Catch a 708-pound blue marlin – or bigger – and you’ll not only set a new St. Lucia record, but you’ll also drive off in a brand new Suzuki Jimny SUV.
Once again, the St. Lucia Game Fishing Association (SLGFA) will host its 18th Annual St. Lucia International Billfish Tournament out of the Marina at Discovery at Marigot Bay, September 11-14.
"The marlin fishing starts only a couple of miles offshore from this location, mainly in the lee of the island and in normally calm seas,” says Bernard Johnson, SLGFA president.
Over 40 boats and 150 anglers from the U.S. Mainland and Europe as well as Caribbean islands of Antigua, Trinidad, Barbados, Martinique, Grenada, St. Vincent and, of course, St. Lucia, are expected to take part in the event.
Free dockage, water and electricity will be provided to participating boats for the duration of the tournament. In addition, Discovery at Marigot Bay has extended special accommodation packages for competitors, their families and friends.
“There are boats available for charter so plenty of opportunity for those who might not have their own fishing boat to get involved,” says SLGFA’s event coordinator, Annie Hamu.
Those who wish to line up a charter for the tournament can contact: Hackshaw Boat Charters (758) 453-0553, Captain Mikes (758) 452-7044, Xiphias Seeker (758) 718-5293, Latent Talent (758) 720-0799, and Duke Charters (758) 584-2993.
Last year, angler Daniel Agostini, fishing from aboard the Trinidadian boat, Gud Tyme, nearly broke the island record when he reeled in a 657-pound blue marlin on 80-pound test. The island record of 707-pounds was in 1996 by Jean-Francois Fredonic of Martinique.
Top cash prizes await anglers who catch big fish or release lots of fish. For example, a 350-plus pound blue marlin will net an angler US $1500, while the most released white marlin, sailfish, long bill spearfish or swordfish will enable an angler to pocket US $400 per species. The Best Boat prize, calculated by the combined points for all the boat’s anglers, is US $2000 plus the boat’s name on a perpetual trophy.
Activities off the water will feature nightly entertainment at neighboring hot spots such as JJ’s Paradise, Chateau Mygo and Doolittles.
The St. Lucia International Billfish Tournament is a qualifier for the Bonnier World Series and the Southern Caribbean Billfish Circuit.
For more tournament information, contact Hamu at: (758) 716 8124.
