The 49thannual Budget Marine Spice Island Billfish Tournament is the longest running continuous sport fishing tournament in the Southern Caribbean. The tournament experienced its first scare since the inception of the tournament, having one of the vessels GODDA GO out of Trinidad and Tobago sink during the last day of the competition. Luckily no one was injured and the boat Cool Runnings cut their fishing short to rescue the guys and bring them in for which we greatly commend them.
In image: The boat Godda Go
Despite the incident, the Budget Marine Spice Island Billfish tournament was once again labelled as another success with 56boats participating. The big winner of the tournament was the boat Magic Lady out of Trinidad & Tobago scoring 3000 points with 1 Blue marlin, 2 White Marlin and 5 sailfish bringing the boat to win the Top Boat Position. Magic Lady and its team have also earned the right to take part in the Offshore World Championship Tournament in April in Costa Rica.
In image: the team of the winning boat Magic Lady with Budget Marine staff
Glen Chartlett fishing aboard Magic Lady brought in the most realeases earning him 1500 points and the title of Top Angler. Second place was won by Ryan Agar from ‘EZ Axcess’ from Trinidad & Tobago with EZ Axcess also coming in as 2ndplace boat with a total of 2700 points. Top Female Angler was won by Tricia Thompson and Top Junior Angler was won by Amelee Mayers, both were onboard ‘Remember Me Now’ from Barbados.
For next year’s tournament the format will change a bit according to Chairman of the organizing committee Richard McIntyre: ‘We are going to have a half day the first day then we will have a full 2nd, 3rdand 4thday, so it’s literally 3 half-days.’ They are also looking into adding another dock to accommodate the growing amount of participants that enjoy the Budget Marine Spice island Billfish Tournament. Organizers have also taken steps to ensure that the tournament continues, by continuing to catch and release billfish species that are below the required weight. This year, 80 billfish were released with the heaviest Yellow Fin to scale being 165lbs, just 10 pounds short of the current unbroken record of 175 pounds, brought in by Avi Paul from Grenada on Black Child II.
Nicholas George, Manager of Budget Marine and member of the organizing committee states: ‘The Budget Marine Spice Island Billfish Tournament is very well organized and we are proud to be the main sponsor of such a big Caribbean fishing event with boats coming from all over the Caribbean. Next year will be the 50thanniversary, make sure you are part of this great event!’
See here for full results:
Heaviest Yellow Fin To Scale 165lbs Avi Paul – Grenada – Black Child II
Heaviest Wahoo to Scale 37lbs Douglas Skinner – T & T – Temptation
Heaviest Dorado to Scale 18lbs Sheldon Williams – Gda – Uncle
BOAT POOL
4th Place Boat Pool 128lbs T&T – Houdini
3rd Place Boat Pool 254lbs T&T – Zingo
2nd Place Boat Pool 398lbsGrenada – Oceanus
1st Place Boat Pool 483lbs Grenada – Black Child II
LAST DAY SHOOT OUT
Last Day Points Shoot Out 2 Blue Marlin Releases 1,200 points Barbados – Sweet Peace
100% BILLFISH POT
Sailfish
6 Sailfish Releases USA – Exile
White Marlin
2 White Marlin Releases T&T – Magic Lady
Blue Marlin
2 Blue Marlin Releases T&T – Cocobel
Other Recognized Positions
Top Female Angler 900 points – 1 White Marlin, 2 Sailfish Barbados – Remember Me Now – Tricia Thompson
‘Republic Bank’ Top Junior Angler 300 points – 1 Sailfish Barbados – Remember Me Now – Amalee Mayers
3rd Place Angler 1,200 points – 4 Sailfish Releases Grenada – Yes Aye – Gary Clifford
2nd Place Angler 1,500 points – 1 Blue Marlin, 3 Sailfish T&T – EZ Axcess – Ryan Agar
1st Place Angler – ‘Republic Bank’ Trinidad & Tobago Angler 1,500 points – 2 White Marlin, 3 Sailfish T&T – Magic Lady – Glen Charlett
Top Grenada Angler 1,200 points – 4 Sailfish Yes Aye – Gary Clifford
Top Grenada Boat 1,800 points – 5 Sailfish Yes Aye
Top Martinique Boat N/A
Top Foreign Boat From the Barbados Game Fishing Association 3,000 points – 1 Blue Marlin, 2 White Marlin, 5 Sailfish T&T – Magic Lady
Top 10 Boats
10th Place Boat 1,500 points – 2 Blue Marlin Barbados – Sweet Peace
9th Place Boat 1,500 points – 1 White Marlin, 3 Sailfish Barbados – Remember Me Now
8th Place Boat 1,500 points – 2 Blue Marlin T&T – Cocobel
7th Place Boat 1,500 points – 1 Blue Marlin, 2 Sailfish T&T – Blue Fever II
6th Place Boat 1,800 points – 1 Blue Marlin, 3 Sailfish Barbados – Never Enough
5th Place Boat 1,800 points – 5 Sailfish T&T – Knot Easy
4th Place Boat 1,800 points – 5 Sailfish Grenada – Yes Aye
3rd Place Boat 2,400 points – 1 White Marlin, 6 Sailfish USA – Exile
2nd Place Boat 2,700 points – 2 Blue Marlin, 4 Sailfish T&T – EZ Axcess
1st Place Boat 3,000 points – 1 Blue Marlin, 2 White Marlin, 5 Sailfish T&T – Magic Lady
