141 teams with upwards of 1,000 anglers from around the world readied for the kick-off of the 28th Annual Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament where $2,975,960.00 in prize money was up for grabs. With three big marlin in the record books, anticipations ran high and, just like in the Los Cabos tournament, it was the last fish on the last day that turned the standings upside down.
Setting yet another sportfishing record, Hang ‘Em High weighed a 313.0 lb. blue marlin caught by Chip Wagner winning $2,234,035.00—the second largest team purse in history. The largest single purse ever awarded was also a Black & Blue record—$3,902,997.50 won by Bad Company 55 in 2006.
The only other qualifying marlin caught was a 457.0 lb. blue marlin by Jorge Nuñoz on the Bad Market. The team took home $660,475.00 for first place, and probably wished they had entered more of the daily jackpots! The top team in the Contender Release Division was Scott Free with 900 points for three blue and one striped marlin release and won $52,942.50. Second and third place both had 600 points and two blue marlin releases winning on time of release: Lucky Hooker took home $18,326.25 and Sea Jewel won $10,181.25.
Complete team and catch details can be found on the Bisbee’s website at www.bisbees.com.
This was the Black & Blue’s most international event ever, and the first one to include the new International Angling Club Championship Division (IACC) which was won by Team Russia One and Only fishing aboard Tony’s Machine with legendary local captain Tony Nungaray, one of only two captains to ever win the Black & Blue twice. Team Captain Vitaly Serov released the winning fish and, in addition to becoming the International Angling Club Champions of the year, the team won three days of fishing for five people in the Cape Verde Islands onboard the famous mothership/gameboat fishing operation “Madam and the Wild Hooker”, a package valued at over $20,000.00.
In addition to the many teams from Mexico, Canada and the United States, teams from other countries at this year’s tournament included Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Finland, the Ivory Coast, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the Ukraine, the U.K. and almost all of the 50 U.S. States.
The Sperry Early Bird Division was also added this year for teams that got their entries in by July 30th. The team that released the first marlin of the day, each day, won four pairs of Sperry Top-Sider shoes. We anticipate even more prizes for this division next year!
For the first time ever, the entire Black & Blue tournament was web-cast live on the internet at www.bisbees.com and www.sportfishermen.com where literally tens of thousands were on-line at any given time, watching the weigh station and the opening & closing ceremonies.
The next Bisbee’s event, the Bisbee’s Bluewater CUP Series Championship, takes place in Cabo San Lucas December 4th–6th. This invitational only tournament consists of the top ten point earning teams that competed throughout the year in the one or more of the six qualifying CUP events—the three Bisbee’s Los Cabos tournaments and the three Catalina Classic tournaments that took place on Catalina Island in September.
For information about the Catalina Classic tournaments visit www.catalinaclassic.com, and for information about the Bisbee’s Bluewater C.U.P. Series visit www.bisbeesbluewatercup.com.
Photos can be downloaded from the Bisbee’s website. Contact Wayne Bisbee for high resolution copies.
2009 Bisbee’s Events
East Cape Offshore Tournament: July 28-August 1
Los Cabos Offshore Tournament: October 16-18
Black & Blue Marlin Tournament: October 20-24
2008 Bisbee’s Sponsors
Bisbee’s Black & Blue Tournaments are Presented by Snell Real Estate (www.snellrealestate.com) and Las Villas de Mexico (http://www.lasvillasdemexico.com)
Our Diamond Level Sponsors are Baja Cantina, Baja Life Magazine, Body Glove, Buena Vista Beach Resort, Cabo Villas Beach Resort, Corona and Puerto Paraiso.
Our Platinum Level Sponsors are
Cabo Chips, Cabo Riviera, Contender Boats, Diamonds International, Dockwise Yacht Transport, Knight & Carver, Maui Jim, Mirador, Monaco Rare Coin, The West Coast Fishing Club and Viking Yachts.
