Author: That Baja Guy-Gary Graham

Wayne Bisbee, owner, and manager of Bisbee tournaments, proclaimed that the 2022 Bisbee Offshore Series Jackpots amounted to a spectacular $3,469,035 this year, in addition to the millions of dollars awarded in the 42-year-old flagship, the “Bisbee Black and Blue.”  In addition to the 2022 East Cape Offshore Tournament’s payout of $1,286,385, the Los Cabos Offshore tournament hit the million-dollar mark for the fourth consecutive time in its 24-year history with its 2022 total of $2,182,650 Jackpot Prizes up for grabs, which resulted in the multi-million-dollar figure. Bisbee’s 2022 Los Cabos Offshore Awards and Prizes! 1st Place Overall & Largest Tuna for FEELING AZUL – $175,649 USD (First…

Tournament fishing in Cabo is exceptional, imagine getting awarded a giant lump sum of cash for a great couple of days on the water. Every year, some of the best captains from around the world gather in Cabo to put their crew, tackle, and boats to the test to see who’s the best. The winners of these tournaments make a splash that can be felt from around the world with their giant purse winnings. Stay tuned to see who’ll come out on top. 24th Los Cabos Offshore, Los Cabos, BCS, MX – October 20 – 22, 2022 · Targeted species are Black…

The first Marina Puerto Escondido Tournament in May of 2019 underscored the significance between inshore and offshore sportfishing opportunities, which were first described in 1966 by Ray Cannon in his best-selling book on Baja, The Sea 0f Cortez. That inaugural event attracted 28 local and visiting Teams eager to participate from across the Sea of Cortez on mainland Mexico and ports around the tip of Baja. The inshore results for yellowtail and dorado were predictable. However, an astonishing revelation for the visitors and most locals was that they found striped marlin and sailfish farther offshore. In the Third Annual Marina Puerto…

Although the world is slowly working its way back to normal, the unexpected still happens. The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament event organizers have had to make the tough decision to cancel this year’s Tournament scheduled for this summer. Teams around the world continue to have post-pandemic issues including uncertainty around travel logistics and rapidly rising costs in all areas of tournament expenses. “Our concerns remain focused on the health and well-being of all involved in our fishing tournament,” said Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament Founder Peter Fithian. “A sincere mahalo to all of our tournament supporters for trying to make 2022 work. We will set…

Press Release Westport, WA We are looking forward to the Albacore Tuna Tournament, which will also include a Salmon Derby plus the IGFA Kids’ Passport to Fishing Derby on August 5th and 6th. The Washington Tuna Classic (WTC) Team consists of Ryan Elwell, President of Mission Outdoors, Shannan Hansen, Executive Director of Mission Outdoors, and Fly Navarro, owner of “Fly Zone” and publisher of “Catch 2020,” which highlights 60 of the best saltwater inshore tournaments. Coastal Food Banks receives all the fish caught after processing and canned by Merinos Seafood – approximately 5,000 pounds. Mission Outdoors, whose motto is “Hope grows outdoors,” is a nonprofit organization working…

A couple of weeks ago we reported on the passing of one of the great members of our fishing community. Now that the dust has settled we thought it best to have a brief history on Don and his impact on the Southern California fishing community. As told by BD Outdoors contributor Gary Graham. The Legend of Don Hansen / April 10, 1934 – January 5, 2022 Donald Keith Hansen was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on April 10, 1934. By 1940, Hansen’s family had relocated to San Clemente, Calif., a small development overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Questions have been…

Don Hansen, 87, the legendary sportfishing patriarch and founder of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, died on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. The news of his death ricocheted throughout the California sportfishing and fisheries management communities and beyond. Don Hansen served as Vice President of SAC, Chairman of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, Chairman of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, and served on the Boards of many other organizations, including his local hospital. “The phrase ” served” does not do justice to the decades he spent in each position nor the effort that he put forth to better our lives…

La Paz is one of those rare locations that is both a permanent and seasonal habitat for an array of species that frequent the Sea of Cortez. The most popular offshore categories are Billfish, Tuna, Wahoo, Yellowtail, and Dorado. Inshore species are certainly not overlooked with ego-bruisers like Roosterfish, Snook, Amberjack, and Dorado (again) when all else fails, bottom fish. A sportfisher is fishing and fighting a black marlin which is jumping nearby. While the above offshore gamefish are the center stage of the sportfishing spotlight in La Paz there is a myriad of lesser-known characters that provide anglers an…

