Bill Fish Tournament Kicks Off in Orange Beach
By J. Thomas Wade
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
May 15, 2026
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. The 30th Orange Beach Billfish Classic, has kicked off again this year with teams vying for $1.6 million in prize money.
Thursday morning was a perfect blue-sky day with the bright sun shining as sixty-two boats launched to kick off this year’s tournament.
Thursday morning for the 30th Orange Beach Billfish Classic, marking the largest field in the tournament’s history as teams compete for a prize package of nearly $1.6 million.
Steve Hall said this year’s event is one for the books with captains already positioning for favorite fishing spots.
This tournament kicks off billfish season each year and we see a lot of local teams, but we also see teams that come from outside the Gulf Coast area, Hall said.
Anglers who have been here before all have their secret fishing holes and try to get out to them before others make it there first.
“Sometimes you can pick wrong and sometimes you can pick right, so you just go out there and fish and do what you can do,” he said.
The offshore big game fishing event targets Marlin, Sail Fish and Swordfish.
This year’s weigh-ins will be at the Wharf and will also be accepting blue marlin, tuna, dolphin and wahoo and tuna. The weigh-in station opens at 7 p.m. on Friday and 6 p. m. on Saturday at The Wharf. Admission is free.
The bill fish tournament is just one of many that are scheduled along the Gulf Coast in 2026.
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