ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SPORTS FISHING ASSOCIATION

The crowds came out for this annual favourite tournament and seafood fest held in Nelson's Dockyard Marina.

The lawn in front of the Copper and Lumber Hotel was a riot of colour as friends and family gathered to welcome back the twenty two boats who entered the 4th Annual FrancIs Nunes Jr. Tournament and Seafood Festival.

Jason Belizaire's Pazit II (above photo) who caught 183¾ lbs of fish took away the Champion boat overall At the prize giving ceremony held below the fish scale, the captain and his teams had huge smiles across their faces as Chairman Phillip Shoul and Franky's daughter Viviana handed over the trophy.

The ladies competed strongly with Stephanie Shoul's 54lb wahoo netting her not only Biggest Fish caught by a female but biggest wahoo and Manny Titze on Sixpence netted a 25½ lb kingfish giving her largest kingfish overall.

From the men, largest fish went to Samier Hanna on Simply Nutz catching a 42¼ lb wahoo and largest Dolphin went to Colin Martin on White Eagle who caught a 16½ lb dolphin.

This tournament is held as a memorial to FrancIs Nunes Jr. who was so important in the development of sport fishing in Antigua. A big family man, the vision for this tournament was about bringing family and friends together and to support youths and children getting involved in fishing as both a career and a hobby.  Seven year old Hunter Langlois won the trophy for youngest angler to catch a fish, with a 13¾ dolphin, and nephew to Franky, Joseph Nunes proved age is no barrier, when he hauled in a 44¾ lb wahoo to walk away with biggest fish caught by a youth.

Friends and family did indeed come and support the day into night seafood fest and once the awards ceremony ended, it really did become food time. Possibility the best cuisine offered yet at one of these tournaments, festival goers senses we assailed with the gorgeous aroma of fish; on the grill, the coal pot and fried. Fresh seafood pasta, gumbo, cockles, conch, lobster, battered fish and even sushi were on sale. With more food stalls than ever the service was faster and appetites were quickly.sated. The biggest disappointment was not being able to fit in samples of everything on offer. New for 2011,  Just Desserts supplied tasty options for the sweet lovers amongst us - fresh fruit cheese cakes and pecan pies among others were greedily consumed throughout the afternoon. Jane’s Barbecue, Global Catering Services, Cloggy's and Life on the Corner were the other tasty options.

Along with a cocktail bar featuring Bombay Sapphire Gin and Prosecco from sponsors Bryden's and Sons (Antigua) Ltd. , a Rum Shack complete with dominoes from Premier Beverages and the famous EC$5 Carib and Cavalier bar attendees were able to bar hop and food hop all evening.

There is no doubt the visitors enjoyed the laid back atmosphere enhanced by Chickie's tunes, and the beautiful and historic atmosphere of Nelson's Dockyard.

Check out all the galleries at www.antiguabarbudasportfishing.com  

Photographs by Kevin Johnson.