FISHING

The world’s richest billfish tournament--Bisbee’s Black & Blue off Cabo San Lucas--was held last weekend, and while no monstrous marlin were landed, there were some monstrous payoffs.

In all, 144 people--at a cost of $5,000 per team and the option of entering several bonus jackpots at additional cost--did battle with 186 billfish.

A team aboard the vessel Strike One took first place with marlin weighing 335 and 310 pounds, for a total weight of 645 pounds. The team won $72,000.

That was a a pittance compared to the money won by the team fishing aboard the Respite. For finishing second, with a total weight of 599 pounds (for one fish), the team earned $28,000. But daily jackpot winnings brought the total to $454,800.

Nobody could have been more pleased than the Mexican skipper, though. He was paid $28,000 for finding the biggest fish.