Taking place in Avalon, Catalina Island, The Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic has been the top marlin tournament in the Western United States for nearly 20 years.
Exciting finishes, big money, and lots of fun are the stuff this tournament is made of. The 2008 event saw 47 teams catch 109 marlin while competing for $250,000 in cash and prizes and just one pound separated first place La Dulce Vida and second place Miz Pah.

In 2007, the winning team Good Karma took home a record $354,275 for their winning striped marlin.

The Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic is the biggest event of the series, both in number of anglers and in cash purse. Now in its 17^th year, the Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic has long been known as “The” event to fish in. Part party, part high stakes fishing tournament, anglers agree this is an event not to be missed.

Things get going on Sunday, September 20 with the check in festival at the Descanso Beach Club in Avalon. Aside from picking up your tournament bag full of free goodies from event sponsors, participants, and their families can visit displays set up by tournament sponsors, participate in the Berkley Knot Tying Contest, Pompanette fight the fish contest, a Chipping contest, casting contest, and more.

Fishing takes place on September 21 and 22, With the weigh station on the green pleasure pier serving as tournament headquarters. Spectators watch as boats weigh their fish, listen to tournament control for updated action, and follow the results on the tournament leader board. New to the tournament is a live webcam broadcast sending the sights and sounds out over the worldwide web.
[
The awards take place the evening of September 22 in the famous Casino Ballroom overlooking Avalon Harbor. Awards are based on the largest fish weighed that meet the minimum size requirements.

In addition to the big money on the line for these events, there are also lots of sponsors prizes and fun for all those involved. Each team that enters an event gets a valuable captains bag filled with fishing tackle hats, shirts, and other items. Valuable prizes are raffled off during the events, and at the awards ceremony, and can include such items as Fisherman’s Landing Tackle Shop custom rods, Kaenon Sunglasses, WFO Tackle systems, Fishworks Clothing, and much more. Each event will feature a shotgun start each morning, and feature Pete Grey of Let’s Talk Hook Up as tournament control radio man.

Share the excitement of the Crow’s Nest Avalon Billfish Classic. The Crow’s Nest Avalon Billfish Classic will be run in conjunction with the Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic in 2009. From the check in festival at Descanso Beach Club in Avalon on Sunday, September 20 to the final awards ceremony at the world famous Casino Ballroom on Tuesday, September 22, participants of both events will be sharing the fun and excitement of tournament fishing at its best. Tournament Control, shotgun starts, crowds on the pier, it just does not get more thrilling than this.

We have kept the entry fee at $2,000 for a 4 angler team, plus optional daily jackpots in the amount of $250, $500, $1,000, and $2,000. Additional anglers can be added for $125 per angler (max 6 per team).

If your team is fishing in the Crow’s Nest Avalon Billfish Classic also, you can join that event for just an additional $400, so you can fish them both for just $2,400, a $400 savings.

California Billfish Series Kick-Off Fiesta with WIDE OPEN Excursions and Harbor Grill.

Clear your schedules for Tuesday, August 24 to attend the California Billfish Series Kick-Off Fiesta. Co-hosted by WIDE OPEN Excursions and The Harbor Grill this event is poised to be a highlight of the season. Taking place at WIDE OPEN’s Corporate Headquarters and Race Shop in Irvine, CA should appeal to all fishermen’s sense of adventure. Filled with race cars, trophies, artwork and Baja... [Read more]

Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic and Avalon Billfish Classic Quick Review.

Following on the heels of the Penn Zane Grey Invitational, The Crow’s Nest Avalon Billfish Classic and Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic took place September 20-22 out of Avalon, Catalina Island. Due to the short calendar in September with a late Labor Day, the decision was made to conduct both of these events concurrently, and the results were quite successful. Teams that had followed the live tournament... [Read more]

2009 Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic and Avalon Billfish Classic - Day 2 Updates

Day 2 Updates - Last Updated 4:50 PM Today’s Releases - Updated List: C Bandit: 3 releases Chaser: 3 releases (+1 boated: 169lb) Tiger Spirit: 2 releases Good Karma: 2 releases Lucky L: 1 release Shark’s Parlour: 1 release Club Ted: 1 release After Midnight: 1 release Scrambler: 1 release Three Daughters: 1 release Haywood: 1 release Ahi Nui: 1 release Buck Shot: 1 release Bandit: 1 boated... [Read more]

2009 Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic and Avalon Billfish Classic - Jackpots

Boat Name Catalina Classic Avalon Billfish Classic   Daily $250 Daily $500 Daily $1000 Daily $2000 Daily $250 Daily $500 Daily $1000 Daily $2000 1 Hot Tuna                 Ace Hi                 Afishinado                 After Midnight                 Ahi... [Read more]

2009 Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic and Avalon Billfish Classic - Participants

ABC Cat Classic Boat Name Boat MFG Boat LGH First name Last Name ABC Cat Classic 1 Hot Tuna Trophy 23 Capt. Bill DePriest II Cat Classic Ace Hi Tournament 30 30 Mike Elias Cat Classic Afishinado Delta 36 John King Cat Classic After Midnight Knight & Carver 75 Mike Cromer Cat Classic Ahi Nui Parker 23 Keegan Hicks ABC Cat Classic Bali Ann Riviera 43 George Balian ABC Cat... [Read more]

2009 Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic and Avalon Billfish Classic - Day 1 Results

38 marlin landed with 29 releases and 9 boated fish. Catalina Classic Standings after Day 1- 1st place Reel Nice-N- Easy 212.5 and sweep of day 1 jackpots 2nd place Tonnage 202 pounds 3rd Place 1 Hot Tuna 192 pounds 4th Place Vertigo 176.5 pounds Avalon Billfish Classic Standings after Day 1- 1st Place Bandit 3 releases and sweep of day 1 jackpots 2nd Place Good Karma 3 releases 3rd place Reel Time... [Read more]

2009 Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic and Avalon Billfish Classic - Day 1 Summary

51 boats total. 48 entered in Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic, 38 in Crow’s Nest Avalon Billfish Classic, and 35 in both. Day 1 Results Catalina Classic - 24 boats caught 38 Marlin, with 29 releases and 9 boated fish. Avalon Billfish Classic - 15 boats scored 22 releases (all also in Catalina Classic) Avalon Billfish Classic Standings Bandit is in first place with 3 releases. Good Karma is... [Read more]

Tournament Grid Map

 Read More →

Viking Yachts Joins Crow’s Nest in Sponsorship of Catalina Classic

The Viking Yacht Company has celebrated four and a half decades in business building luxury performance sportfishing and cruising yachts. Started by brothers Bob and Bill Healey in 1964, Viking Yachts has grown to become a world leader in semi-custom fiberglass yacht production with over 4,000 Vikings delivered. Viking 60 BCE Viking Yachts made a commitment to the West Coast fishing market when they... [Read more]

Dana Landing Market Your One Stop Shop For Tackle, Food and Fuel in Mission Bay

Located between the Dana Landing launch ramp, and Crow’s nest Boat Center on Mission Bay, Dana Landing is a true one stop shop for the private boater. This location was opened 14 years ago by a company that specialized in resort water sports rentals. They have taken there experience with customer service, and paired that with a passion for fishing to create a one of a kind retail shop and charter... [Read more]