A total of 240 women and girls lined the shore at Playa El Sargento on the Sea of Cortez last weekend for the inaugural “Marea Violeta” fishing tournament, La Paz’s first competitive fishing event organized exclusively for women. The tournament, which targeted cabrilla (sand bass), awarded a guaranteed prize pool of 30,000 pesos (about $1,650 USD) and split its proceeds between a marine conservation group and women’s empowerment programs run by the city.
La Paz Women Fishing Tournament Draws 240 Competitors to El Sargento
The event was organized by the Instituto Municipal de las Mujeres (IMM), La Paz’s municipal women’s institute, in coordination with Fonmar, the federal fund for the protection of marine resources. Christa González Robinson, the IMM’s director, said half of the tournament’s registration proceeds will go to Asociación Azul Cerralvo, a nonprofit conservation group that works to protect marine ecosystems around Isla Cerralvo, a 30-kilometer island roughly 15 kilometers east of El Sargento.
Azul Cerralvo has focused on reef monitoring, sea turtle protection, and sustainable fishing education along the corridor between El Sargento and the island. The group works closely with local fishing cooperatives, many of which depend on the same cabrilla populations that competitors targeted during the tournament.
Acting Mayor Amor Fenech Montaño attended the event and framed it as part of the municipal government’s push to connect women with economic opportunities rooted in Baja California Sur’s traditional industries. “This tournament, in its first edition, brought together more than 200 women and girls to participate in one of the traditional activities of our state, which is fishing,” she said in translated remarks.
Shore fishing, or pesca de orilla, is a longstanding practice along the Sea of Cortez coastline. Unlike offshore sportfishing, which requires expensive boats, tackle, and permits, shore fishing is accessible with minimal equipment. El Sargento, a small coastal community about 45 minutes east of La Paz, sits on a stretch of shoreline known for productive cabrilla, pargo (snapper), and sierra catches from the beach.
Prize Pool Totaled 30,000 Pesos Across 18 Winners
The tournament awarded 18 prizes in total. Sugey Itzayana took first place and 7,000 pesos (about $385 USD). Guadalupe Medina Mendoza finished second, earning 5,000 pesos ($275 USD). Karla Yoselin Arévalos placed third for 3,000 pesos ($165 USD). An additional 15 competitors each received 1,000 pesos ($55 USD).
All winning catches were cabrilla, a species of sea bass common in rocky coastal areas of the Sea of Cortez. Cabrilla is a staple of local cuisine in La Paz, served grilled whole at restaurants along the malecón and in the Mercado Municipal.
The remaining half of registration proceeds will fund IMM programs focused on women’s economic development. The IMM operates workshops in financial literacy, cooperative business formation, and access to microloans in La Paz and surrounding communities. Fenech Montaño said the municipal government plans to continue creating events that increase women’s participation in productive activities.
El Sargento’s Coastline Draws Both Locals and Foreign Residents
El Sargento and the neighboring community of La Ventana have become popular with expats, kitesurfers, and seasonal visitors over the past decade. The area’s winter wind season, typically November through March, draws kiteboarding enthusiasts from the United States, Canada, and Europe. During the calmer summer months, the same coastline is used for shore fishing, paddleboarding, and snorkeling.
The communities have limited commercial infrastructure compared to La Paz, with a handful of small restaurants, rental properties, and a growing number of foreign-owned homes. Local fishing cooperatives still operate along the beach, selling the morning catch directly to residents. Events like Marea Violeta connect the area’s traditional fishing economy with newer community development goals.
Baja California Sur has a long history of competitive fishing events, but most are offshore sportfishing tournaments centered on marlin, dorado, and tuna. The Bisbee’s Black and Blue in Cabo San Lucas, for example, awards millions of dollars in prizes and draws international teams. Shore fishing tournaments are far less common and carry smaller stakes, but they require no boat and are open to a much wider range of participants.
Fenech Montaño indicated that the municipal government plans to hold the tournament again, though no date has been announced for a second edition. This story was first reported by BCS Noticias.