Bisbee's Black and Blue 2026: dates, weigh-ins and how to enjoy Bisbee's week in Cabo San Lucas
Dates, fishing days and weigh-in hours for Bisbee's 2026 in Cabo San Lucas, plus how to plan a yacht outing during the busiest week at the marina.
In this guide
- When is Bisbee's Black and Blue 2026?
- What kind of tournament is it?
- How much does it cost to enter?
- Where and when are the weigh-ins?
- What else happens during Bisbee's week?
- How does Bisbee's week affect the marina?
- Can you fish with us during Bisbee's?
- A sunset cruise during Bisbee's week
- Book your slot for Bisbee's week
Bisbee's Black and Blue 2026 runs from October 19 to 24 in Cabo San Lucas, with three fishing days on Wednesday to Friday, October 21 to 23. The marlin are weighed every fishing day from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the scale in front of the Puerto Paraíso mall, on the marina walkway, and anyone can stand and watch. It closes Bisbee's week, which starts with the Bisbee's Offshore on October 12 to 17.
Here is the week at a glance, from the state tourism calendar (SETUES) and the organizer's published schedule at bisbees.com:
| Date (2026) | Event | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12 to 17 | Bisbee's Los Cabos Offshore | Marina Cabo San Lucas | The smaller tournament that opens the week; fishing Oct 14 to 16 |
| Oct 18 | Bisbee's Baja Cantina Kids | Cabo San Lucas | Kids' event on the state calendar; check the organizer's site |
| Oct 19 to 24 | Bisbee's Black and Blue | Marina Cabo San Lucas | The big marlin tournament; fishing Oct 21 to 23 |
| Oct 21 to 23, 2 to 9 PM | Black and Blue weigh-ins | Scale in front of Puerto Paraíso | Free to watch from the walkway |
When is Bisbee's Black and Blue 2026?
The organizer's site lists the tournament as October 19 to 24, 2026. The dates people actually need are these, from the official schedule (last updated August 26, 2026):
| Day | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Oct 19 | 3:00 to 6:00 PM | Pre-registration at Puerto Paraíso, near the weigh station |
| Tue, Oct 20 | 3:00 to 7:00 PM | Registration and bag pickup |
| Tue, Oct 20 | 7:30 PM | Opening ceremonies on the stage next to the scale |
| Wed to Fri, Oct 21 to 23 | 7:00 AM | Shotgun start; lines out of the water by 5:00 PM |
| Wed to Fri, Oct 21 to 23 | 2:00 to 9:00 PM | Weigh station open |
| Sat, Oct 24 | 6:00 PM | Awards celebration at The Place at Cabo |
The opening ceremonies on Tuesday night include flag honors with a Mexican Navy escort, the national anthem, a pre-Columbian New Fire dance, the lighting of the tournament torch and live music. They happen on the stage beside the scale at Puerto Paraíso. If you're staying downtown, it's the easiest piece of the tournament to catch besides the weigh-ins.
The awards celebration on Saturday is a dinner for the teams. Base entry includes passes for four team members, and extra passes are sold at the event, so treat it as a private party, not a public show. A team or a sponsor that wants its own celebration on the water that week can book a private yacht for the group for a sunset slot, once the fleet is back at the scale.
What kind of tournament is it?
It's a marlin tournament. Only black and blue marlin of 300 pounds or more count toward the main prizes. The overall money goes to the five heaviest qualifying marlin weighed during the event, and the organizer splits it so first place gets half when there are five winners.
Teams can also release fish for points. A released blue or black marlin scores 300 points. Striped marlin, sailfish and spearfish are catch and release only, so they never come to the scale.
The 2026 edition is the 46th. Marlin Magazine reported that the 45th, in October 2025, drew 177 teams and paid out a total purse of USD 7,452,775. The winning team, Magic Touch, took first place with a 459 pound blue marlin landed on the last day, two pounds heavier than the fish in second.
How much does it cost to enter?
Entry is per team. The organizer publishes these fees for the Black and Blue:
| Entry level | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Base entry (the only mandatory one) | 5,000 |
| Every optional daily jackpot, "across the board" | 84,500 |
The daily jackpots pay the heaviest marlin of each day among the teams that entered that level, which is why a smaller fish can still win a lot of money on a slow day. The organizer also notes that Mexican law requires withholding taxes on winnings, currently 15%.
No 2026 purse has been published. The total depends on how many teams sign up and which jackpots they enter, and it's usually announced during or after the event.
Where and when are the weigh-ins?
The weigh station is in front of the Puerto Paraíso mall, on the walkway that runs around Marina Cabo San Lucas. It's open from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM on each fishing day, Wednesday to Friday. Fishing stops at 5:00 PM, and any boat inside the harbor entrance by 9:00 PM can still weigh.
The organizer describes thousands of spectators lining the marina, and local press in 2026 confirmed spectators can attend the weigh-ins. You don't buy a ticket; you walk up to the rail.
A few tips for watching:
- Late afternoon and early evening are the busiest at the scale, since boats can only start heading in once lines come out at 5:00 PM.
- Arrive early if you want a spot by the rail. The walkway in front of Puerto Paraíso fills up shoulder to shoulder.
