The Northside Sportfishing Club’s Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is set for Sunday, July 11, at Hull Bay Hideaway. The inshore fishing event offers more ways to win, and more cash and prizes than any other Virgin Islands-based tournament of its kind. Festivities also include live bands and a beach party. The proceeds from the event benefit charitable community organizations.
More than 300 anglers – men, women, boys and girls of all skill levels – are expected to enter. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, entry fees are low at $45 for adults and $35 for juniors ages 8-16.
Coors Light and Snapple, distributed by Bellows International Ltd., are once again on board as Gold Sponsors. The brands have donated over $100,000 in cash and product since signing aboard over a decade ago. Coors Light provides the official angler hats that have proven to be both a keepsake as well as symbol of an ace angler.
Long time Silver Sponsor, Offshore Marine, the Yamaha and Yanmar distributor in the Virgin Islands, will donate cash prizes: $1000 for Best Boat, $1000 for Best Captain, $500 for Third Largest Kingfish, $500 for Best Male Angler, $250 for Best Junior Male Angler and $250 for Best Female Junior Angler.
Silver Sponsor NEMWIL, managed in the USVI by Red Hook Agencies Inc., will donate the $2,000 cash prize for the Largest Kingfish prize. In addition, Red Hook Agencies Inc. will sponsor a $500 prize for the Best Female Angler. As an added enticement for junior anglers, Red Hook Agencies will also sponsor the special “Catch in the Hat” award for all registered junior anglers. All junior angler names will be placed in a hat. The first eight names drawn will receive $50 cash, and the next one will win $100 dollars, for a total award of $500. Juniors must be present at the awards ceremony to win.
Meanwhile, Bronze Sponsor, TOPA Insurance Services Inc., will donate the $375 each in prizes for anglers catching the Largest Jack, Largest Barracuda, Largest Bonito and Largest Mackerel.
All registered anglers will receive an official Bastille Day T-shirt thanks to the combined sponsorship support of Coors Light and Bellows International Ltd, Offshore Marine and NEMWIL, as well as a goodie bag with goodies, thanks to Hawaiian Tropic.
New this year, everyone – either as an individual or as a group – is invited to enter the Scotiabank Sand Sculpture Contest. It’s free to enter. All you need to bring is your creativity. The theme will be nautical. The competition will begin at noon, and judging of the contest will take place at 2 p.m., and at 3 p.m., the winner will receive $300 cash, a trophy and bragging rights, and all participants will receive a ribbon.
Once again, local hotels and restaurateurs have contributed overnight stays and dinners for two, respectively, as additional prizes.
Last year, 57 boats and 208 anglers – including 36 junior anglers – competed. Josh Slayton of St. John, who reeled in a record-setting 58.78-pounder aboard the 33-foot custom sport fisher World Class Angler, caught the tournament’s largest kingfish.
Entry forms can be obtained from Bryan’s Electrical and Neptune Fishing Supplies. A captain’s meeting and registration will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Hull Bay Hideaway on Friday, July 9. Late Registration will also be held from noon until 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 10, at Hull Bay Hideaway. Fishing will start at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday July 11, and will end at noon, sharp.
There will be a free taxi shuttle from Sib’s Parking Lot to Hull Bay Hideaway from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
There will be drink, food (burgers, hot dogs, roti and johnny cakes) and live music throughout the afternoon for community spectators who come down to see the catch and catch the fun for the day. Cool Session will play from noon until 5 p.m. and C4 will play from 6-10 p.m. The awards ceremony will start at 8 p.m. at Hull Bay Hideaway.
First organized by the Northside Sportfishing Club in 1987, the tournament has become one of the highlights of French Heritage Week July 8-14 festivities. The event benefits St. Thomas Rescue, Joseph Sibilly Elementary School and Kidscope. It also provides college scholarships to students of French descent. For more information, call 998-0854.
