The Los Cabos region of Baja California Sur is home to some of the world’s most popular deep sea fishing tournaments. From world championships to charity events, there are sportfishing tournaments in Cabo San Lucas year around. Some tournaments like the Bisbee’s Black and Blue have purses that can potentially exceed $1,000,000 while others are more focused on bragging rights of who brought in the biggest catch or most fish of the day. Sportfishing can be fun for everyone, and beginners and seasoned anglers have an equal opportunity to walk away with the trophy from one of these world renown fishing tournaments in Cabo San Lucas.
IGFA Offshore World Championship: The largest offshore fishing tournament series in the world, the IGFA Offshore World Championship brings in the best anglers from all around the world. In order to participate, anglers must have won first place in one of the qualifying tournaments. There are more than 110 qualifying tournaments around the world and the final championship takes place in Cabo San Lucas. The Offshore World Championship is the premier tournament in Cabo San Lucas and the best international sport-fishing event in the world. The championship takes place over a one week period in May every year and participants are by invitation only. http://www.igfaoffshorechampionship.com/
Los Cabos Billfish Tournament: Fish all day and party all night during one of the most popular tournaments in Los Cabos. This tournament is a competitive angler’s dream, with huge prizes and the potential for an invitation to the IGFA. This is one of the qualifying events for the IGFA Offshore World Championship. The required tournament base-entry fee is $5,000 and the tournament takes place every October. Anyone can join this tournament that has an $850,000 purse, with enough prizes and large billfish for everyone. http://www.loscabosbillfishtournament.com/
Bisbee’s Black and Blue Tournament: Arguably the most famous and popular tournament in all of Baja California is the Bisbee’s Black and Blue Marlin Tournament. Since it started in 1981, the tournament has taken over Cabo for three days every October. Anglers of all skill levels can join in the fun and excitement of catching the giant Black and Blue Marlin that surround the Baja Peninsula. The base entry fee is $5,000 but teams that want to join in all the jackpots can spend as much as $63,000 in entry fees. Private and charter boats get their best tackle out for the annual event that historically has paid out more million dollar winners than any other sport. Every year, around 200 teams compete for the $4 million in cash awards. http://www.bisbees.com/
Bisbee’s East Cape Fishing Tournament: The Black and Blue tournament may be the biggest and richest, but the East Cape Fishing Tournament is just as much fun. Every July, around 60 teams of anglers head to the traditional Buenavista Beach Resort in the city of Buenavista. The entry fee is only $1,200 and there are over $350,000 in cash prizes. One of the unique things about this tournament is that both Dorado and Yellowfin Tuna are added to the competition. http://www.bisbees.com/Local/tournaments/indexECO.htm
Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament: The third of the popular Bisbee’s tournaments is known as the “Little Bisbee’s” and is frequently used as a warm up for the big event the following week. In 2008, there was an 870 pound Blue Marlin caught in this tournament, the second largest ever caught in Bisbee’s history. With a $1,200 entry fee, the event expects around 70 teams to fight for a purse of over $300,000 in cash awards over the two day period. The Los Cabos Offshore Tournament also targets all the big sportfishing species including black, blue, and striped marlin, sailfish, spearfish, tuna, and Dorado. http://www.bisbees.com/Local/tournaments/indexLCO.htm
Stars and Stripes: A much different type of event unique to Cabo San Lucas is the annual Stars and Stripes charity festival. Instead of just a marlin fishing tournament, this event has a fishing competition, golf competition, and a music festival that all help to raise funds for kids. “It’s All About The Kids!” is their slogan because they are committed to helping the world’s most precious resource; our kids. Proceeds go directly to Big Brothers Big Sister of Orange County, Miracles For Kids, Orangewood Children’s Foundation, and the Boy Scouts of America. So while you are having a great time catching marlin and Dorado or playing 18 holes on world class golf courses, you know your money is going to a good cause. The main events take place at the Hilton Los Cabos every June. http://starsandstripestournament.com/
Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot: The Western Outdoor News and Yamaha sponsor the annual Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot which has been bringing top anglers to Cabo for over 12 years. This premier event is open to everyone and is the cheapest tournament to enter with only an $800 minimum entry fee. There are over $650,000 in cash prizes, seven optional jackpots, and sponsored parties all three nights. Beginning and experienced anglers enter the Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot for a chance at reeling in the catch of a lifetime. The annual event takes places in the beginning of November and has around 100 teams vying for the numerous prizes available. Don’t pass up the opportunity for a low cost tournament with big payouts and a lot of fun. http://www.loscabostunajackpot.com/
Puerto Los Cabos World Cup: Another great Cabo San Lucas fishing tournament is the Puerto Los Cabos World Cup at the end of every October. The event has two separate divisions, the Black & Blue Division and Tuna Division, which anglers can choose to participate in one or both simultaneously. There are over $1.2 million in cash prizes, optional daily jackpots for each division, and miscellaneous gamefish prizes. The minimum entry fee is a little steep at $4,000, but it pays off with great cash prizes, world class sportfishing, and an exciting atmosphere in Los Cabos. An awards banquet wraps up the event with a free VIP concert, usually featuring famous classic rock musicians. http://www.igtournaments.com/plc-worldcup.htm
The International Governors Cup Tournament: This annual tournament took place just a few days before and was a qualifying event for the IGFA World Championships. It was the most affordable marlin fishing tournament in Cabo San Lucas with entry fees as low as $1,500. The event used the proceeds to purchase carbon mitigation credits, establishing itself as one of the only eco-friendly fishing tournaments. The rest of the proceeds went to several local orphanages around Baja California Sur. Unfortunately, the Swine Flu outbreak in 2009 caused the organizers to cancel the event and they are still trying to get it going again. Hopefully 2011 will be the return of the exciting marlin tournament. http://www.igfaoffshorechampionship.com/events/international-governors-cup-tournament