ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SPORTS FISHING ASSOCIATION

The planning has started for the 45th Annual Antigua and Barbuda Sport Fishing Tournament which takes place 10th-12th of June 2011. A new addition to the programme for this year, the Antigua and Barbuda Marlin Classic, will add some excitement and competition this year for the bill fish enthusiasts. For one day only, on 13th June, entrants will pay US $1,000 as a registration fee to enter the competition. The difference between this event and the main tournament is that there is a minimum weight of 500 lbs for any marlin brought to the scale. Catch and release will still be very much encouraged with photo evidence needed of the catch. At the end of the day the boat with the most points will take 80% of the cash.

Event and club chairman Philip Shoul says “We are really looking forward to the increased interest that the one day Marlin Classic is going to bring to the tournament programme. Three days fishing, two in the main tournament and the one-day Marlin Classic, will make it more worthwhile for overseas boats to enter and in fact we have already received our first one from the UK who will be chartering the boat Suzie Q which operates out of the St. James Club Hotel. It brings a much needed boost to tourism out of season, especially in the English Harbour area, and we are about to embark on further overseas marketing in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas to bring awareness of our fantastic fishing events to that market.”

Within the last two weeks the Sport Fishing TV crew has been back on island to film its second half-hour show to be aired on the Versus Network on 5th March 2011. Sport Fishing is a niche tourism market enjoyed by high net worth individuals. The online entry system for 2011 is now open. Show your support of the event by registering your boat early.

Article and photo courtesy of Antigua and Barbuda Sport Fishing Association.