The 2026 Western Outdoor News (WON) Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot is scheduled for November 4–7 in Cabo San Lucas, with fishing on Thursday, November 5, and Friday, November 6. Early check-in begins November 3. This November 1 preview brings together the organizer’s schedule, entry information and posted rules before registration; it is not a live-results report.
For anglers preparing a team, captains organizing their boats and readers following from shore, the important distinction is simple: fishing ends at 4 p.m., but returning and weighing fish have separate deadlines. The official itinerary sets out those times. All times below are Cabo San Lucas local time, America/Mazatlan (UTC−7).
Tournament at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Western Outdoor News (WON) |
| Location | Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico |
| Event dates | November 4–7, 2026; early check-in November 3 |
| Fishing dates | November 5 and 6, 2026 |
| Registration | November 4, 3–6 p.m., inside Tesoro Resort, behind the front desk |
| Base entry | US$1,000 per team; optional jackpots and processing fees extra |
| Scoring and registration | Official CatchStat tournament index |
Full schedule: November 3–7
The following is the organizer’s 2026 itinerary. Schedule details may change; reconfirm announcements before leaving the dock.
| Date | Cabo San Lucas local time and activity |
|---|---|
| November 3 | 1–5 p.m.: early check-in inside Tesoro Resort, hallway behind the front desk. |
| November 4 | 3–6 p.m.: registration/check-in at Tesoro Resort. Sponsors’ row follows at the Marlin Statue between Solomon’s Landing and Captain Tony’s; no separate hours are listed. |
| November 4 | 7–8 p.m.: captains meeting, Tesoro Banquet Hall. At least one team member/captain must attend. |
| November 5 and 6 | 5:45 a.m.: Costa start boat departs outside Baja Cantina. |
| November 5 and 6 | 7 a.m.: shotgun start. |
| November 5 and 6 | 3 p.m.: weigh-in opens. |
| November 5 and 6 | 4 p.m.: lines out. |
| November 5 and 6 | By 6 p.m.: boats bringing fish must pass the marina entrance. 6:01 p.m. is late and cannot weigh in. |
| November 5 and 6 | 6:30 p.m.: weigh-in closes, or after the final on-time team weighs. |
| November 7 | 5–9 p.m.: awards-show dinner at the Cruise Ship Pier, catered by Solomon’s Landing. |
Lines out is not the harbor deadline. The posted rules require reporting a fish still hooked before 4 p.m. to officials before lines out. A later landing does not remove the 6 p.m. return requirement. Likewise, the 6:30 p.m. scale closing is not permission to arrive after 6 p.m.
What anglers are competing for
Tuna drive the overall competition. The 2026 entry form lists awards for the event’s three biggest tuna and a US$1,000 base entry for a team of one to six anglers. Overall placement and optional-jackpot winnings are different: the latter depend on which categories a team entered and its qualifying catch.
The form offers separate tuna, wahoo and dorado optionals. Tuna entry levels run from US$500 to US$20,000; wahoo and dorado each offer US$1,000 and US$3,000 levels. These are two-day entry amounts, split between fishing days, not promised prize amounts. The US$20,000 tuna optional requires entry in all tuna optionals. Consult the current form and rules before selecting categories.
The organizer advertises more than US$1.4 million paid in 2025. That is a historical payout, not a guaranteed 2026 purse. This preview does not report a confirmed 2026 purse, entrant count, winner or catch.
Q&A with the tournament director
Billy Egan, Western Outdoor News director of tournament events, answered written questions from Cabo Sportfishing Magazine on October 31, 2026. His answers appear below, lightly edited for clarity; the team-count and payout figures are his preliminary estimates, not confirmed totals.
What is new this year?
The event adds the Tracy Ehrenburg award, renamed from the previous local legend award. “Tracy always played a major role in the Cabo Tuna Jackpot,” Billy said.
How many teams are registered?
As of October 31, more than 80 teams were registered with roughly US$700,000 in payouts. Billy expects more than 140 boats and close to US$1.5 million in payouts, with the weather clearing for the event. These are preliminary organizer estimates; the final team count and purse are confirmed after registration closes.
Any rule or logistics changes?
“All our typical aspects of the event are intact as usual,” he said. The only open question is whether dorado minimum weights will be adjusted; he said he is not concerned about the grade of tuna and wahoo currently around.
Can the public watch the weigh-ins?
Yes. Weigh-ins take place at the Marlin Statue on the marina malecón, between Solomon’s Landing and Captain Tony’s, with no admission charge. “It’s a great time to get outside and listen to great music and watch some world-class [fish] cross the stage,” he said.
