«The economy, stupid,» — “It’s the size of the fish, stupid!”
Generally, more large billfish and yellowfin tuna are caught this time of year and after reviewing the summer season, we’ve had:
The relentless snap of wahoo through spring and summer.
The steady parade of huge yellowfin tuna to scales up and down both coasts of Baja Sur.
Blue and black marlin (large and small) joined by stripers and sailfish as they teased anglers with their “catch me if you can” attitude.
Dorado were an unexpected dud; most were small juveniles while the larger variety seldom came to the party.
Anglers spend countless hours trying to explain the cause of these phenomena.
However, as summer exits ‘stage left’ and fall enters, tournament season begins and anticipation dissolves into excitement. Expectation is not only for the targeted billfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and perhaps dorado, it is for other species in play as well.
From the beaches or inshore, personal-best-sized roosterfish, along with jack crevalle, equally hard fighters; toothy sierra, another popular choice, along with bonito and several varieties of skipjack are also great inshore fun. Down deeper the amberjack, pargo and cabrilla are equally fun to catch and not too shabby for dinner.
For the tournament participants it’s all about the size of the fish and how much money can be won.
Beginning October 11-15, 2016, the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament — last year hosted 37 teams with 208 anglers who took away $445,500 in cash, plus a truckload of other prizes.
Followed by the Bisbee “Los Cabos Offshore” on October 14 – 16, 2016 that last year hosted 95 teams with 628 anglers winning nearly $630,000 plus merchandise for the winning catches.
The granddaddy of them — the Bisbee “Black and Blue” October 18 – 22, 2016 — is considered to be the Super Bowl of Billfish tournaments. Last year’s event attracted 121teams with 945 anglers competing for $2,985,036 in cash plus merchandise.
To put this in perspective: Team Tranquillo, with Michael Moretti and crew, traveled from Costa Rica taking first place in the Bisbee’s “Los Cabos Offshore” Tournament with a 399-pound black marlin earning $460,200 and a 327- pound blue marlin in the “Black and Blue” for a combined payout of $2,971,662 for the two events for the second-highest single team payout in Black and Blue history.
Tournament directors of the three events expect at least as many participants as last year.
Regardless of whether you are here to enjoy the great fishing by adding to your ‘personal best’ list, you are here to compete in the big money/ big fish tournaments where you could catch a fish of a lifetime and become a millionaire as well; or you are not even competing, come and enjoy the festive weigh-ins which are open to the public every afternoon during the events. October is always one of the most exciting months of the year here at the tip of Baja! *
PHOTO CAPTION: To put this in perspective: Team Tranquillo, with Michael Moretti and crew, traveled from Costa Rica taking first place in the Bisbee’s “Los Cabos Offshore” Tournament with a 399-pound black marlin earning $460,200 and a 327- pound blue marlin in the “Black and Blue” for a combined payout of $2,971,662 for the two events for the second-highest single team payout in Black and Blue history.]]>
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