Tournaments Overview
2026
Mar
El Jefe Invitational
Leg One of the Quest for the Crest Marlin Majors
- Abaco Beach Resort
- March 18 – 21, 2026
2026
Leaderboards
| Rank | Boat Name | Make | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sea Hunter | Viking | 15 | $18,000 |
| 2nd | Sea Hunter | SeaVee | 12 | $10,000 |
| 3rd | Marlin Magic | Boston Whaler | 10 | $4,500 |
| 4th | Reel Easy | Freeman | 10 | $2,500 |
| 5th | True Grit | Spencer | 10 | $2,000 |
| Rank | Boat Name | Make | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sea Hunter | Viking | 15 | $18,000 |
| 2nd | Sea Hunter | SeaVee | 12 | $10,000 |
| 3rd | Marlin Magic | Boston Whaler | 10 | $4,500 |
| 4th | Reel Easy | Freeman | 10 | $2,500 |
| 5th | True Grit | Spencer | 10 | $2,000 |
| Rank | Boat Name | Make | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sea Hunter | Viking | 15 | $18,000 |
| 2nd | Sea Hunter | SeaVee | 12 | $10,000 |
| 3rd | Marlin Magic | Boston Whaler | 10 | $4,500 |
| 4th | Reel Easy | Freeman | 10 | $2,500 |
| 5th | True Grit | Spencer | 10 | $2,000 |
| Rank | Boat Name | Make | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sea Hunter | Viking | 15 | $18,000 |
| 2nd | Sea Hunter | SeaVee | 12 | $10,000 |
| 3rd | Marlin Magic | Boston Whaler | 10 | $4,500 |
| 4th | Reel Easy | Freeman | 10 | $2,500 |
| 5th | True Grit | Spencer | 10 | $2,000 |
| Rank | Boat Name | Make | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sea Hunter | Viking | 15 | $18,000 |
| 2nd | Sea Hunter | SeaVee | 12 | $10,000 |
| 3rd | Marlin Magic | Boston Whaler | 10 | $4,500 |
| 4th | Reel Easy | Freeman | 10 | $2,500 |
| 5th | True Grit | Spencer | 10 | $2,000 |
| Rank | Boat Name | Make | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sea Hunter | Viking | 15 | $18,000 |
| 2nd | Sea Hunter | SeaVee | 12 | $10,000 |
| 3rd | Marlin Magic | Boston Whaler | 10 | $4,500 |
| 4th | Reel Easy | Freeman | 10 | $2,500 |
| 5th | True Grit | Spencer | 10 | $2,000 |
How Invitations Are Extended
The Marlin Majors is designed for the most committed and competitive teams in the sport. Invitations are extended in three distinct phases to ensure the field reflects the prestige of the series
Phase One: Priority Access
The first round of invitations is reserved existing and past Fish Bluewater customers as a courtesy to those who have continuously proven their commitment to the sport and the Quest for the Crest legacy. Their commitment to going “all-in”, including participation in all eligible calcuttas, secures them early access to the tournament roster.
Requested Entries Dates: Dec 1 through December 1
Phase Two: Requested Access
In this round, invitations are extended to new teams that have formally expressed interest in fishing the Marlin Majors. As with Phase One, entry is reserved for those committed to going “all-in” on all eligible calcuttas.
Requested Entries Dates: Dec 2 through January 1
Phase Three: Open Availability
After the priority rounds, any remaining spots will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. This is the final opportunity for new teams eager to test themselves on the Marlin Majors stage. Once the roster is full, additional teams will be placed on a waiting list for future invitations.
Requested Entries Dates: Jan 2 through March 4
Series Scoring
Privilege is Earned
The Crest, presented in the form of a jacket, stands as the most prestigious award in competitive bill fishing, marking the highest symbol of achievement and excellence in the sport. To earn this coveted coat of arms, a team must deliver consistent, top-tier performances across every leg of the series.
