Then, in 2006, Bisbee’s Black and Blue tournament had its largest total cash payout ever – $4,165,960. And, that event still holds the record as the largest payout in all of sports-fishing history.
Unfortunately, Bob Bisbee Sr., the founder and patriarch of the Bisbee’s Los Cabos fishing tournaments, has peacefully passed away on June 14, 2018 in the north Dallas Metroplex, leaving behind a legacy, a loving family and a huge circle of friends.
East Cape Offshore Tournament
The Bisbee’s Los Cabos fishing tournament expanded to the east side of Baja California Sur back in 2000, to host the East Cape Offshore in the small town of Buenavista. This one is “Los Cabos fishing as it used to be.” In addition to marlin, the East Cape Offshore includes dorado and tuna.
Held in July, this Los Cabos fishing tournament is the season kickoff for many anglers. Back in 2012, there were 61 teams and 350 anglers competing. And, the top fish was a 262lb yellow-fin tuna, which set a new record.
Los Cabos Offshore Tournament
Bisbee’s Los Cabos fishing tournaments quickly became very popular. Therefore, a third event was created back in 2002, called Los Cabos Offshore. This one is nick-named the “Little Bisbee’s.” And, it’s more of a social event full of camaraderie, where old fishing buddies reunite, share stories and spend a few days warming up before that final event, the big daddy of the them all…Bisbee’s Black and Blue…five days of the most thrilling sports fishing in the world.
Back in 2013, Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore attracted 80 teams and 466 anglers totaling nearly $500,000 in prize money up for grabs. The team aboard Chupacabra won top honors for their 583lb blue marlin and received a check for $206,973. The second place winner was Sneak Attack, for catching a 565lb blue marlin. Their prize was a whopping $189,837 – not bad for 2nd place!
Black and Blue Tournament
Taking place at the end of October, this is the last Los Cabos fishing tournament of the series and is the most prestigious of the them all. It offers the highest winnings of any sports-fishing tournament in the world. And, it attracts some of the best boats with some of the biggest names in fishing. These fishermen have very deep wallets and usually enroll in all tournament options across the board, often paying $60,000 or more in entry fees and calcuttas (daily jackpots).
There’s good news for those who can’t afford multi-million-dollar yachts loaded with every electronic option and top-dollar equipment. So far, more Los Cabos fishing tournaments have been won by “normal” people than by high-rollers. And, you can charter a good boat, with a great captain, who will provide you with everything you need to win.
Are you interested in Los Cabos fishing, but don’t own a multi-million-dollar yacht? I have more good news for you! You don’t have to be an experienced angler to catch big fish near Cabo San Lucas. In fact, you don’t need to know a thing about Cabo San Lucas fishing to be highly successful. So, how can such a claim be made, you ask? Check out Cabo San Lucas Fishing: The Angler’s Lowdown to see the how.
Early-bird entries
Each tournament has an early-bird drawing. And, the winner of the drawing receives a free entry to the following year’s tournament. So t o qualify, your paid base entry must be received by the deadline, which is the same date every year. And, the earlier you enter, the more chances you have to win. For example, if you enter the Black & Blue in August, one chip is thrown into the pot. Even better, if you enter in July, you get two chips. In June, you receive three chips, and so on. The free entry is good for the following year only and is non-transferable.
Bisbee’s Black and Blue fees
The basic entry into the tournament costs $1500. Entry into all of the competitions brings the cost up to $12500. Prizes are awarded to individual participants and teams. And, winnings are paid out for marlin and other game-fish species.
Calcuttas
Daily jackpots for the largest fish in each division are called calcuttas. They’re awarded every day of the tournament. And, after you’ve paid your entry fee, you have the option of buying into a wide variety of calcuttas for the biggest tuna, biggest dorado, biggest wahoo, biggest billfish, and so on.
Los Cabos real estate
Many Americans, Canadians, and people from other countries choose to make Los Cabos, Mexico, their home or vacation home. So, discover how to purchase your dream home in Los Cabos, Mexico by inquiring with the top Real Estate broker in Los Cabos: Nick Fong, who’s been featured twice on HGTV’s Beachfront Bargain Hunt.
Come visit soon
Thank you for reading Los Cabos fishing tournament: Join Bisbee’s Black and Blue to win BIG, written by Greg Hixon. Be sure to check out other posts about Los Cabos on Nick Fong‘s blog at Blog.LosCabosAgent.com. There, learn about the many wonderful aspects of Los Cabos, Mexico, from blog posts like this.