Antigua & Barbuda Sport Fishing Club held its 40 th Annual Sport Fishing Tournament, June 1 st this year. Anglers in 30 boats from all over the Caribbean primed their lines and arrived in Antigua to take part in a tournament, considered to be amongst the five premier tournaments in the Caribbean.
Top prize in the Marlin division this year was EC$135,000 for breaking the record of 771 ¼ pounds for a Blue Marlin, but sadly the largest fish were not biting during the three days fishing and this award went unclaimed. The biggest Blue Marlin weighed in at 234 pounds, but cost that fisherman 300 points for reeling it in at under 300lbs.
Fishing was not the only way to win prizes. Entertainment had been organised for every evening and the Sunday Lay Day took place at Pigeon Point Beach with plenty of good food (fish, of course) and the prestigious Cook Off competition (fish again), not to mention tug-o’-war and football, time to get in a little practice before the Soccer World Cup final in Germany.
Bringing this fishy tail to an end, the prize-giving dinner, attended by His Excellency Sir James Carlisle, Governor-General of Antigua & Barbuda and the Hon. John Maginly, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs saw Obsession (Antigua & Barbuda) collect a cheque for EC$4000 and Oli-T for EC$2,000. Obsession won in three categories: Champion boat, Champion Angler, and Most Tags & Releases. The crew released four Blue Marlins and one White Martin.