What role do local captains and crews play?
“The local captains and mates are crucial to this event. They play a huge role in our event and share their expertise and experience with their teams. Local knowledge goes a long way here at the Tuna Jackpot.”
A message for teams and followers
“Life is short. Do what you love and cherish every moment you have with friends and family. Tomorrow is not promised and today is the day to live, love and spread happiness.”
During the tournament, Brad Van Zyl manages results and payout verification for the organizer.
Key rules to understand before check-in
The currently posted official rules are linked by the organizer but carry no visible 2026 revision date. This summary does not replace those rules, tournament-director decisions or captains-meeting instructions.
- Minimum weights: tuna and wahoo are listed at 30 pounds; dorado at 20 pounds. If no dorado over 20 pounds weighs on Day 1, the Day 2 minimum may be adjusted. Minimums can change before the shotgun start by official radio announcement; ask the weighmaster about borderline weights.
- Roster: up to six anglers, three crew and two observers/guests, with a maximum of 11 people or a lower legal boat capacity. Only registered anglers may fight fish. Crew may set lines, chum and gaff; guests cannot assist with fishing or spotting.
- Licenses: the posted rules require valid Mexican fishing licenses for both days. Check the boat’s permits and every participant’s requirements before departure.
- Catch evidence: rules require video showing a qualifying fish being gaffed and boated, available for staff review. They describe 20 seconds to a minute, time-stamped, as adequate. Teams must attempt to radio-report fish estimated over 100 pounds; the listed tournament channel is 28.
- Weighing: up to three tuna, one wahoo and one dorado per team per day. Boats and fish may be inspected. Fish must return aboard the catching boat; fishing after weighing that day is prohibited.
Two points need organizer clarification. The rules require boats behind the start boat before 7 a.m., yet also list visual check-in through 8 a.m. They contain different written-protest deadlines: within 30 minutes after a verbal protest in one section, and three hours after official closing in another. Do not choose the more convenient interpretation; obtain the director’s instructions at the meeting.
Registration and following the tournament
Online registration is linked through CatchStat. November 1 is the entry form’s receipt deadline for mailed or wired payments, not a universal registration cutoff: the itinerary still lists November 4 on-site registration. The organizer’s FAQ says cash is not accepted on registration day; on-site entries and extra optionals require credit cards, with processing fees.
The organizer’s 2026 preview supplement places weigh-ins at the marina’s Marlin Statue; the itinerary locates that landmark between Solomon’s Landing and Captain Tony’s. The Cruise Ship Pier is the awards-dinner venue, not the stated weigh-in location. Tournament director Billy Egan confirmed to Cabo Sportfishing Magazine on October 31 that weigh-ins are open to the public with no admission charge, with music at the stage.
Readers following remotely can use the official CatchStat index and select the 2026 event. CatchStat itself cautions that its content may not reflect official tournament standings; committee confirmation remains authoritative. An upcoming-event listing is not evidence of a result.
Latest Coverage
This is our main 2026 Tuna Jackpot preview and coverage guide. Daily reports and final results will be linked here as verified stories are published; none is available in this November 1 preview. Our planned reporting will follow confirmed catches and results, captain perspectives and confirmed payouts. Interviews, accreditation and exclusive access are not claimed.
For recent tournament context, read our Black & Blue 2026 coverage and browse tournament reporting. The Baja Fishing Explorer provides separately dated ocean information; it is not a forecast for tournament catches or permission to depart.
Reader FAQ
When is the 2026 tournament?
November 4–7, with early check-in November 3.
Which days are fishing days?
November 5 and 6; the shotgun start is 7 a.m. each day.
Where and when is registration?
Inside Tesoro Resort, behind the front desk, November 4 from 3–6 p.m.
When can teams weigh fish?
From 3 p.m.; boats must pass the marina entrance by 6 p.m. Scales close at 6:30 p.m. or after the final on-time team weighs.
How much is entry?
US$1,000 per team, before optional jackpots and applicable processing fees.
Where are official results?
Follow the organizer-linked CatchStat event; final official standings are determined by the tournament committee.
Verification note
Official sources were checked October 31, 2026, Cabo San Lucas local time (November 1 UTC), for this November 1 preview, and tournament director Billy Egan answered written questions on October 31, 2026; the team-count and payout figures he provided are preliminary estimates. Schedule and rules may change. Any meaningful later correction will carry a dated update while preserving the original publication date. The photograph is an owner-supplied archival tuna image; its capture date/year was not supplied, and it does not depict a verified 2026 Tuna Jackpot catch.
