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There’s no place on Earth quite like Cabo San Lucas in October. At the tip of the Baja California peninsula, where desert cliffs tumble into the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez, the natural beauty is as striking as the fishing. Stark mountains frame turquoise waters, and Cabo’s bustling marina comes alive with the sights and sounds of a culture that blends rich Mexican tradition with a world-class fishing heritage. Add in the festive atmosphere of mariachis, street vendors, beachside cantinas, and international anglers swapping stories, and you have a setting unlike any other in sport fishing.
Against this backdrop unfolds the Bisbee’s Black & Blue, the oldest, largest and richest marlin tournament in the world. Known simply as the “Super Bowl of Sport Fishing,” the Black & Blue has been luring crews to Cabo for more than four decades, with payouts that routinely rise into the millions.
The story began in 1981, when Bob Bisbee and six friends staged a friendly contest in Southern California with a $10,000 purse. By 1990, the prize money had grown to nearly $750,000. By 1995, Bob had handed the reins to his son Wayne and daughter Trish, turning the event into a true family enterprise. The first million-dollar check was issued in 2003, and in 2006, Bad Company took home nearly $4 million—the largest single payout in sport-fishing history at the time.
Since then, the numbers have only grown. In 2015, Tranquilo earned over $2.5 million. In 2018, Team Chinito Bonito collected more than $3 million. In 2022, three separate teams each cashed million-dollar checks, with total payouts topping $7.3 million. In 2024, Stella June stunned the docks with a black marlin on Day 1, ultimately claiming $4.4 million—the largest check in Bisbee’s history. That same week, Team Rocky Mountain Hooker landed a 501-pound blue marlin to earn $3.9 million.
These staggering payouts are the product of the Bisbee’s Black & Blue’s unique structure. The base entry is relatively modest, but optional jackpots allow teams to raise the stakes dramatically. With hundreds of boats buying into daily jackpots and category calcuttas, fortunes can change with a single fish. As tournament director Wayne Bisbee notes, the event has written 16 checks over $1 million since 1981, including five exceeding $2 million and two topping $3 million.
The Bisbee’s is the zenith of a three-event series. The season kicks off in August with the laid-back East Cape Offshore, often described as “Cabo fishing as it used to be.” In October, the Los Cabos Offshore—nicknamed the “Little Bisbee’s”—sets the stage with a more social, camaraderie-driven vibe just days before the main event. And then comes the Black & Blue: five days of organized chaos, hardcore competition, and Cabo’s signature brand of spectacle.
During tournament week, thousands of spectators line the marina walkways to watch the weigh-ins at Puerto Paraiso Plaza, where giant billfish are hoisted before roaring crowds. The scene is electric with music in the air, television cameras rolling, vendors selling food and drinks, and anglers stepping into the spotlight with fish that can alter lives. For many, just being part of the event—win or lose—is an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Bisbee’s legacy stretches beyond fishing. Over the years, the tournaments have helped transform Cabo San Lucas into one of the world’s top sport-fishing and tourism destinations. The blend of desert, ocean and the lively Cabo scene makes for a setting as memorable as the tournament itself. For anglers, spectators and families alike, the Black & Blue is far more than a fishing contest—it’s a celebration of Mexico’s vibrant spirit, the pursuit of giant marlin, and the dream of holding a million-dollar check.
