The Los Cabos Billfish Tournament unofficially kicked off the Cabo season in style, with 49 teams fishing for $742,500. This year, the fleet tallied 70 billfish: 55 striped marlin, 13 blue marlin and three black marlin. Teams earned 300 points for blue or black marlin releases and 1.5 points per pound for any over the 300-pound minimum weight; striped marlin, sailfish and spearfish were release-only and scored at 25 points each.
The team aboard El Suertudo, captained by Greg DiStefano, once again had the hot hand in 2020, scoring 1,244 points and winning First Place Team honors. Angler Jeff Richardson caught a 350-pound blue marlin to win the Day One jackpot, as well as third-largest marlin jackpot—and he was just getting warmed up.
On the second day of fishing, Richardson was up to bat again, where he landed a 396-pound black marlin, good for the Day Two daily jackpots and second-largest overall payout, a total of $344,700. The team also earned an invitation to fish the 2021 Costa Offshore World Championship in Quepos, Costa Rica.
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Second place fell to Stella June, with a 593-pound black marlin on the last day of fishing. That fish took home the Day Three jackpot, as well as largest marlin overall. A 236-pound yellowfin tuna added to their earnings, which totaled $249,300. Artemis, captained by Jerry Lanzerotti, won third place with a 312-pound blue marlin weighed in, plus additional release points, good for $31,300.
