BISBEE'S BLACK & BLUE TOURNAMENT SETS NEW WORLD RECORD
CASH PAYOUT OF OVER $4.1 MILLION

Oct. 31, 2006, Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The 26th annual 2006 Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, October 24-28, 2006, shattered its own 2005 payout world record of $3.3 million by hitting $4,165,960 in total prize money.

Just before tournament, organizers had to deal with Hurricane Paul, on a collision course for Cabo San Lucas. On October 24th, the tournament's registration day, the port captain closed the port, and the first of the three tournament fishing days was canceled. The following day, the storm began to dissipate and the port was reopened in time for the 183 teams from all 50 U.S. states and nine other countries to line participate in the tournament's legendary "shotgun start."

With the tournament shortened from three to two fishing days, the prize money was recalculated for two days. This meant that the long awaited "million dollar daily payout" level now became $1.72 million per day.

On day one of fishing, the radio was busy all day with teams releasing over 80 billfish. At the end of the day, it was angler Randy Parker of Kona, Hawaii onboard the 55 foot Hatteras, Bad Company 55, that captured the day's only qualifying blue marlin weighing in at 361 pounds.

Day two saw two qualifying fish. First to the scale was a 301 pound blue marlin onboard the 61 foot Viking Yacht, Retriever, with Cabo local Tony Araiza as the angler. The second blue weighed in at 422 pounds, incredibly from the Bad Company 55 once again.

Since the team had entered all of the daily jackpot categories, the Bad Company 55 swept all of the $3.48 million from the daily jackpots for both days. They also earned $450,237.50 for the top overall team, largest two fish of the tournament and top captain, famed West Coast Captain Steve Lassley, giving the team a grand total of $3,902,997.50. The Retriever earned $110,862.50 for a second place overall team and third largest fish of the tournament.

In the Capella Pedregal Release Division, the top team was the Guerita II with 900 points for two blue marlin and one striped marlin. They received $98,865. Second place was worth $34,222.50 and went to Lady Holly with 700 points for one blue marlin, two striped marlin, and one sailfish. Third place was won by Knock on Wood which released one blue marlin and two sailfish for 600 points and $19,012.50.

Overall, 183 teams and 937 anglers fished for 2 days in the 2006 Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, with 152 billfish caught and 96.7 percent released, including 64 blue marlin, 6 black marlin, 61 striped marlin, and 21 sailfish, for total prize money of $4,165,960.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Cabo San Lucas and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Cabo San Lucas may be found at Mexfish.com's main Cabo San Lucas page.