The 37th annual USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament, also known as the Boy Scout Tournament for the organization that the event benefits, will take place Aug. 3-7, out of American Yacht Harbor (AYH) on St. Thomas. Anglers, captains and crews will set their sights on catching and releasing the most blue marlin first.
“We’re expecting about 37 boats this year,” says Jimmy Loveland, tournament director.
Final registration will take place from 7-9 a.m., on Thursday, July 30, at the head of “A” Dock at American Yacht Harbor Marina.
Highlights of this tournament, hailed as the ‘Superbowl of Sports Fishing’ include:
- Aug. 2, 9:30 a.m. – noon:Innovative Cellular’s Handline Tournament. Held on AYH docks. Over 200 kids are expected. Visitors are welcome to join in.
- Aug. 3, 4, 5 and 7: Tournament Fishing. The fleet arrives back to the dock about 6:30 p.m. Come walk the docks and check out how many blue marlin flags fly on each boat’s outriggers – an indicator of the catch and release count for the day.
- Aug. 5, 7 p.m.: Enjoy Cheese Burgers in Paradise. The Boy Scouts invite everyone to their cookout at Camp Wahoo, located by the tournament tent. At 8:30 p.m., the Caribbean Night Show gets underway. The public is invited.
- Aug. 7, 4:35 p.m. Jim Smith Race from the Edge. Sapphire Point is the best place to watch the fleet race back to shore.
The tournament is fished under International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) rules and is overseen by a professional board of captains and well-qualified observers. It benefits the Virgin Islands Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
For more information, call: 1-888-2-FISHVI (1-888-234-7484), or 340-775-9500, or fax: 340-779-8605, or visit www.abmt.vi
