The 9th Annual Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Tournament, presented by Snell Real Estate, took place July 29 through August 2 in Buenavista, BCS Mexico. Fifty-six boats and 255 anglers competed for $317,310.00 in prize money.
What was truly remarkable this year was the amount of international participation. Anglers from the Ivory Coast in Africa, Costa Rica, France, Portugal and Switzerland joined anglers from Canada, Mexico and the United States at the Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort to compete in this year’s tournament.
“This is just incredible,” said Wayne Bisbee, Tournament Director. “We just announced a new division in the Black & Blue-the International Angling Club Championship (IACC)-because that tournament has been getting a lot of attention world-wide. It’s just great to see international anglers here in the East Cape-and we expect to see these guys in October at the Black & Blue!”
The fishing had been strong going into the tournament with boats catching four to five billfish a day. In a fishery where normally the striped marlin predominate, an unusually high number of blue marlin were showing up. But right before the tournament a front moved in that almost shut down the bite. Over three days the fleet released 114 billfish: one black, 20 striped and 67 blue marlin, and 18 sailfish.
The winning blue marlin, 360.0 lbs., was caught by John Martin fishing aboard Wildcatter, our reigning Bisbee’s Bluewater C.U.P. Series Champions. Wildcatter, a 68′ Hatteras, took home $89,535.60 for First Place and all of the Day 1 Jackpots. The Second Place blue marlin, 310.0 lbs., was also caught on the first day of the tournament by Augustin Pino on Fisherman, a 35′ Cabo. Fisherman received $6,350.40 for Second Place, and also took home trophies for 1st Place Release Team with five blue marlin releases.
Stephane Millez from Switzerland fishing aboard a 31′ Ocean Yacht with the international team Onu Copa Gobernador, caught the Third Place blue marlin, 306.0 lbs., on the last day of the tournament. Since no qualifying marlin were caught on the second day of fishing, Onu Copa Gobernador took Third Place and all of the Day 2 and Day 3 Jackpots for the largest payout of the tournament, $145,908.00.
There were no qualifying tuna caught during the tournament so all of the tuna money rolled into the dorado categories. The largest dorado, 48.6 lbs. was caught by Trent Twamley on Bull Rider and paid out $37,716.00 for Top Dorado and the Day 2 Gamefish Jackpot. The second and third largest dorado each took home $18,900.00 for the Day 1 and Day 3 Gamefish Jackpots and were caught aboard New Venture by Jeff Marek (47.2 lbs.) and Doghouse by John Navarette (44.0 lbs.).
The Second Place Release Team, il Capriccio with Capt. Javier Cesena released four blue marlin, and the Third Place Release Team, LaPaz One with Capt. Daniel Marron, released three blue marlin and two striped marlin.
The Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort (www.hotelbuenavista.com http://www.hotelbuenavista.com> ) owners and tournament hosts, Mr. & Mrs. Jesus “Chuy” Valdez and their sons Esaul, Axel and Felipe, as always, punctuated the week’s enjoyment by providing first-class service and accommodations.
For additional information please visit www.bisbees.com
