ATLANTIC

FINAL RECAP — 2026 Cape Cod Bluewater Classic: Twin Reels Takes Big Boat Overall as Vesper Wins the Small Boat Crown

July 18, 2026

Atlantic

Science of Fishing Editorial

Twin Reels crew with their winner check and billfish trophies at the 2026 Cape Cod Bluewater Classic

This is the final recap from the 2026 Cape Cod Bluewater Classic in Falmouth, Massachusetts, where Twin Reels claimed the Big Boat Overall title and Vesper won the Small Boat crown.

The 13th annual Cape Cod Bluewater Classic wrapped Friday, July 17, with a packed awards ceremony at MacDougall's Marina, and when the final board froze it read 167 fish weighed or released across 56 boats, with 24 billfish releases — eight blue marlin and 16 white marlin — logged over the tournament's rolling 42-hour fishing windows.

Twin Reels tops the Big Boat division

Twin Reels stormed to the Big Boat Overall title with 897 points, powered by a dominant 700-point billfish tally that also earned the crew the Big Boat Billfish award. The Boca Raton, Florida boat collected a $73,336 check and a pair of billfish trophies on stage to cap the win it had led since the midpoint of the event.

Vesper claims the Small Boat crown

In the Small Boat division, Vesper sealed the Overall title with 462 points and topped the Small Boat Billfish category with 300 points, giving the tournament a second billfish-driven champion.

Two young Vesper anglers hold billfish trophies and a check as Small Boat Overall winners at the 2026 Cape Cod Bluewater Classic — The Vesper crew accepts the Small Boat Overall hardware on awards night. Photo: Cape Cod Bluewater Classic (via Reel Time).

A $100K bigeye headlines the meat-fish board

The biggest single payout of the night went to Ghost Rider, whose 211-pound bigeye tuna claimed Big Boat Heaviest Tuna and a $100,512 check. On the Small Boat side, Ethyl M took Heaviest Tuna with a 93-pounder.

The tournament's single heaviest fish stood from opening day: Sandrita's 687-pound commercial bluefin, weighed back on Day 1, held the Heaviest Bluefin title wire-to-wire and also earned the crew the Most Bluefin award.

Sandrita crew hold bluefin trophies and a check at the 2026 Cape Cod Bluewater Classic awards — Sandrita's crew with the hardware for the tournament's heaviest fish, a 687-pound bluefin. Photo: Cape Cod Bluewater Classic (via Reel Time).

Species winners round out the field

Team O.H.M. swept the yellowfin categories, taking Heaviest Yellowfin with a 101-pounder and the three-fish Yellowfin Stringer at 251 pounds for a $47,424 payout. Optimum claimed Heaviest Mahi at 21 pounds, and Miss Jillian topped Heaviest Wahoo with a 40-pound fish. In the female-angler standings, Jackie Carmichael of Lights Out led with 188 points and a 76-pound tuna.

Team O.H.M. anglers hold a yellowfin tuna trophy and check at the 2026 Cape Cod Bluewater Classic awards — Team O.H.M. swept the yellowfin categories with a 101-pound fish and a 251-pound stringer. Photo: Cape Cod Bluewater Classic (via Reel Time).

With the checks handed out and the trophies claimed, the 2026 Cape Cod Bluewater Classic closes the book on a strong week of offshore fishing off Cape Cod. Results are sourced from the tournament's official Reel Time leaderboard.

Source: Cape Cod Bluewater Classic official Reel Time leaderboard.