Series Scoring Format
Scoring is based on placement in each tournament, using a linear points system that rewards both performance and consistency – the defining traits of a true champion. Each tournament finish contributes to a team’s overall series standing, with every position on the leaderboard carrying weight.
| 1st Place | 31 points |
| 2nd Place | 29 points |
| 3rd Place | 28 points |
| 4th Place | 27 points |
| 5th Place | 26 points |
| 6th Place | 25 points |
| 7th Place | 22 points |
| 8th Place | 21 points |
| 9th Place | 20 points |
| 10th Place | 19 points |
| 11th Place | 18 points |
| 12th Place | 17 points |
| 13th Place | 16 points |
| 14th Place | 15 points |
| 15th Place | 14 points |
| 16th Place | 15 points |
| 17th Place | 14 points |
| 18th Place | 13 points |
| 19th Place | 12 points |
| 20th Place | 11 points |
| 21st Place | 10 points |
| 22nd Place | 9 points |
| 23rd Place | 8 points |
| 24th Place | 7 points |
| 25th Place | 6 points |
| 26th Place | 5 points |
| 27th Place | 4 points |
| 28th Place | 3 points |
| 29th Place | 2 points |
| 30th Place | 1 points |
SHOW MORE
| 7th Place | 22 points |
| 8th Place | 21 points |
| 9th Place | 20 points |
| 10th Place | 19 points |
| 11th Place | 18 points |
| 12th Place | 17 points |
| 13th Place | 16 points |
| 14th Place | 15 points |
| 15th Place | 14 points |
| 16th Place | 15 points |
| 17th Place | 14 points |
| 18th Place | 13 points |
| 19th Place | 12 points |
| 20th Place | 11 points |
| 21st Place | 10 points |
| 22nd Place | 9 points |
| 23rd Place | 8 points |
| 24th Place | 7 points |
| 25th Place | 6 points |
| 26th Place | 5 points |
| 27th Place | 4 points |
| 28th Place | 3 points |
| 29th Place | 2 points |
| 30th Place | 1 points |
Series Awards
The Blue Jacket
In addition to a world champions’ title, the top overall team in Marlin Majors will don ‘The Blue Jacket’ for their conquest of the man in the blue suit and the top marlin fishing teams in the world.
Meet the Sponsors
Raymarine
Out there, you have to earn your strikes. It won’t be pretty, nor will you; but Raymarine has your stern through thick and thicker. Because there are always more fish…
Land and Sea
Veteran owned and operated, built with grit and resilience. We are South Florida's Preferred SeaKeeper Dealer.
SIMMS
For more than three decades, SIMMS has set the standard in technical fishing gear and apparel experience that knows every second between lines in and lines out matters.
Electronics Unlimited
For over 40 years, Electronics Unlimited has been a trusted partner to elite sportfishing and luxury yacht owners, providing best-in-class marine electronics sales and service. Our experience and attention to…
Abaco Beach Resort & Marina
The Abaco Beach Resort & Marina is a classic getaway that captures the true essence and culture of the Bahamas out islands. The resort is a destination for travelers, weddings, corporate…
Raymarine
Out there, you have to earn your strikes. It won’t be pretty, nor will you; but Raymarine has your stern through thick and thicker. Because there are always more fish…
Land and Sea
Veteran owned and operated, built with grit and resilience. We are South Florida's Preferred SeaKeeper Dealer.
SIMMS
For more than three decades, SIMMS has set the standard in technical fishing gear and apparel experience that knows every second between lines in and lines out matters.
Electronics Unlimited
For over 40 years, Electronics Unlimited has been a trusted partner to elite sportfishing and luxury yacht owners, providing best-in-class marine electronics sales and service. Our experience and attention to…
Abaco Beach Resort & Marina
The Abaco Beach Resort & Marina is a classic getaway that captures the true essence and culture of the Bahamas out islands. The resort is a destination for travelers, weddings, corporate…
Series Rules
General Rules
- Registration: Entry into Marlin Majors events is offered on an invitational basis. Final registration for Leg 1, El Jefe, closes on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Contact the Fish Bluewater office for additional information and to be added to the invitation list. Entry fees are not refundable for any
- Eligible Billfish: Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Hatchet Marlin, Spearfish, Round Scaled Spearfish, Sailfish
- Eligible Gamefish: Dolphin, Wahoo, Tuna (Yellowfin, Big Eye and Blackfin) 15 pound minimum.
- Permits & Licenses: All boats must possess a Bahamas Cruising Permit and Fishing License.
- Crew & Anglers: Paid fishing crew are limited to the captain and no more than (3) paid mates. Each team is limited to a maximum of (6) anglers. Paid crew may also be anglers in the tournament.
- Maximum Lines: A maximum of (6) hooked natural baits or lures may be fished at one time. Dredge rods and teasers do not factor into the line count.
- Leader: Maximum line test is 130 lb. The length of the leader may not exceed 30 feet. The combined length of the double line and leader may not exceed 40 feet. The length of a leader is measured to the bend of the last hook on any bait or lure.
- Teasers: There are no limitations on teasers or hookless baits in a tournament.
