Reel Big Deal
We look ahead to the fall’s biggest fishing tournaments,
where anglers are hoping to pull in some big prizes
By Fernando Rodriguez
Los Cabos just may be the most dynamic tourism destination in the world. Beaches abound, as do high-end restaurants, hotels, spas, resorts, and golf courses. For the budget-conscious, there are countless deals to explore (starting with Los Cabos Magazine’s prepaid voucher program, of course). And the adventurous will delight in high-thrill activities like zip lining, scuba diving, off-road racing, and more.
Don’t for a minute think, though, that Cabo San Lucas has forgotten its roots as a sleepy fishing village. Cabo and the surrounding region continue to offer world-class fishing conditions and impressive jackpots for its fishing tournaments.
In fact, Los Cabos is home to some of the world’s most popular deep-sea fishing tournaments. These competitions pop up throughout the year and range in size, popularity, and prize—from mere bragging rights to more than a million bucks (that’s U.S. dollars). The fall, though, is when competition starts to really heat up. Here we highlight some favorite tournaments.
The fall season kicks off with the annual Los Cabos Billfish Tournament in Cabo San Lucas. There’s final registration and a kick-off party on October 15, then anglers hit the water the next morning. The base entry fee is $5,000 U.S. per team, and that includes one–six registered anglers and allows teams to enter any of the optional jackpots. Last year’s competition included 37 teams, and they released 32–35 billfish each day. Tournament organizers reported, “The fleet released 95 video verified billfish, consisting of 56 blues, 36 stripes, and three blacks. There was a grand total of $451,200 U.S. awarded to the winning teams. For more information, including a breakdown of rules and prizes, visit www.loscabosbillfishtournament.com.
Bisbee’s hosts three fishing tournaments in the Los Cabos every year. The first takes place August 1–5, and two are held in the fall. Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament is often referred to as “Little Bisbee’s,” and because it’s held October 19–22, it’s considered a warm-up to the Bisbee’s Black and Blue Marlin Tournament, which begins October 24. Anglers in Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament target all the major sportfishing species, like marlin, sailfish, and tuna. Its smaller entry fee: just $1,500 U.S. In 2016, 109 teams participated.
Bisbee’s Black and Blue Marlin Tournament is arguably the most popular competition in the state of Baja California Sur if not the entire country. After debuting in 1981, it has become a staple in Cabo San Lucas. Anglers from all over the world—and with various skill levels—fly into this southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula to compete for several millions in cash rewards. More than a hundred teams participate each year, with a base entry fee of $5,000 U.S. Opting into all the jackpots, though, can bring that total up to about $71,500 U.S. Bisbee’s tournaments are known as “the world’s richest fishing tournaments,” and for good reason: This is an event that historically has paid out more million-dollar winners than any other. For more information, visit www.bisbees.com.
The Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot returns November 1. The annual event, which is sponsored by Western Outdoor News, is open to everyone and has one of the most accessible minimum entry fees: $1,000 U.S. There are more than $750,000 U.S. in cash awards and $100,000 U.S. in prizes, several optional jackpots, and parties left and right. The slogan of this competition, after all, is “Fish hard, party harder.” For more information, go to www.loscabostunajackpot.com.
