The 46th annual Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament made history when Contango Spartan’s Revenge landed a 491-pound blue marlin on the first day of competition, earning a record-setting payout of $5,629,300 for a single fish.
The catch, made by a first-time tournament team, was the first qualifying marlin weighed during the 2026 event and ultimately secured the largest single-fish payout in the tournament’s 46-year history.
Fishing aboard the 60-foot Viking based in Costa Rica, team leader George Kypreos, angler Kevin Miranda and Captain Jeff Villarroel led the crew to victory. The team also swept the Day One jackpots through the $10,000 level, along with the Top Team and Captain categories. The marlin struck an Andy Moyes lure outside the Gordo Bank, and the fight lasted just over two hours.
Kypreos described the win as an incredible and humbling experience, crediting his crew and the timing of the catch.
Release Teams Earn Big Payouts
The tournament also rewarded several teams for releasing blue marlin during the three-day competition.
A Blueish Hue, an 80-foot Trojan captained by Keith Hilton, earned $211,650 after releasing a blue marlin on Day Two. The team won both the $2,000 and $3,000 Daily Release Divisions.
Never Say Never, a 74-foot Viking captained by Scott Flores, collected the same $211,650 payout after releasing two blue marlin on Day Two and winning both daily divisions.
On Day Three, Cottonpicker, a 57-foot Spencer, earned $94,350 after releasing a blue marlin in the $3,000 category. Right Rigger, a 40-foot Egg Harbor captained by Alex Rogers, won $117,300 for a blue marlin released by angler William Jones. That fish was the first released on the tournament’s final day.
38 Marlin Caught During Competition
The 2026 tournament attracted 175 teams and produced 38 blue marlin catches, including 34 releases. Three fish were disqualified for failing to meet the 300-pound minimum weight requirement.
All weighed fish were donated to Hope for Los Cabos, a food kitchen and nonprofit organization serving underprivileged residents in the Cabo San Lucas area.
Tournament Director Wayne Bisbee noted that El Niño affected fishing conditions but praised the participating teams, sponsors and staff for another successful event. He also announced that the Mag Bay Mania digital release tournament would run through November 2026.
With a historic payout and strong release-team performances, the 2026 Bisbee’s Black & Blue once again demonstrated the scale and excitement of competitive offshore marlin fishing.