- Hooks: All natural baits MUST be fished with a non-offset circle hook. J hooks may be used with lures only. For dead bait or lures with a skirt or trailing material, no more than two single hooks may be attached to the line, leader or trace. The hooks need not be attached separately. The eyes of the hooks must be no less than an overall hook’s length (the length of the largest hook used) apart. The only exception is that the point of one hook may be passed through the eye of the other hook. A hook may not precede bait, lure or bait/lure combo by more than one hooks length. The use of a dangling or swinging hook is prohibited. The trailing hook may not extend more than a hook’s length beyond the skirt of a lure. Double and treble hooks are prohibited.
- Sonar: The use of a sonar device is permitted. Sonars may be turned on 30 minutes prior to lines in each day.
- Bait: Natural bait and artificial lures only. Live bait is prohibited.
- Hook & Catch: A hook and hand scenario is permitted. A hooked fish may be fought by multiple team members with no limit on the number of times a rod is passed from one angler to another. The use of a rod holder to hook and fight a fish is permitted. Any fish caught or released under a ‘hook and hand’ scenario should be called in as a ‘boat release’. A pure angler release should be called in under the name of the angler that hooked and caught the fish.
- Tournament Channel: Will be announced at the captain’s meeting for the tournament. The tournament channel is intended for event announcements and the report of billfish releases. All discussions among competitors should be conducted on alternate channels.
- One Fish, One Bait: If a fish eats more than one bait, one of the lines must be parted immediately to maintain a single angler vs fish scenario. A fish that eats two baits, fought and released by two anglers will be disqualified.
- Boundaries: TBD
- Prize Structure: The general prize structure is based on a participating field of 30 boats.
- Departure: Boats may not depart the host marina for the fishing grounds prior to 6:30am. Video cameras must be initialized each morning at 6:30am clearly identifying the boat at the host marina location.
- Lines In/Lines Out: 8:00am & 4:00pm. Each team should video the time, date and their GPS coordinates at 8am to verify that they are within the stated boundaries for the tournament at lines in. This procedure should be followed on all cameras that will be used to document releases in the tournament.
- Check-In: Boats have until 6:30pm on Day 1 and Day 2 and 5:30pm on Day 3 to return to the marina and turn in their SD cards, release cards and weigh gamefish. The gamefish scale will open at 4pm each day. Any boats arriving late will not be able to submit their releases or weigh fish.
- Weather: If weather conditions arise deemed unsafe for the average registered boat, by tournament officials, the tournament schedule may be altered to accommodate the best weather and fishing conditions available to participating teams. Any schedule adjustment due to inclement weather will be made at the sole discretion of the tournament committee. Best effort will be made to achieve a 3-day fishing format on the scheduled weekend of the tournament. In the circumstances, as determined by the committee, where 3 days of fishing may be unachievable, the tournament may be reduced to a condensed format. Captains, anglers and all other members of registered boats must determine in their own judgement whether to fish under the given conditions based on factors including but not limited to the seaworthiness of their boat and their own seamanship.
- Competition Day: Best effort will be made to ensure the full fishing schedule is met. At least 4 hours of tournament fishing must occur on any given day for the points from that day to be factored into the overall score and standings for each Should inclement weather or any other force majeure condition occur that limits the tournament to fewer days of fishing, the daily calcutta money allocated for a cancelled day will be returned to the teams that are registered for the affected calcutta. All other general prize and calcutta money will be paid according to standard procedure based on the standings from the modified fishing schedule.
- Protests: All protests must be submitted in writing along with $500 cash or check to tournament officials within two hours of the conclusion of the day of fishing. Protests should be made based on firsthand eyewitness information. All decisions of the tournament officials regarding protests are final. All participants agree and acknowledge by their participation that the determination of the committee shall be the sole remedy for all disputes arising from competition. All participants expressly waive their right to trial.
- Polygraph: By entering the tournament, all captains, anglers and occupants of their boats voluntarily consent to submit to a polygraph examination as deemed necessary by tournament officials. All decisions of the polygraph examiner will be final. Any captain, angler or occupant of a registered boat who refuses to take a polygraph or provides untruthful answers as determined by the examiner will be disqualified from the tournament without further notice. Such a disqualification will eliminate payment or provision of any prize money, awards and/or refund of entrance
- Tournament Discretion: The tournament director reserves the right to implement his or her discretion at any time during the tournament as it may apply to the rules or any other circumstance that should arise during the tournament.
- Release: All registered captains, anglers and occupants of their boats consent that tournament officials may use without payment or restriction, any photographs or video in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising and promotional material.
