With a new generation taking the lead, expansion into Costa Rica and Magdalena Bay, and an increasing commitment to conservation, Bisbee’s continues to evolve without losing its connection to the destination where its story began.
Los Cabos, Baja California Sur.– Some events come to a destination, while others, like Bisbee’s, ultimately become part of its history.
What began in Cabo San Lucas in 1982 as a sportfishing tournament has evolved over more than four decades into an international platform that brings together anglers from different countries, generates activity throughout the tourism industry, and keeps Cabo San Lucas as one of its main stages.
Today, Bisbee’s is undergoing a new transformation.
The involvement of a new generation of the family, the launch of its first tournament in Costa Rica, its arrival in Magdalena Bay with an entirely different format, and its growing emphasis on conservation and the development of new anglers all reflect an organization already looking ahead to the decades to come.
That was perhaps the most important message to emerge from the presentation of the 2026 season, held today at Baja Cantina restaurant in Cabo San Lucas.
A Story That Began in 1982
During the press conference, the organization clarified an important detail about its origins: the first Bisbee’s tournament was held from May 6 to 11, 1982.
A second tournament followed just months later, beginning a story closely intertwined with the growth of tourism and boating in Cabo San Lucas.
Over the years, new competitions and new settings followed. The tournaments expanded to the East Cape and became firmly established in Cabo San Lucas with Los Cabos Offshore and the iconic Black & Blue.
There were also attempts and experiences in other parts of Baja California Sur. Some succeeded, while others did not. But that ongoing search for new destinations continues to be part of the organization’s identity.
Four decades later, the next generation of the Bisbee family is beginning to write a new chapter.
Wayne Bisbee currently leads the tournaments alongside his sons, Blake and Jordan Bisbee, who have brought new ideas, technological tools, and opportunities for expansion.
One of those ideas began with a simple question: Why not take Bisbee’s to other destinations?
From Los Cabos to Costa Rica
The answer began to take shape in 2026 with the first Bisbee’s tournament in Costa Rica.
The experience opened up a new possibility for an organization that had historically built its identity around Baja California Sur: bringing the Bisbee’s concept to other international sportfishing destinations.
During the presentation, other destinations that have expressed interest for the future were also mentioned. Beyond where Bisbee’s may go next, however, this expansion represents an important change in the scale of the organization.
Bisbee’s was born in Los Cabos, but its next chapter is now also being written beyond Mexico. At the same time, the organization decided to turn its attention back to Baja California Sur.
Magdalena Bay, Bisbee’s New Territory
From November 1 to 30, 2026, the inaugural Bisbee’s Mag Bay Mania will take place, bringing the Bisbee’s name to Magdalena Bay for the first time.
But this will not simply be another tournament. Mag Bay Mania introduces an entirely virtual format based exclusively on catch-and-release billfishing.
Teams will be able to select three days to fish during November. There will be no traditional weigh station, nor will all participants need to compete on the same dates.
Each catch and release must be digitally documented through video and geolocation data that will allow the species, team, time, and location of the catch to be verified.
The choice of Magdalena Bay is no coincidence. The area is known for the seasonal presence of several billfish species, particularly striped marlin, making it a natural setting in which to introduce a different model of competition.
The Future Is Also About Conservation
Behind this new format is another conversation that Bisbee’s considers inevitable: the future of sportfishing depends on the conservation of marine resources.
For years, the organization’s tournaments have incorporated catch-and-release categories. Mag Bay Mania takes that concept even further by making release the foundation of the competition.
The international reference is significant. In sportfishing destinations such as Costa Rica, the release of billfish is a central part of both the conservation model and the tourism experience associated with the activity.
Bisbee’s is looking to move further in that direction without losing the qualities that have made its tournaments a tradition in Baja California Sur. And that transformation does not begin only with today’s anglers.
It also begins with children.
Training Today’s Children to Become Tomorrow’s Anglers
One of the initiatives that has gained increasing importance within Bisbee’s is its sportfishing clinics for children. Through these experiences, boys and girls learn everything from tying a knot and casting a fishing rod to concepts involving species, safety, conservation, and release practices.
The Place at Cabo has been one of the venues participating in these activities.
Idania Salmón, project director, explained that the experience allows children to move from theory to practice and, from their earliest introduction to fishing, understand why conservation is an essential part of the activity. “It is an experience that leaves a lasting impression and makes its mark on generations to come,” she said.
This philosophy will also be part of Bisbee’s Baja Cantina Kids, a children’s tournament limited to 100 participants. Before presenting an eligible catch at the weigh station, each child must provide video evidence showing the release of an initial catch.
The message is simple: before learning to compete, learn to conserve.
October Still Belongs to Los Cabos
As Bisbee’s expands into new territories, Cabo San Lucas remains the heart of its season.
The Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore will take place from October 12 to 17, followed by the Bisbee’s Black & Blue, from October 19 to 24.
During those weeks, marinas, boats, hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, suppliers, and a wide range of tourism-related services welcome teams and visitors who travel to the destination for sportfishing.
Municipal Director of Tourism Ana Gabriela Navarro summarized the relationship between the tournament and the destination during the presentation: “For Los Cabos, it represents history and culture; it is part of who we are.”
Its international reach also continues to grow. During the press conference, organizers reported outreach involving representatives connected to Japan who are interested in experiencing and participating in the tournaments in Los Cabos, reflecting the reach that the destination’s sportfishing industry has achieved across different markets.
Much More Than a Tournament
The evolution of Bisbee’s also offers a perspective on how much Los Cabos itself has changed.
When the first tournaments began, Cabo San Lucas was a very different destination from the one we know today. Tourism infrastructure, air connectivity, marinas, hotel offerings, and services related to sportfishing were all still developing.
Bisbee’s grew alongside the destination. And in that process, October became one of the most recognizable periods on the Cabo San Lucas calendar.
Now, a different chapter is beginning. A new generation of the family is participating in the organization. Technology is making virtual tournaments possible. Conservation is taking on an increasingly important role. Children are beginning to learn a different approach to fishing, and the Bisbee’s name is exploring new territories both within Mexico and beyond.
But one thing remains unchanged.
More than four decades after that first tournament in 1982, Los Cabos remains the place from which Bisbee’s tells its story to the world.
