Join The Thrill Of Fishing Contests In The Cayman Islands

In March 2026, 93 teams hauled more than 4,300 pounds of fish to the scales at the George Town Yacht Club during the BK Big Fish Tournament. Nearly 100 fish were officially recorded over three days of competition, and several blue marlin were released back into the water rather than brought to the dock. That single event gives you a sense of the scale fishing contests can reach in the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament (CIIFT) has been running for over 25 years and brings together local and international anglers for a week of offshore competition and dockside camaraderie. Whether you want to enter a boat, join a crew, or simply watch the weigh-ins with a cold drink in hand, the island’s tournament calendar offers a way to experience Cayman’s fishing culture that goes well beyond a standard charter day.

This guide covers the two main contests on the calendar — the CIIFT and the BK Big Fish Tournament — along with what you need to know to take part or just soak up the atmosphere.

The two biggest fishing contests on Grand Cayman sit at opposite ends of the spring season. The table below gives a side-by-side look at what each offers.

Both tournaments use the George Town Yacht Club as their hub, so the marina zone becomes the center of action regardless of which contest you target. Confirm current entry details directly with the organizers before booking travel, as fee structures and prize pools can shift year to year.

Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament (CIIFT)

CIIFT is the island’s premier sportfishing event, and it’s been running long enough that some local captains have grown up with it. The 2026 edition runs from April 28 to May 5, a window that sits right at the transition from late spring into early summer when migratory pelagic species push close to shore. That timing matters: Cayman’s ocean floor drops off sharply near the coast, creating a natural corridor for wahoo, yellowfin tuna, dolphin (mahi-mahi), and billfish — you don’t need to run hours offshore to find good water.

Base entry is US$500 per boat, which puts your crew in contention for over US$65,000 in cash prizes across multiple categories. There’s also a “Cayman National Jackpot” option at US$3,500 per boat, with an estimated payout exceeding US$100,000. The tournament schedule includes a captain’s meeting and kickoff party at the George Town Yacht Club, followed by days of fishing and afternoon weigh-ins where the day’s catch becomes public. Awards night closes out the week.

BK Big Fish Tournament

What does a winning catch look like in a Cayman contest? The 2026 BK Big Fish Tournament, which wrapped up March 16, offers a concrete answer. Karina Leveque took first place in the yellowfin tuna category with an 81.4-pound fish. Cailom Packe won the wahoo category with 56.8 pounds. In the mahi-mahi division, Allison Briggs recorded the sole catch brought to the scales — 24.4 pounds — a category that had zero entries the previous year. Franklin Thompson, president of the Cayman Islands Angling Club, noted that “the weather cooperated … and there were a lot of fish caught and blue marlins released … so it was a very successful event.”

With 405 participants across 93 teams and nearly 100 fish officially recorded, the BK Big Fish is smaller and shorter than CIIFT but offers a tighter, more community-driven feel. Blue marlin releases were counted in the overall tally, reflecting the tournament’s conservation ethic — a detail worth noting if you prefer catch-and-release angling. The event runs in mid-March, so it also works as a warm-weather escape before the peak spring travel season.

Watching From the Dock: The Spectator Side

You don’t need a boat to get in on the action. Both tournaments hold afternoon weigh-ins at the George Town Yacht Club, where teams return and the day’s stories become visible in the form of yellowfin, wahoo, and mahi-mahi laid out on the scales. It’s a public, free-to-watch window into the competition, and the atmosphere around the channel wharf area builds through the afternoon as more boats come in.

Dock walks let you see crews prepping tackle, discussing strategy, and hosing down decks — it’s the closest you’ll get to the tournament without a rod in your hand. CIIFT also schedules a captain’s meeting, kickoff party, and awards night that are open to registered participants and often spill into the surrounding restaurants and bars along the marina. If you’re traveling with younger anglers, the Junior Offshore Challenge ran 14 competitors in 2026 and offers a separate entry point for kids who want to compete without the full tournament commitment.

