Subscribe to Marlin magazine and get a year of highly collectible, keepsake editions – plus access to the digital edition and archives. Sign up for the free Marlin email newsletter.
No matter how many different tournaments I attend, there’s always something special about heading to the Bahamas each spring for Skip’s Tournaments. Winter is over, the South Florida sailfish season has ended, and Boat Harbour Marina comes alive. It’s officially marlin tournament season. I get fired up just thinking about it. I love walking those docks lined with meticulous fishing machines, good friends and familiar faces mixed with legends like John Bayliss, Pat Healey and Paul Spencer, along with renowned captains, crews and industry leaders who represent the very best of our sport. It’s as much a big-game homecoming as it is a tournament—and that’s what makes it so special.
But that’s not to discount the caliber of the event itself. Skip’s Tournaments are invitation-only, a privilege reserved for a select fleet of world-class teams, even more so when talking about the Custom Shootout reserved for custom-built yachts. Luckily for us heathens (wink, wink), there’s the Custom vs. Production tournament as well. Regardless of the event, there’s a long waiting list to get in, and that exclusivity adds to the atmosphere on the docks. The people here don’t just fish together—they build boats together, they innovate together, and they’ve shared decades of friendships forged on the water. It’s not just me who looks forward to it; Skip’s events are now permanently marked on the calendar for the most prominent and respected tournament teams in the world.
Of course, the setting itself has a lot to do with the allure. Over the years, the tournaments have moved between venues, from Chub Cay and Harbour Island to their current home in Marsh Harbour. The Abaco Beach Resort’s Boat Harbour Marina—rebuilt and reimagined after Hurricane Dorian—offers a perfect base of operations. The new marina is large enough to host the entire fleet, the service is exceptional, and the hospitality is second to none. Each evening after lines out, the docks fill with laughter, music and stories of the day’s action. Nightly dinners, dockside receptions and entertainment make it easy to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. For many, the dockside evenings are just as memorable as the fishing itself.
And the fishing is everything you’d expect from an event in the Bahamas: consistent, competitive, and capable of delivering incredible catches. Each year, the tournaments capitalize on the strong run of blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish that migrate through the Abacos in late spring. The Shootout: Production vs. Custom in 2025, for example, saw its fleet of 68 boats release an impressive 265 billfish: 88 blue marlin, 93 whites and 82 sails. Just a few weeks later, the invite-only 2025 Custom Shootout drew 55 teams and 266 anglers, who together released 270 billfish, including 104 blues, 102 whites and 64 sails—a testament to the world-class fishing these waters consistently deliver.
Given those numbers, it’s common for multiple grand and super slams (thanks to the occasional spearfish) to be recorded throughout the series, and the rules for the Custom Shootout even award bonus points for teams that log that achievement. But the Abacos aren’t just famous for their variety; they’re known to produce some absolute monsters as well. The Bahamian record for a blue marlin stands at an incredible 1,119 pounds and was caught just 15 miles offshore in the Abacos by angler David Albury aboard Double Dog on July 20, 2011. The potential of hanging a big fish like that is always in the back of every angler’s mind during Skip’s Tournaments, and it’s part of what keeps the playing field level, with that life-changing payout only one bite away.
That balance of quality and quantity is one of the main reasons Skip’s events consistently attract the best in the sport. But the competition isn’t just about bragging rights. There’s serious money on the line. In recent years, total payouts for each tournament have been in excess of $1.5 million, with the top teams taking home six-figure checks. The 2025 Custom Shootout alone awarded over $300,000 to the winning team.
There’s also a feel-good component with Skip’s Tournaments. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $2 million for organizations such as the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, and local Bahamian charities. In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the tournament community rallied to help rebuild the marina and support the people of Abaco. It’s a testament to the close-knit, compassionate nature of the sport-fishing world that Skip has fostered through these events.
In between tournaments or after lines out, there’s plenty to enjoy in the Abacos. The surrounding Out Islands offer endless opportunities for diving, snorkeling, paddleboarding and exploring remote cays. There are several golf courses nearby, postcard beaches at Tahiti Beach on Elbow Cay, and excellent inshore fishing for bonefish and mutton snapper. For those extending their stay, accommodations range from the host resort’s oceanfront rooms to luxury villas and private home rentals, making it easy for teams and families to settle into island life. There are also several rental options available in Marsh Harbour and on nearby Out Islands, such as Elbow Cay, Guana Cay and Green Turtle Cay, which are only a short boat ride away.
At the heart of it all is Skip Smith himself. With more than 49 IGFA world records to his credit and decades spent on the water, Skip’s reputation as both a competitor and an ambassador for the sport is unmatched. He’s a steady presence on the docks, greeting every captain, crewmember and sponsor with genuine enthusiasm. His dedication, professionalism and understanding of what makes a tournament great have been instrumental in turning this series into one of the most respected in the world.
For me, that’s what makes Skip’s Tournaments stand apart. They’re not just about payouts, exclusivity, and stone crab dinners in the Bahamas (which certainly don’t hurt). They’re about the people who make up this sport: the builders, captains, crew, anglers and families who have dedicated their lives to chasing fish and sharing those experiences together. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better way to start the marlin tournament season.
Marinas
- Boat Harbour at the Abaco Beach Resort (host venue for tournament)
- Sea Spray Resort and Marina (Elbow Cay)
- Green Turtle Club Resort and Marina (Green Turtle Cay)
- Hope Town Inn and Marina (Elbow Cay)
Dining
- Wally’s Fine Dining (Marsh Harbor)
- Nippers Beach Bar & Grill (Guana Cay)
- Firefly Sunset Resort (Elbow Cay)
- Abaco Inn (Elbow Cay)
- Cracker P’s
Lodging
- Abaco Beach Resort
- Abaco Inn (Elbow Cay)
- Firefly Sunset Resort (Elbow Cay)
