The Northside Sportfishing Club will host its Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament on Sunday July 16 at Hull Bay. Fishing starts at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 12 noon, sharp.
This biggest little fishing event in the Virgins draws the highest participation of any inshore fishing event of its kind, offering fishing fun and top prizes for competitors and charitable contributions that benefit community organizations, according to a release from the club.
Organized by the Northside Sportfishing Club, the event was first held in 1987 and has become a highlight of French Heritage Week festivities.
Coors Light and Snapple, distributed by Bellows International, Ltd., have long been the stalwart sponsors of this event, donating over $68,000 in cash and product during their ten years of principal sponsorship. Additional support is provided by Offshore Marine Services – who will donate a Caribe C-9, 9-foot 1-inch, inflatable dinghy with 8HP Yamaha engine for the Best Captain; FedEx – who is sponsoring angler hats, a live radio broadcast on WVWI Radio One and the $750 cash prize for Second Largest Kingfish; and Vitel Cellular – who donates the $2000 Largest Kingfish cash prize.
All anglers will receive an official Bastille Day/Guy Harvey T-shirt thanks to the combined sponsorship support of Coors Light, distributed by Bellows International, Offshore Marine and FedEx. In addition, several local resorts and hotels have donated overnight stays along with dinner for two, while Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is donating a week's cruise for two.
Part of the excitement of the Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is that the event offers a fun-packed day for the entire family. It also offers camaraderie and friendly competition among contestants who are both men and women, and junior anglers. "We're expecting more than 350 anglers this year and are grateful for the positive response we've received from all our sponsors," says Monica Lester, tournament director.
Fishing is followed by food, drink, and entertainment by day, with nighttime awarding of top money and other prizes to many lucky anglers.
Entry fees are $35 for adults, $20 for juniors ages 8 to 16. Entry forms can be obtained from E&M Grocery, Bryan's Electrical and Neptune Fishing Supplies. A Captain's Meeting and registration will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday July 14 at Larry's Hull Bay Hideaway
Rewards will be given for the largest kingfish, but also those reeling in the largest jack, largest barracuda, largest bonito, largest tuna, largest mackerel and largest dolphin. In addition to best captain, there are also prizes for best boat, best female angler, best male angler, best junior female angler and best junior male angler. Awards and prize giving will start at 8 p.m.