Planning Your Tournament Trip

The biggest challenge during tournament week isn’t the fishing — it’s securing a charter. Boats and guides are in high demand, so book non-tournament fishing days well in advance and confirm whether your captain is participating in CIIFT or BK Big Fish that week. If they are, you may need to schedule around competition days or find a second operator for your own fishing time.

Base yourself along the George Town or Seven Mile Beach corridor — that keeps you close to the marina, restaurants, and event gatherings without a long drive. A typical day might start with a morning beach visit or a snorkeling trip, shift to exploring Camana Bay or a scenic drive around midday, and move toward the marina zone in the late afternoon for the after-fishing atmosphere. If you’re bringing your own gear, check that your operator follows local regulations and best practices for the species you’re targeting.

For a broader look at accommodation options, this interactive map of the island’s hotels and rentals can help you compare properties near the George Town waterfront. Responsible travel choices — reef-safe sunscreen, support for locally owned restaurants, and shopping from Cayman vendors — leave a lighter footprint on the waters and communities that make these tournaments possible.

Heads up: some links here are affiliate links — costs you nothing extra. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

If you want to book a fishing charter outside the tournament days, browse available Cayman fishing charters on Viator for options ranging from half-day reef trips to full-day offshore runs. Just confirm the operator’s tournament schedule before you reserve.

Before You Go — Cayman Islands Fishing Contests

Which tournament is better for first-time competitors?

The BK Big Fish Tournament in March has a smaller field and a shorter window, which makes it less intimidating if you’re new to tournament fishing. CIIFT in late April offers a bigger prize pool and more categories, but the competition is stiffer.

Can I watch the weigh-ins without registering?

Yes. Afternoon weigh-ins at the George Town Yacht Club are open to the public during both tournaments. No ticket or registration is needed to stand on the dock and watch the catch come in.

What species am I most likely to catch?

Yellowfin tuna and wahoo dominate the scales at both tournaments. Mahi-mahi (dolphin) and barracuda also appear regularly. Billfish — especially blue marlin — are targeted for release rather than weight, so they count toward the tally without going to the dock.

Is there an option for kids to participate?

The Junior Offshore Challenge ran alongside the 2026 BK Big Fish with 14 young anglers competing. Check with the Cayman Islands Angling Club for age requirements and whether a separate junior event is scheduled for the tournament you’re targeting.

What’s the one thing I should book before anything else?

Your charter boat. During both BK Big Fish and CIIFT weeks, demand for guides spikes and available slots vanish quickly. Reserve a month ahead at minimum, and confirm the captain’s tournament participation so you don’t lose a fishing day.

More Than a Tournament

Fishing contests in the Cayman Islands blur the line between competition and vacation in a way that few other destinations manage. You can spend the morning chasing a 50-pound wahoo, then walk ten feet to a dockside restaurant and eat fresh conch fritters while the day’s catches are still being hosed down. The tournaments are the excuse to come — but the rhythm of island life, the sharp drop-off that brings pelagic fish close to shore, and the social scene at the George Town Yacht Club are what make the experience stick. For more ways to explore Grand Cayman’s coastline, check out this guide to the island’s best diving and snorkeling spots.

References

FishCayman. “Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament 2026.” FishCayman, 2026. ↗

Explore Cayman. “Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament 2026.” Explore Cayman, 2026. ↗

Cayman Compass. “More than 4,300 pounds weighed at BK Big Fish Tournament.” Cayman Compass, March 19, 2026. ↗

Cayman Compass. “Fourteen anglers compete in Junior Offshore Challenge.” Cayman Compass, March 13, 2026. ↗

If you’re building a full Cayman itinerary, the island offers plenty beyond the tournament dock. Kayaking through Grand Cayman’s mangrove channels gives you a completely different view of the coastline, and cycling the beaches is a low-key way to explore between fishing rounds. For a deeper look at what’s under the water, the Kittiwake shipwreck snorkel guide covers a site that’s reachable from the same Seven Mile Beach corridor where most tournament visitors stay.