While it is true that the Jesuit missionaries settled in Loreto in 1697 when they built Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó, it was not the oldest city in Baja as I once was led to believe. The Spaniards had already discovered La Paz in 1533, making it the oldest city in Baja. Located a mere 100 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, in La Paz you can take a break from the all-inclusive resorts and time-share salesmen and immerse yourself in an authentic, colorful Baja Metropolis. La Paz Attractions The Malecón of La Paz – the beautiful waterfront…

Gary Graham, That Baja Guy, sits down with Rebecca Ehrenberg of the Pisces Sportfishing Charter Fleet in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to talk about the recent 2021 Pelagic Triple Crown Tournament results and the general fishing report for the area. Crazy Happening: This swordfish was landed and not even hooked. You just never know! Sight-fished swordfish have been a highlight with local boats seeing and catching more than ever before!

Here is a great resource for the requirements needed to take a private boat to Mexico, including Baja. Gary Graham has rounded up all you need to know and links to Mexican permits.

The crushing news that Jack Hans Nilsen had passed ricocheted throughout the sportfishing community. As such a huge part of the fishing community, he will be sorely missed. Our condolences to the family!

The 2020 season of the Bisbee’s family tournaments continues even as the COVID-19 Pandemic swirls worldwide. Check out the results of the 2020 Los Cabos Offshore Tournament.

Of great interest and excitement to larger sport fishers and yachts is the recently discovered offshore fishery that is out of reach of the traditional panga fleets in Loreto, Mulege, and Santa Rosalia.

From around the world, 72-teams came to compete in Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore three-day event on the fertile Sea of Cortez for a record jackpot of over $1,100,000, breaking three of its records.

Chris Bohannon, well-known and much-admired Captain\Angler of the Bohannon Clan died suddenly in his sleep on October 4, 2019, according to his wife and companion, Gail Anderson. They had scheduled a doctor’s appointment on September 18, and 16 days later, he was gone. Scans indicated he had metastasized Stage 4 cancer of the brain, liver, lungs, and bones. Gail sorrowfully proclaimed, “It happened so fast. It was not a prolonged decline, more like a tsunami!” She further observed sadly, “My precious gift from God completed me. The joy Chris shared with his world and the influence he left on so…

Despite the fish getting thicker, Baja sportfishing is still on hold. Gary Graham rounds up the local news from below the border.

It is now approaching ninety days since sport fishing ceased in Baja Sur, with only a handful of boats going out to catch fish to distribute to local families in need. Although it is still unclear exactly when authorities will reach an agreement on the date they will allow sportfishing to resume, there are favorable reports of improved conditions streaming in from throughout Baja. Que Pasa BajaTijuana leads the state in terms of COVID-19 impact, with 1,559 cases and 377 deaths. Mexicali follows with 1,332 cases and 123 total deaths.Health officials say 6,838 tests have now been conducted in the…

Things are looking better as Baja makes plans to open up in stages with safety in mind. But the fish are waiting and anglers are eager to get back to work.

A glimmer of hope in the reopening of Mexico’s Baja where the fish are ready and waiting. Our fingers are crossed in Gary Graham’s latest Baja Bytes.

Restrictions tighten in Mexico’s towns while few local fishermen test the waters in search of dinner. Gary Graham has the latest news from Baja.

The stay at home (Quedate en Casa) directives for Baja that were scheduled for April have been extended through May 30, 2020.

Gary Graham rounds up the news, good and bad, from around Baja’s fishing destinations, now in the throes of battle against this virus.

April 7, 2020 Baja California Sur Message from Governor Carlos Mendoza Davis: Today in the session of the Health Safety Committee, I summoned all the institutions of the health sector so that, to the extent of their possibilities, they strengthen the hospital infrastructure and protect the human resource, to face the pandemic due to #Covid19. I ask the citizens not to let their guards down and to continue implementing the #SanaDistancia #SafeDistance and hygiene, since being in the local contagion phase, it is expected that the number of positive cases will increase considerably. #QuédateEnCasa #StayHome Remember that in the case…