The Zorah Story
Felipe Valdez and the Boys
At 2:53 p.m. on Day One, the radio crackled to life. Felipe Valdez on Team Zorah reported they had hooked a huge Billfish and their location was approximately 40 miles south.
Their battle continued throughout the afternoon, with the Weigh Station receiving periodic updates until the "lines out" was called at 7:00 p.m. Soon after, the Team called in that they had the giant fish alongside and were attempting to get it into the boat.
Then, finally, came another message. They had it in the boat and were racing for the Weigh Station, which would officially close at 9:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the crowd grew to over 100 anxious spectators eager to see the huge marlin being weighed in. However, it was not to be. Team Zorah arrived only a few minutes after the deadline...with the fish in their boat, the boat loaded onto their trailer, the trailer hooked to their truck, and the truck backed right up to the Weigh Scale. The Weighmaster hoisted the Black Marlin up to be weighed while everyone held their breath. It weighed 773 pounds. An easy winner, IF it had made it to the scale on time!
It was the first time in the history of the Bisbee Tournament that a fish was brought to the scale in a boat on a trailer.
One of the Team members commented, "We tried and tried, but could not figure out how to get the monster fish into the boat without mutilating it!"
“Money comes and goes. You can’t buy an experience like that!”
- Angler Tommie Goldston
Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore, 2025.
Team Captain is the incomparable Felipe Valdez, with Captain Julio Cota Collins, deckhand Alejandro “Brayan” Cesena, and anglers Tommie Goldston, J. David LeCompte, and Marcus Bondy.
We began the tournament like any other — bait tanks full of Macks, Skippies, etc., and hearts full of hope.
Felipe’s 27’ CC “Zorah” isn’t the biggest boat in the fleet, but good luck finding a vessel more comfortable, capable, and with a crew this outstanding!
Like many boats, we ran south to the San Luis/Gordo region and got to work. Over the course of the day, we hooked a couple sharks and were able to land a half-dozen yellowfin casting topwater’s.
Our afternoon spread consisted of a rigged flying fish under the kite, a live tuna on the downrigger, a dead tuna on the port corner, and a live Scad Mackerel on the outrigger.
Around 2:30, a giant shark began tailing behind the flying fish, grabbing all of our attention. Until the live tuna got bit. And the shark turned around. And a giant Marlin pushed the most water I’ve ever seen… Brayan began manipulating the tuna rod, and it quickly got struck.
And came tight, but even with these guys’ well-trained eyes, we had no idea which fish.
As we clear the decks, Felipe says “OK Tommie, you get on the rod, and we’ll hope it’s something good.”
After 20 minutes or so, we figured it was the shark.
Until the first jump!!!
Using 100# line and 300# leader, we barely got to the braid backing, but also couldn’t get it within 70 yards of the boat.
Such a monstrous creature, in its element, makes its own rules.
The clock continued to tick as each angler took multiple turns on the handle.
By 6 pm, we finally had her boatside. It took 20 minutes for six big fellas to figure out how to get her aboard!
Halfway home, we realized we were going to be late. So we dialed back the throttles, cracked a cold beverage, and took great joy in the camaraderie and accomplishment.”
Read MoreThe Zorah Story
Felipe Valdez and the Boys
At 2:53 p.m. on Day One, the radio crackled to life. Felipe Valdez on Team Zorah reported they had hooked a huge Billfish and their location was approximately 40 miles south.
Their battle continued throughout the afternoon, with the Weigh Station receiving periodic updates until the "lines out" was called at 7:00 p.m. Soon after, the Team called in that they had the giant fish alongside and were attempting to get it into the boat.
Then, finally, came another message. They had it in the boat and were racing for the Weigh Station, which would officially close at 9:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the crowd grew to over 100 anxious spectators eager to see the huge marlin being weighed in. However, it was not to be. Team Zorah arrived only a few minutes after the deadline...with the fish in their boat, the boat loaded onto their trailer, the trailer hooked to their truck, and the truck backed right up to the Weigh Scale. The Weighmaster hoisted the Black Marlin up to be weighed while everyone held their breath. It weighed 773 pounds. An easy winner, IF it had made it to the scale on time!
It was the first time in the history of the Bisbee Tournament that a fish was brought to the scale in a boat on a trailer.
One of the Team members commented, "We tried and tried, but could not figure out how to get the monster fish into the boat without mutilating it!"
“Money comes and goes. You can’t buy an experience like that!”
- Angler Tommie Goldston
Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore, 2025.
Team Captain is the incomparable Felipe Valdez, with Captain Julio Cota Collins, deckhand Alejandro “Brayan” Cesena, and anglers Tommie Goldston, J. David LeCompte, and Marcus Bondy.
We began the tournament like any other — bait tanks full of Macks, Skippies, etc., and hearts full of hope.
Felipe’s 27’ CC “Zorah” isn’t the biggest boat in the fleet, but good luck finding a vessel more comfortable, capable, and with a crew this outstanding!
Like many boats, we ran south to the San Luis/Gordo region and got to work. Over the course of the day, we hooked a couple sharks and were able to land a half-dozen yellowfin casting topwater’s.
Our afternoon spread consisted of a rigged flying fish under the kite, a live tuna on the downrigger, a dead tuna on the port corner, and a live Scad Mackerel on the outrigger.
Around 2:30, a giant shark began tailing behind the flying fish, grabbing all of our attention. Until the live tuna got bit. And the shark turned around. And a giant Marlin pushed the most water I’ve ever seen… Brayan began manipulating the tuna rod, and it quickly got struck.
And came tight, but even with these guys’ well-trained eyes, we had no idea which fish.
As we clear the decks, Felipe says “OK Tommie, you get on the rod, and we’ll hope it’s something good.”
After 20 minutes or so, we figured it was the shark.
Until the first jump!!!
Using 100# line and 300# leader, we barely got to the braid backing, but also couldn’t get it within 70 yards of the boat.
Such a monstrous creature, in its element, makes its own rules.
The clock continued to tick as each angler took multiple turns on the handle.
By 6 pm, we finally had her boatside. It took 20 minutes for six big fellas to figure out how to get her aboard!
Halfway home, we realized we were going to be late. So we dialed back the throttles, cracked a cold beverage, and took great joy in the camaraderie and accomplishment.”
Read MoreThe Bisbee Team, fueled by the success of the East Cape Offshore in August at East Cape, was brimming with anticipation for the upcoming 24th annual LCO in Los Cabos.
Read MoreJakob Gonterman, an angler on Team Stella June, hooked a Black Marlin and landed it on Thursday, Day One at 3:00 p.m. It was the first fish to come to the scale during the Tournament. On Saturday night, the Tournament Awards presented the Team a check in the amount of $4.4 Million, exceeding that of the $3.9 record of "Bad Company" in 2006. This check is the largest written in the history of the Bisbee tournaments.
Read More