- Bring water and a hat for the early afternoon. October in Cabo is still warm.
- Live scores are posted on the organizer's scoring page, linked from bisbees.com, so you can check the leaderboard before you walk over.
The same scale and the same hours apply to the Los Cabos Offshore the week before, on October 14 to 16.
What else happens during Bisbee's week?
The Bisbee's Los Cabos Offshore, often called the "Little Bisbee's," opens the week. Registration is on Tuesday, October 13, the fishing days are October 14 to 16, and the awards are on Saturday, October 17 at La Antojería Cabo, at The Place at Cabo on the malecón between H and I docks. Base entry is USD 1,500 and the all-in option is USD 36,000.
The state calendar lists the Bisbee's Baja Cantina Kids event on Sunday, October 18. The organizer hasn't published its rules, place or time on its site, so check bisbees.com before you plan around it.
The same week, Cabo San Lucas holds its town fiestas from October 16 to 20, with a concert each night and the big horseback parade on October 18. Read our guide to the Fiestas de Cabo San Lucas if you want to stack both.
How does Bisbee's week affect the marina?
It's the busiest week of the year on the docks. The tournament boats leave before dawn because they must be behind the start line by 6:45 AM, and they come back through the afternoon and evening to weigh. In between, the walkway around the marina fills with crews, teams, sponsors and people who came to look.
What that means if you want your own time on the water:
- Book early. Dock space, crews and good time slots go fast that week, and the town fiestas overlap from October 16 to 20.
- Pick a morning or a sunset slot. By the time a morning charter leaves, the tournament fleet has already gone out for the 7:00 AM start, and a sunset cruise puts you back at the dock while the weigh-ins are still running.
- Give yourself extra time to reach the dock. The walkway near Puerto Paraíso is crowded from mid-afternoon, so arrive a bit before the usual 15 minutes.
- You'll get the exact slip with your confirmation, so you won't be wandering the docks looking for the boat.
Can you fish with us during Bisbee's?
Only on the McKinna 70, which runs a private sport-fishing charter with the Mexican licenses included. The other yachts are pleasure boats without fishing permits. During Bisbee's week we take people out to see the Arch, swim, snorkel and watch the sunset, while the tournament fleet works offshore.
That's also why a cruise pairs well with the tournament. You see the bay and Land's End from the water, then walk over to the scale after you dock.
A sunset cruise during Bisbee's week
In the second half of October the sun sets a little before 6:00 PM in Cabo (5:54 PM at mid-month, per our trip guide). A two-hour sunset cruise that leaves around 4:15 PM passes the Arch and the sea lions in golden light and brings you back to the marina with the weigh station still open until 9:00 PM.
Some options for two hours, per boat, 16% tax included and crew tip (15% is customary) not included:
| Yacht | Guests | 2 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bayliner 30 | up to 6 | USD 549 / MXN 10,499 |
| Sea Ray 40 | up to 12 | USD 879 / MXN 16,799 |
| Pontoon 38 | up to 18 | USD 869 / MXN 16,599 |
The Sea Ray 40 is a flybridge yacht that comes with towels, and the Pontoon 38 has a water slide from the upper deck if you'd rather swim before sunset. We don't sell alcohol on board; guests 18 and over can bring their own. Yachts from the marina sail until 8:00 PM and may stay anchored in the bay until 10:00 PM, so you can watch the lights come on around the marina before heading in.
You can compare every boat on the fleet page. For the bigger picture of the marina itself, see our Marina Cabo San Lucas guide, and for more ideas on the water at golden hour, read best sunset cruise in Cabo.
Book your slot for Bisbee's week
Pick your date and time in the planner and we'll confirm availability within two hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time. For October 19 to 24, a morning or a sunset slot booked a few days ahead gives you the most choice of yachts. If you want to see the scale too, plan a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and walk over to Puerto Paraíso after you dock.
Yachts in this guide
Questions people ask
When is Bisbee's Black and Blue 2026?
The organizer lists it as October 19 to 24, 2026, in Cabo San Lucas. Registration and the opening ceremonies are on Tuesday, October 20, the fishing days are Wednesday to Friday, October 21 to 23, and the awards are Saturday, October 24.
Where is the Bisbee's weigh-in in Cabo?
At the weigh station in front of the Puerto Paraíso mall, on the marina walkway in downtown Cabo San Lucas. It is open from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM on each fishing day.
Can the public watch the Bisbee's weigh-in?
Yes. The scale sits on the open marina walkway, and the organizer says thousands of spectators line the marina during the tournament. You don't need a team pass to stand and watch.
How much does it cost to enter Bisbee's Black and Blue?
The organizer lists a USD 5,000 base entry per team and USD 84,500 for every optional daily jackpot. In 2025 the total purse was USD 7,452,775 across 177 teams, according to Marlin Magazine.
Can I book a yacht during Bisbee's week?
Yes, but the marina is at its busiest, so book early. Only the McKinna 70 runs sport-fishing charters; on the other yachts, a sunset or bay cruise is the way to be on the water that week.
Plan your day on the water
Pick a yacht, the hours and the food in the planner. A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
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