A group of Montana anglers just proved that Big Sky Country breeds world-class fishermen — even in saltwater.
Team Grey Bull, a six-man crew from Helena, hauled in more than half a million dollars at the Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — one of the world’s richest billfish events.
Competing against 139 teams and a total prize pool topping $2.7 million, the Helena crew clinched third place in the Billfish Division after landing a massive 398-pound black marlin. The fish hit just 30 minutes before the final-day cutoff, roughly 50 miles offshore.
Their catch was enough to earn the Montana anglers a payout of over $500,000, making it one of the most lucrative tournament finishes ever for a Montana-based team.
The team — Jon Hoovestal, Dax Hoovestal, Bill Cooper, Bradley Hutchison, Jim Ferriter, and Steve Robertson — have been fishing together for years. Four of them work for Greenway Enterprises in Helena, and all share deep roots in the state’s outdoor community.
“It was one of those perfect moments,” one team member said. “We’d been fishing hard for days, then that marlin hit right before the clock ran out. Everything just came together.”
The group spent long days on the water — from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. — in pursuit of qualifying billfish. When the final hookset came, it was a test of teamwork and endurance as they fought the marlin to the boat.
The Bisbee’s tournament is known for attracting top anglers and million-dollar purses, and for a landlocked Montana crew to place in the top three is a rare feat. The team plans to use part of their winnings to cover next year’s entry fee and make another run at the title.
For these Helena fishermen, the trip wasn’t just about the money — it was about adventure, grit, and proving that Montana’s outdoor spirit knows no borders.
SOURCE: https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-news/helena-fishing-team-wins-half-a-million-dollars-in-cabo-tournament
