wiiners
Fresh off their victory in the 3rd Annual Antigua and Barbuda Marlin Classic, Vitamin B, Captained by Antiguan Mike Pigott headed out for the two day fishing tournament with their sites set squarely on showing the competition that their win on Friday was not a one hit wonder.
Competition was tough in the division with a total of 32 blue marlin tag and release and only one bought to the scale. The marlin weighed 372 1/4 lbs and was boarded by Jean-Marc Duraine on French boat Epicure and netted the angler EC$10,000 in winnings.
Other individual prizes in the Marlin Division went to Hunter Langlois for Champion Youth and Vanessa Hall Champion Female Angler who both had one tag and release. It was however in Champion Male Angler where the points really kicked in, with Glen Irish of Vitamin B tagging and releasing four blue marlin, giving him the overall prize along with most tag and releases. They all received a trophy plus Maui Jim sunglassesfrom Shades Designer Eyewear and Irish also received EC$500 cash prize.
On the big prizes and second runner up overall was Blue Rapid captained by John Fuller just beating French boat Veni Vidi Fishi having made their tag and releases earlier. 1st runner up overall was Apollon from Guadeloupe captained by Carl Petreluzzi winning EC$5000.
The big prize however went to none other than Captain Mike Pigott on Vitamin B with 1200 points and earning him an EC$10,000 cash prize, a trophy and a gift page from Anjo Insurances.
In the sporting division, the ladies gave the men some serious competition and winning 4 of the ten individual prizes. Natalie Fuchs won second largest kingfish with her 29 3/4 fish and largest fish by a female with her 36 lb wahoo. Zoe Shoul, daughter of Chairman Phillip Shoul and just 15 years of age won second largest wahoo with her 45 1/4 lb fish, and biggest fishing by a youth.
In total of one hundred and twenty six dolphin, sixteen wahoo, three kingfish and one tuna were bought to the scale and kept the fresh fish stall busy from when the catch came in until 11pm each night.. Champion Boat 25 feet and under went to Nico Psihoyos captain of Goldfin who caught a total of 816 1/2 lbs, and this was enough to win Champion Boat Overall and earned him a total of EC$3000. Runner Up champion boat was Robert Shoul on Shoulin who netted a significant 471 1/4 lbs.
The entire event was a huge success with a huge variety of dining options from fish carpaccio to pulled pork sandwiches, fish water and gumbo to Selwyn’s famous Master Blaster named after our very own Sir Vivian Richards.
Hundreds of people gathered each afternoon in Nelson’s Dockyard to take in the festival atmosphere and catch up with people they haven’t seen all season while waiting for the fish weigh ins to determine the winners. As usual, Enjoy the fishing, Enjoy the lime was taken serioulsy by all!