- Hold Harmless: It is expressly understood that all registered participants and non-registered occupants of their boats enter the events in the Quest for the Crest Marlin Majors voluntarily and at their own Further, each registered and non-registered participant on behalf of other family members and/or executors agrees to release and hold harmless Bluewater Movements Inc, Fish Bluewater, its officers, directors, owners, members, representatives, agents, employees, independent contractors, volunteers, promoters, advertisers, sponsors, partners, joint ventures, affiliates, assigns, polygraph examiner, the city, county and country where the events are held and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of any event in the Quest for the Crest Marlin Majors (collectively, “Released and Indemnified Parties”) from any and all claims, losses, damages, demands, causes of action, suits and liabilities of every kind arising out of, related to, or resulting from the tournament, activity or event, including but not limited to all events in the Quest for the Crest Marlin Majors, including without limitation, any claim for loss, damage or destruction of property, or injury (including death), regardless of whether such loss arises in whole or in part from the negligence of any Released and Indemnified Party. This release is intended to be as broad and inclusive as possible under applicable law, and if any portion of this release is held invalid or unenforceable, the balance shall continue in full force and legal effect. Jurisdiction over the tournament shall be exclusively that of the tournament director. All parties agree to be bound by the tournament director’s decisions without exception.
- Agreement – By registering for a tournament, the captain and/or owner agrees that all anglers and occupants of their boat will abide by all tournament rules.
Competition Rules
- Billfish Scoring: The Quest for the Crest Marlin Majors series is an advocate for the release of all billfish in tournaments. As such, there is not a kill division in any of the tournaments. The scoring format for releases is as follows:
- 5 pts
- Blue Marlin
- 3 pts
- Single Day Slam (Blue, White and Sail release in same day)
- 2 pts
- White Marlin
- Spearfish
- Hatchet Marlin
- Round Scale Spearfish
- 1pt
- Sailfish
- Unidentified Billfish
- All team prize categories will be awarded based on the team’s overall point standings. In the event of a tie, winners will be determined by the team or individual that releases their last fish first.
- Gamefish: Eligible species are Dolphin, Wahoo and Tuna (Yellowfin, Big Eye and Blackfin). Eligible species must weigh 15 pounds to be scored in the tournament. Each fish meeting weight requirements will receive a score of 1 point per pound. Mutilated fish will be disqualified. All decisions of the weighmaster are final. In the event of a tie, the money will be split evenly.
- Mutilated Fish: As determined by the tournament committee, mutilated billfish and gamefish will be disqualified and the points associated with that catch or release will not count. All decisions of the tournament committee are final.
- Gaffs: Gaffs of any length may be used in the tournaments. Flying gaffs and harpoons are prohibited.
- Billfish Release Criteria: All billfish must be properly released for points to be scored to the registered angler and his or her team. The requirements for a release are as follows: (1) Fish ID must be clearly visible on video. (2) At the conclusion of the fight the fish must be brought close enough to the boat for a mate or crewmember to touch the leader, not the double line. (3) In a continuous sequence, video footage must clearly identify the fish as well as the leader touch by a crew member. (4) Evidence on video of the leader being cut or lure being retrieved at the time of release. (5) The proper color and confirmation # should be displayed on video to mark the completion of a catch.
- Video Requirement: Every billfish released in the tournament must be verified by continuous video footage clearly identifying the release. Each team is responsible for providing their own video camera and the appropriate media to record video footage that documents the releases on their boat. Video media will not be provided to teams by the tournament committee. Acceptable video formats are SD cards. The first video clip should be filmed at 6:30am departing the marina. The second video clip should be at lines in showing time, date and GPS location to verify you are within the boundaries of the tournament. A backup video source is highly recommended.
- Break Image: Once a release has occurred, the captain must contact the radio room for a confirmation # and color to share on video to complete the release. If a team is hooked up to multiple fish, a crewmember should state that on camera with video evidence to support it.
- Release & Catch Verification: All billfish releases must be reported to the tournament committee immediately following the release. Individuals calling in a release must include the boat number, species, and angler name in their report. A release will be official once the radio controller responds to the respective angler with a confirmation number and color. That confirmation number and color should be recorded on the registered angler’s release card. Any boat unable to contact the committee should contact another boat for a relay. A tournament cell phone # will also be provided to teams at each Captain’s meeting. Boats that intend to fish in areas without cell phone coverage are still responsible for maintaining communication with the tournament committee on all releases.
- Winnings: All winners are required to complete a W9 form prior to receiving any awards for each tournament. Awards and prize money will be withheld as required by law if a W9 form is not presented in advance of the awards presentations.
