It’s jokingly been called “Controlled Chaos.” But when there are 177 teams, 1,239 anglers, support staff, the press, family members and the entire town of Cabo San Lucas focused on the main event of the year, it really is a big deal. That big deal, of course, is the Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament and fishing starts this morning with a shotgun start off the famous rock arch at the tip of the Baja peninsula. What’s at stake? Nearly $7.4 million in prize money.
The Black & Blue is a marlin-only event. The primary focus is on blue and black marlin weight and release divisions. Boats will catch plenty of striped marlin and Pacific sailfish over the next three days. But those are just part of the fun, not the payday.
Blues and blacks must weigh a minimum of 300 pounds to qualify. Released fish that are video-verified are worth 300 points. There are daily jackpots ranging from $500 up to $20,000. There are also two release divisions—$2,000 and $3,000 for the top daily release teams.
Fishing starts at 7 am local time and continues until 5 pm. The scales at the Puerto Paraiso Mall open at 2 pm and close at 9 pm. Crowds of on-lookers are there throughout, hoping to see a monster marlin swing from the gantry or catch a handful of famous Bisbee’s beads and visit the many vendor booths.
Teams are competing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The awards dinner will be held Saturday evening. The seas will be a little sporty on the Pacific side Wednesday, with winds up to 20 knots from the north/northwest with big swells. The Sea of Cortez is expected to be a little calmer. Teams are allowed to compete on either side of the Baja tip. Underwater rock formations (mounts, ledges and drop-offs) in each body of water concentrate the bait and ultimately the game fish, so where to go is always a calculated risk. Sea conditions are expected to improve through the rest of the week.
But with this much money on the line, along with bragging rights to one of the top big-game tournaments in the world, that’s a risk these dedicated anglers are willing to take.
