The Latest Catch

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico — As the crew of the Stella June dug into plates of Asian fusion at the Chubby Noodle on sleepy Paseo de la Marina, captain Evan Salvay ran his fingers through hair shaped by a day’s worth of saltwater, wind, broiling sun and spiking anxiety.

Bisbee Fish & Wildlife Conservation Fund’s program, a unique mix of the raffle, live auction, entertainment, and a top-tier firework show, was included in the distribution of $4,584,450 to various category winners of the three-day fishing tournament.

Aboard Tranquillo, owner Ken Cofer started the team’s day off with a sailfish release. Although it was not the right kind of fish, it was an encouraging sign of things to come.

On they trolled for the next hour or so in search of the “big one.” And then they had a “be careful what you wish for” moment – a double hookup for anglers Amanda Cofer and Bill Pino, and this time it was the right kind!

Day 1 of the 39th Annual Bisbee Black and Blue began as not one, but two spectator boats headed out to watch the flare gun start of the event. Cabo Wave, loaded with dignitaries, staff, press, and spectators, was followed by a second spectator boat, also filled with overflow spectators eager to watch the start of the competition for $4.5 million – the largest sportfishing tournament purse in the world.

The 39th Bisbee Black and Blue Tournament – a record $4.5 million payout extravaganza, according to director Wayne Bisbee – is shaping up to be as substantial as the recently-concluded Los Cabos Offshore event. 

The 126 teams entered in this three-day tourney are poised for an early morning start.

We're well into the clubhouse turn for our upcoming tournaments and they're shaping up great!

We've got a couple of things we want all of you to be aware of for this year.

Teams Wild Hooker and True Grit won the extraordinary sums of well over $1 Million each on Days One and Two of the Bisbee’s Black & Blue Tournament in Cabo San Lucas.

Day Three has arrived, and the other 124 teams are looking for the opportunity to stand on the awards stage alongside the first two lucky teams on Sat. Night to accept a similar check.  If that happens, it could be three approximately $1.3 Million checks issued on three consecutive days … another world record.

CABO SAN LUCAS, BCS, Mexico – A 510-pound black marlin on the final day of the Bisbee Black & Blue Tournament was worth a staggering $3,004,900 to angler Charlie Lee and California-based Team Chinito Bonito.

Total Black & Blue Tournament jackpot payouts amounted to $3,693,625 announced tournament director Wayne Bisbee.

Chinito Bonito, a second-year Black & Blue Tournament veteran team, reported their first hook-up of this tournament – a black marlin with angler Charlie Lee in the fighting chair. No stranger to winning, they had landed a 442-pound blue marlin last year, their first year in the tournament, that had earned them $7,020.