The 2015 Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament, Battle in the Bahamas, drew anglers from Canada, China and the United States who competed for $10,000 cash, trophies, prizes and an all-expense-paid trip to China.
Snapper, dolphin fish, wahoo, blackfin tuna, grouper and kingfish were reeled in by 60 anglers during the four-day event, held at Freeport in the Grand Bahamas.
According to event organizer Joe Hector, live bait was “hard to come by” so the fishermen had resort to “old tactics” of catching their own. “They also used jigs, lures and anything they could get their hands on,” he said.
Brian Nelli broke a tournament record with his 13.9-pound mutton snapper as did Adam Fisk with a dolphin fish, or Mahi-Mahi, weighing in at 29.3 pounds.
For the second time in the Battle in the Bahamas history, Nelli claimed the top spot. With a total of 43.2 pounds, he won $10,000 cash, a trophy, an all-expense -paid trip to China, a custom fishing rod and Extreme Champion ring. Second-place honors went to Eric McDonald who won $3,500 cash and a custom Wahoo trophy. A new 2015 Hobie Outback was presented to third place winner Dyllan Service for his 30.6-pound King fish. Adam Fisk and Shawn Fields took fourth and fifth places.
Additional prizes and awards went to Austen Collin, Nick Dimov, Rob Rodriguez and Jon Venarchick.
“This was truly a tournament to remember for all who were involved,” said Hector.
IGF rules state that no more than just the one angler can handle the rod and reel, if any other person touches the rod or reel at any time, there is no record other that of a big fish being caught. It still is a nice catch !