Big fish and lots of them is what anglers – and the crowds that came to watch and have fun at the Coors Light and Snapple party – enjoyed at the 21st Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament, held Sunday at Hull Bay Hideaway.
When the official weigh-in was complete, it was Josh Slayton of St. John who reeled in the largest kingfish, a record-setting 58.78-pounder aboard the 33-foot custom sport fisher World Class Anglers.
“We headed off the south side of St. John and caught a small kingfish first,” Slayton said. “Then Chris (Capt. Chris Tronquet) told me to check the baits, and that’s when I saw the hit on the flat line. The kingfish peeled off about 200 yards of line, so we knew it was big. I finally reeled him in about 15 minutes later. When Chris put the gaff in him and pulled him aboard we could see how big he was.”
For his efforts, Slayton pocketed $2,000 in cash for his largest kingfish, sponsored by NEMWIL, managed in the USVI by Red Hook Agencies.
The prize for second-largest kingfish went to 14-year-old junior angler Robert A. Greaux Jr., who caught a 56.66-pounder aboard C-Hawk. Greaux won $750 in cash.
“I’ve fished this tournament for three years, but haven’t caught a fish this big,” Greaux said. “When I hooked it, the fish peeled off a good bit of line. I kept saying to myself, ‘Don’t break loose, don’t break loose,’ and it didn’t.”
Eddie Bryan, fishing aboard Jus Chillin, reeled in a 41.91-pounder to win the third-largest kingfish cash prize of $500, sponsored by Offshore Marine and Yanmar.
With 18 fish (141.39 pounds) caught total, Shawn Berry aboard Weapon of Mass Destruction won the award for best boat and was awarded $1,000 cash from Offshore Marine and Yanmar.
Meanwhile, the catch of four kingfish (50.38 pounds) earned Fernando Silva, aboard Karaho, the best captain award and $1,000 cash from Offshore Marine and Yanmar.
Raymond Petersen’s catch of a total of 141.39 pounds of fish, aboard Weapon of Mass Destruction, earned him best male angler and a $500 cash prize from Offshore Marine and Yanmar.
It was Tarn Hildreth, aboard World Class Angler, who reeled in a total of 31.19 pounds of fish to pick up the best female angler award and a $500 cash prize from Red Hook Agencies.
The best junior male prize of $250 cash from Offshore Marine and Yanmar went to Greaux.
Nicole Berry won the best junior female prize, $250 cash from Offshore Marine and Yanmar, with the catch of 49.28 pounds of fish aboard Friendship.
Although the tournament is focused around kingfish, other species earned anglers $375 cash each courtesy of TOPA Insurance Services. Wayne Bryan caught the largest jack, a 14.32 pounder, from aboard Karaho. Dale Brin reeled in the largest barracuda, a 21.70 pounder, from aboard We Be Fishin. The largest bonito was caught aboard Weapon of Mass Destruction by Raymond Petersen; it weighed 2.94 pounds. Finally, Edgar Bengoa reeled in the largest mackerel, an 8.24 pounder, from Tootse.
This year — thanks to a unique partnership between Sen. Patrick Simeon Sprauve, the St. Thomas Fishermen’s Association and the Northside Sportfishing Club — Charlotte Amalie High School student Keith Roy Colbourne, in recognition for his many hours of volunteer community service, had a chance to join experienced fishermen and fish the tournament aboard the Ms. Andrea.
“It was a fun day,” Colbourne said, smiling holding up his catch.
Winners also received overnight stays at local hotels, dinners for two and a variety of luxury gifts and excursions, all generously donated by the V.I. business community.
Judges Herman Richardson and Kevin LaPlace Sr. officially weighed in the catches.
After weigh-in, the fun continued onshore at Hull Bay Hideaway with a Coors Light and Snapple party, both sponsored by Coors Light, distributed by Bellows International. Island Oasis also served a complimentary blended-fruit drink with Paradise Rum for adult anglers and virgin-style for junior anglers.
Cool Session Brass entertained throughout the afternoon. Later, crowds gathered inside Hull Bay Hideaway for the awards ceremony at 8 p.m., where the Spectrum Band entertained.
All 36 registered junior anglers were eligible for a special “Catch In The Hat” award. In this award, sponsored by Hull Bay Hideaway and Red Hook Agencies, the first 16 names drawn from a hat received $50 cash and the last two names called won $100 dollars each.
Nearly $12,000 was awarded this year in cash and prizes.
Each year, the Northside Sportfishing Club makes donations to community organizations and individuals. This year’s beneficiaries are the Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue, the American Red Cross, Kidscope and the Family Resource Center. The club also awards college scholarships.
The tournament was run this year by a new generation of organizers: Catherine Bryan, Gene Brin Jr., Danny and Jessica LaPlace, and Carlyn and Wesley Ledee.
The Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is one of the most popular French Heritage Week activities, a week observed this year from July 8-July 14.
2009 Results
57 Boats
208 Anglers (includes 36 Jr. Anglers)
169 Fish Caught, 1444.79-pounds
35 Kingfish Caught, 579.35-pounds
Placement Angler Pounds Boat
Largest Kingfish Josh Slayton 58.78* World Class Anglers
2nd Largest Kingfish Robert Greaux Jr. 56.66 C-Hawk
3rd Largest Kingfish Eddie Bryan 41.91 Jus Chillin
Best Boat Shawn Berry 18 fish Weapon of Mass Destruction
Best Captain Fernando Silva 4 kingfish Karaho
Best Female Tarn Hildreth 31.19 World Class Anglers
Best Male Raymond Petersen 141.39 Weapon of Mass Destruction
Best Junior Male Robert Greaux Jr. 56.66 C-Hawk
Best Junior Female Nicole Berry 49.28 Friendship
Largest Jack Wayne Bryan 14.32 Karaho
Largest Barracuda Dale Brin 21.70 We Be Fishin
Largest Bonito Raymond Petersen 2.94 Weapon of Mass Destruction
Largest Mackerel Edgar Bengoa 8.24 Tootse
*Tournament record
