The 35th Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament returns Sunday to Hull Bay on St. Thomas, hosted by the Northside Sportfishing Club and offering multiple categories for a chance to win, including $2,000 for the crew that catches the largest kingfish.
Registration takes place at the Captain’s Meeting on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at The Shack at The Hideaway in Hull Bay. Final registration happens on Saturday at the same location from noon until 4 p.m. Entry fees are $60 for adults and $50 for juniors ages 8 to 17. All registered anglers receive an official Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament T-shirt, hat, sunscreen and goodie bag, according to a press release announcing the details. More than 200 anglers — adults and juniors of all skill levels — and over 60 boats are expected to enter.
Even if that “big one” gets away, there are other categories to win: Second Largest Kingfish, Third Largest Kingfish, Fourth Largest Kingfish, Best Captain, Best Boat, Best Male Angler, Best Female Angler, Best Junior Male Angler, Best Junior Female Angler, Largest Bonito, and Largest Mackerel. This adds up to over $10,000 in cash and prizes, the release stated.
Lines in the water start at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. Weigh-in begins at noon, and all boats must be in Hull Bay by noon, according to the rules. Entertainment for the day includes the Klimaxx Band from 1 to 5 p.m., and Obsession Band from 5 to 9 p.m.
The ‘Catch in the Hat’ drawing, sponsored by Offshore Marine, happens at the 2:30 p.m. band break. All registered junior anglers’ names will be placed in a hat whether they catch fish or not. The first eight names drawn will receive $50 in cash, and the ninth will win $100, for a total award of $500. Junior anglers must be present at The Shack at The Hideaway to claim their prizes. The 50/50 raffle drawing will be held at 5 p.m., and participants must also be present to win. The awards ceremony follows at 7 p.m.
To avoid parking hassles, a free shuttle will offer rides from the parking lot at Sib’s on the Mountain Bar and Restaurant (at the intersection of Routes 33 and 37 in Estate Elizabeth) to The Shack at The Hideaway on Sunday. Two shuttles will operate simultaneously. Shuttle service starts at 10 a.m., and the last ride departs Hull Bay at 7 p.m.
A portion of funds raised from the 2026 Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament will benefit the Joseph Sibilly School, Nana Baby Children’s Home, St. Thomas Rescue and the St. Thomas Fisherman’s Association.
In 2019, National Geographic magazine named the Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament one of the world’s “9 Bastille Day bashes that celebrate French Culture,” the press release noted. In 2012, online travel advisor Hotwire.com named St. Thomas one of the Top 10 destinations in the world to celebrate Bastille Day, thanks to the tournament, which is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ French Heritage Week celebrations. Additionally, the club was named Best Sports Organization of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas for 2016, 2017, and 2019 in the Virgin Islands Daily News “Best of the V.I.” readers’ poll.
The Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is sponsored by The Shack and The Hideaway at Hull Bay; Offshore Marine, the YAMAHA distributor in the Virgin Islands; Masters Insurance and Guardian Insurance; Budget Marine, the Caribbean’s Leading Chandlery; Caribbean Gifts N Things/Caribbean Sol; Amalie Car Rental; Frank’s Electric; Scoops and Brew; Fish Bar; Searena Properties; Neptune Fishing Supplies; Bee Green Pest Control; Anchor Title LLC; Stabilis Builders; and Rock Rakers Landscaping.
For more information, email: nssfcvi@gmail.com. Or check them out on Facebook and Instagram #northsidesportfishingclub .
