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HomeNewsLocal newsRobertson Top Angler, Backlash Top Boat in Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s...

Robertson Top Angler, Backlash Top Boat in Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Wahoo Windup Tournament

Wahoo was the name of the game on Saturday when sport fishermen aboard 12 boats weighed in over 140-pounds of this specie in the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Wahoo Windup Tournament. In the end, St. Thomas’ Forrest Robertson caught the Largest Wahoo, a 50.27-pounder, from aboard the 37-foot center console Backlash, with Captain Mark Blackburn at the helm.

L to R: Backlash Captain Marc Blackburn, Alan Patterson, Davis Petersen, Jeff Watson, and angler Forrest Robertson, with winning 50.27-pound wahoo. (Photo Credit: Dean Barnes)

“Within 45 minutes of lines in at 6:30 a.m., we caught two wahoo including the big one,” says Davis Petersen, one of two mates, along with Jeff Watson, aboard Backlash.

“The two wahoo weren’t double headers, but we did catch them back-to-back with about 5 minutes in between. We were looking for a reaction bite as we high-speed trolled west of St. Thomas. After we caught the wahoo, we worked our way back east, following the weed line, and released 4 or 5 dolphin (mahi-mahi). We didn’t catch any more wahoo after that. It was just the breakfast bite for the wahoo,” said Petersen.

Robertson’s catch was 24.73-pounds shy of the $25,000 prize offered for the tournament angler who caught the largest wahoo over 75-pounds.

Meanwhile, St. Thomas’ Michael Berry, angling off Anger Management, caught the Second Largest Wahoo, a 39.24-pounder.

Rounding out the top three, St. Thomas’ Jordan Cisneros on Mixed Bag landed the Third Largest Wahoo, a 27.78-pounder

The Best Boat prize went to Backlash, who collectively caught 74.50-pounds of wahoo.

Teams from both St. Thomas and St. Croix participated in the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Wahoo Windup Tournament. Cash prizes totaling over $7,000, trophies, and gift certificates were awarded to the winners.

“It was wonderful to have this level of participation from the Virgin Islands sports fishing community, especially representation from St. Croix. In the future, we look forward to doing more with fellow sport fishermen in St. Croix,” says Kelvin Bailey, Jr., president of the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Board of Directors.

The Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club appreciates the support of IGY’s American Yacht Harbor and Neptune Fishing Supplies.

Next up, the Club’s Kids Tournament takes place on Saturday, October 29, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call (340) 775-9144, or email usvigfc@gmail.com, or visit: www.vigfc.com

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