Regarded as well-loved – in competition and in parties – and hosting up to 50 teams from 10 different country across the Caribbean, Germany and the United States, the 52nd Antigua Barbuda Sport Fishing Tournament is an Offshore World Championship-sanctioned event. By combining two tournaments into one, the committee dedicates one separate tournament day in memory of Antiguan Capt. Mikie Pigott.
With the weather on the down-tick, tournament coordinator Robert Hall was determined to make the best of it and continue on his quest to put on the same tournament which anglers have come to love. With an opportunity to showcase their country, Antigua and Barbuda played host to 21 teams and 121 anglers, all anxious to bag a 772-pound blue marlin (the required weight to beat the island record) in order to take home a cool $100,000 bonus.
Snotty conditions and miles of grass made the billfishing almost unfishable. Even though presenting the baits was a challenge, Double Rum ‘n Coke managed to bring to the leader a single sailfish to win the one-day Capt. Mikie Pigott Memorial portion of the tournament.
After a Bimini start, departing from Nelson’s Dockyard, teams fishing aboard Douglas and Appolon each had a blue marlin on the board after Day One of the Sport Fishing Tournament, and on Day Two, Chok Dee II released a blue, as did Double Rum ‘n Coke.
In the end, the anglers aboard Douglas won on time by releasing the first blue marlin of the tournament; Appolon finished second, also with one blue marlin release.
