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The Shootout returned to Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina from April 29 through May 2, 2026, and the fishing was as good as this event has ever produced. Sixty-eight invitation-only teams lined the docks in Marsh Harbour for three days of competition in the longest-running format in big-game tournament fishing: production boats against custom builds.
The fleet released 348 billfish over three days of fishing. One hundred blue marlin, 130 white marlin, and 113 sailfish came to the leader across a field that included Spencer, Viking, Bayliss, Weaver, Merritt, and F&S builds, among others. The total purse came in at $1,149,200.
Black Book Charters had vessels competing throughout the week.
The Winner
Plane Simple, a 77-foot Spencer, ran a dominant three-day campaign to finish atop the leaderboard with 3,650 points and a $281,315 payout. Congratulations to the entire Plane Simple team on a performance that held up against one of the deepest fields the Shootout has assembled.
Marlin Darlin, also a Spencer, finished second with 3,350 points. Mama Who, an 80-foot Weaver, rounded out the top three at 2,450 points. Spencer builds taking the top two spots continues a trend in this event: custom Carolina programs built for exactly this kind of competition.
The Big Fish
Valentine produced the largest blue marlin of the tournament at 566.2 pounds, earning $187,425 for the weigh-in. In a release-format tournament, a fish on the scales always adds another dimension to the leaderboard, and this one carried serious prize money with it.
The Fishery
The northern Abacos have been producing at an elite level across the spring tournament calendar. The Shootout numbers reflect that. One hundred blue marlin releases from 68 boats over three days is a mark that puts the Abaco fishery alongside the most consistent blue water in the Atlantic.
Skip's Tournaments continues to set the standard for invitation-only events. The format rewards programs that perform at every level: crew coordination, boat capability, angler execution, and the ability to sustain a competitive pace across multiple fishing days.
About the Shootout
The Shootout: Production vs. Custom is hosted annually by Skip's Tournaments at Abaco Beach Resort in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas. The event is limited to 60 inboard teams, 33 feet or larger, and operates on an invitation-only basis. Teams are selected to represent leading production manufacturers and premier custom boat builders in an all-release billfish format.
The Shootout is part of a broader Skip's Tournaments series that includes the Custom Shootout and the In and Out Shootout, all based in the Abacos.
Tournament Results
Champion: Plane Simple (77' Spencer), 3,650 points, $281,315
2nd Place: Marlin Darlin (Spencer), 3,350 points
3rd Place: Mama Who (80' Weaver), 2,450 points
Largest Blue Marlin: Valentine, 566.2 lbs, $187,425
Fleet Stats
68 teams
348 billfish released: 100 blue marlin | 130 white marlin | 113 sailfish
$1,149,200 total purse
Black Book Charters provides tournament-ready sportfish vessels for the Shootout and events across the Bahamas tournament calendar. View our full fleet or inquire about availability.
