Catch the largest kingfish and earn more than bragging rights. The Northside Sportfishing Club's Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament – set for Sunday July 10th at Hull Bay Hideaway – is your chance to catch that 'big one' while enjoying the camaraderie of family and friends. This inshore fishing event offers more ways to win and more cash and prizes than any other Virgin Islands-based tournament of its kind. In addition to fishing fun for anglers, there's a live band and beach party in the afternoon. Plus, your participation helps to raise event proceeds that benefit charitable community organizations.
Come one, come all – men, women, boys and girls – anglers of all skill levels are invited to enter, and everyone comes away a winner. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, entry fees are low – $40 for adults, $25 for juniors ages 8 to 16.
Coors Light and Snapple, distributed by Bellows International, Ltd., are once again on board as top sponsors. The brands have donated well over $100,000 in cash and product since signing aboard over two decades ago. Coors Light, which offers the cooling opportunity to 'Beat the Summer Heat with the World's Most Refreshing Beer', generously provides the official angler hats – Coors Light-sponsored for adults and Snapple-sponsored for kids – that have proven to be both a keepsake as well as symbol of an ace angler.
Long time Silver Sponsor, Offshore Marine, will donate cash prizes: $1000 for Best Boat, $1000 for Best Captain, $500 for Third Largest Kingfish, $500 for Best Male Angler, $250 for Best Junior Male Angler and $250 for Best Female Junior Angler. Offshore Marine is the place to buy and have serviced Yamaha Outboard Motors and Generators, and Yanmar and Caterpillar Diesel Engines and Generators.
NEMWIL – managed in the USVI by Red Hook Agencies, Inc. and providing homeowners and business insurance in the USVI for over 20 years – will donate the spectacular $2,000 cash prize for the Largest Kingfish prize. In addition, Red Hook Agencies, Inc., will sponsor a $500 prize for the Best Female Angler. As an added enticement for junior anglers, Red Hook Agencies will also sponsor the special "Catch in the Hat" award for all registered junior anglers. All junior angler names will be placed in a hat. The first eight names drawn will receive $50 cash and the next one win $100 dollars, for a total award of $500. Juniors must be present at the Awards Ceremony to win.
Meanwhile, TOPA Insurance Services Inc., will donate the $375 each in prizes for anglers catching the Largest Jack, Largest Barracuda, Largest Bonito and Largest Mackerel, and provide Angler Bags.
All registered anglers will receive an official Bastille Day T-shirt thanks to the combined sponsorship support of Coors Light and Bellows International Ltd, Offshore Marine and NEMWIL, as well as a goodie bag compliments of Hawaiian Tropic.
In addition to cash prizes, local hotels and restaurateurs have contributed numerous overnight stays and dinners for two, respectively.
Last year, 45 boats and 167 anglers – including 29 junior anglers – competed. Patrick Berry of St. Thomas, who reeled in a 20.88-pound kingfish aboard the 18-foot Mariner, Sea Bird, caught the tournament's Largest Kingfish.
Entry forms can be obtained from Neptune Fishing Supplies. A Captain's Meeting and Registration will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Hull Bay Hideaway on Friday July 8th. Late Registration will also be held on Saturday July 9th at Hull Bay Hideaway from 12 Noon until 7 p.m. Fishing starts at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday July 10th, and ends at 12 Noon, sharp. From Noon until 2 p.m., while the weigh-master and judges go to work, all anglers can quench their thirst at either a Coors Light and Paradise Rum punch or Snapple open bar, depending on age.
What's a party without food and music! Come feast on Noreen's famous beef and salt fish pates, Johnny cakes, chicken wings and a roast pork platter with fixings for lunch. Food will be available from Chef Todd in the evening. Cool Session will play from Noon until 5 p.m. and C4 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. The Awards Ceremony starts at 8 p.m. at Hull Bay Hideaway.
First organized by the Northside Sportfishing Club in 1987, the tournament has become one of the highlights of French Heritage Week July 8th-14th festivities. The event benefits St. Thomas Rescue, Sibilly School and Kidscope, as well as providing college scholarships. To request an application for the Annual Northside Sportfishing Club's Scholarship, please email nssfcvi@gmail.com. For more information about the tournament, call: 998-0854.
