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Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Kicks Off Fishing Tournament Season

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Kicks Off Fishing Tournament Season

The 22nd annual Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore tournament in Buenavista, slated for August 3 – 7, will pick up where the wildly successful 2020 event left off.

Last year, 72 teams from around the world descended on Los Cabos to compete in Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore three-day event on the Sea of Cortes for a record jackpot of more than $1,100,000 USD. Against all odds, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bisbee’s organization attracted the largest turnout in the tournament’s history. Not only did the prize money crack the million-dollar mark for the first time, the biggest blue marlin ever caught in the 21-year history of the East Cape Offshore, a 704-pound behemoth, was brought to the scales.

However, the largest cash prize in last year’s event was for a second-day catch of a black marlin weighing 306 pounds, just six pounds over the qualifying limit. The payout? A cool $559,870.

As was the case in 2020, this year’s tournament will be a bit different from the norm, with COVID-19 mandated restrictions on social activities and gatherings, including the awards ceremony.

Due to the pandemic early last year, fishing was prohibited to everyone except locals fishing for food for their families. The Bisbee team worked with local and state government authorities, along with the tourism department, to develop protocols that would allow the first of the Bisbee tournaments, the East Cape Offshore, to be held safely in early August.

Based on the success of the 2020 tournament, government protocols were fine-tuned and adjustments were made to ensure the favorable outcome of Bisbee’s sportfishing events this year.

“The new health requirements dictate that we will not be hosting group functions of any kind during this event,” Bisbee’s organizers stated. “However, all of our tournament information, photos, jackpot amounts, etc., will be available online at Bisbees.com and will also be available on the free CatchStat Mobile App.”

Organizers noted that the app, available for both iPhone and Android users, allows teams to view everything about the tournament in real-time.

Fueling anticipation of the East Cape Offshore tourney are eager newcomers who will join seasoned veterans to partake (safely) in the festivities and vie for one of the jackpots. Greenhorns and old salts alike dream of reeling in the ‘Big One.’

In addition to marlin (blue, black and striped), the quarry also includes sailfish, spearfish, dorado, and tuna. In addition, there’s a ‘catch-and-release’ division for anglers who wish to release fish they catch once they’re recorded.

As was the case last year, the East Cape has been enjoying exceptional fishing as a result of minimal fishing pressure for the past 16 months. According to tournament organizers, “the government, as well as the people of Baja, are excited to welcome our events and participants” to an eagerly awaited competition they describe as “pure fishing and big cash awards.”

For more information, visit: https://www.bisbees.com/Tournament/BisbeesEastCape