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Yacht Charter for the Bisbee's Black & Blue in Cabo San Lucas
Short answer: if you plan to fish the Black & Blue, the boat is what sells out first — Cabo's tournament fleet is committed months ahead. Send us your dates and we'll line up boat, captain and practice days; if you just want the atmosphere, we also run private charters to watch the fleet return and the weigh-ins from the water.
The tournament fishes the week of October 19–24, 2026, with three official fishing days (Oct 21–23). Outside tournament week, the reference date is the second half of October.
The richest marlin tournament on the planet
This started in 1981 as a bet between Bob Bisbee and six friends — six boats and a $10,000 purse. Today only blues or blacks over 300 pounds score, everything else is released, and the optional jackpots have pushed the purse as high as the record $11.6 million of 2022, with 223 teams entered. At the most recent edition, a 459-pound blue caught on the final day was worth over $2.4 million to the winning team. Numbers like that explain what happens at the marina that week: scales drawing crowds into the night, Texas and Florida teams sharing dock space with the local fleet, and the famous shotgun start every morning. Netflix even made the movie — Blue Miracle tells the true story of a local orphanage's team winning the 2014 edition.
What boat you need to compete
To fight a big blue you want a true tournament boat: tower, outriggers, fighting chair and a captain who knows the local banks. From our fleet, the Cabo Express 45, the Viking 44 and the Hatteras 60 are the usual tournament-week picks; for big teams or family aboard there is the Horizon 90.
Practice days: the quiet advantage
The latest edition's numbers tell the story: across three fishing days the entire fleet weighed just 10 blacks and 113 blues among 177 teams — more than half the boats never weighed a fish. The ones that did almost always fished the days before: testing live bait at Golden Gate or Gordo Banks, dialing in communication with the captain and deciding early whether the plan is Pacific or Sea of Cortez. Booking the same boat for practice and tournament is the classic move — and one more reason to reserve early.
Not competing? Watch the weigh-ins from the water
Black & Blue week is worth living even without an entry: afternoon charters to watch the fleet come home, the marina buzz and the scale. It is one of the liveliest weeks of the year in Cabo, and a private boat is the best seat in the house.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book a boat for Bisbee's?
For Black & Blue week, 6 to 12 months is the safe window. Cabo's tournament boats get committed from summer onward, and the practice days right before the tournament are the first to go.
Does the charter include captain and crew?
Yes. All our sportfishing boats run with a local captain and crew; for tournament week we also coordinate practice strategy, live bait and the event's official schedule.
Can I charter just to watch the tournament?
Absolutely. We arrange private charters to watch the shotgun start or the return to the scales, with service on board — the most comfortable way to live the tournament without competing.