RICHMOND HILL — Bill Donahue, a resident at The Ford Plantation in Richmond Hill recently earned first prize in the 30th Annual Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Donahue’s team, TeamRehab, landed a 560-pound black marlin the first day of the tournament and a 347-pound black marlin on the final day of the tournament. Team Rehab, which also includes angler John Stonecipher and Capt. Mike Hennessey, will advance to the 2011 IGFA Off-Shore World Championship in Cabo San Lucas.
The wining team received a $254,905 award.
"On the first day of the tournament, we were thrilled when we brought in the 560-pound black marlin, until another boat brought in a 599-pound black marlin," Donahue said. "Then we just knew that this was going to be a very competitive and great tournament. On the third day, the majority of boats took off in the Gordo Banks area that had been consistently producing. But we decided to stay about three miles offshore, which paid off and secured our first-place position."
The Baja Peninsula, known for the famous Los Arcos rock formation and the unique mixing of waters between the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez, lured top fisherman from all over the world to compete in the famous Bisbee’s tournament. A total of 103 boats, vying for nearly $2 million in prize money, came from around the world, including the United States, Japan, Italy, Brazil, Costa Rica, Russia and Ukraine.
To win, teams had to secure the highest total weight at the end of the tournament and could only include black or blue marlins weighing more than 300 pounds. Marlins under that size limit earned points for a successful release.
This year’s competition was unique. Many fish were present on the first day; however, an underwater earthquake on the second day of the tournament limited the number of fish brought to the scales. After the earthquake, an enthusiastic crowd watched the proceedings at the Puerto Paraiso Mall in downtown Cabo San Lucas.
"This fishing tournament was truly the experience of a lifetime," Donahue said. "I’m honored to compete against some of the finest fishermen in the world."