Sunday, February 7 2010

THE Trinidad and Tobago Game Fishermen have continued their dominance in the first round of this year’s Southern Caribbean Bill Fish Tournament Circuit.

Team “Papasan” recently emerged victorious in the 41st Spice Island Bill Fish Tournament (SIBT) in Grenada. The tournament took place on January 25 to 28 at the Grenada Yacht Club in the lagoon, St George’s.

Papasan’s captain, Anthony Brash and crewmate, Muray Fournellier got in on the action by catching and releasing a total of five billfish (three were Blue Marlins).

Other team members of the winning Trinidad and Tobago team included Victor Tardieu and Nigel Bennet.

Second place went to the Grenadian boat, Crazy Ballhead with a total of four releases (three were Blue Marlins). This team had Trinidadian, Dominic “Puppy” De Lima as their captain.

Another Trinidad and Tobago team “Blue Fever”, placed third with five releases (two were Blue Marlins). This team had Travis Ali as their captain and included teammates, Dominic “Wally” Wallace (of Reel Tackle Shop in Cocorite), Marc Telfer,Glen Charlett, Fernando Navarro and Michael De Freitas.

Teams from Trinidad and Tobago have won this tournament every year for the last four years. It started in 2007 with team “Houdini” walking away with the title.Then in 2008 and again in 2009 “Hard Play 2” was the champion.

Other Southern Caribbean Bill Fish Tournament Championship teams from Trinidad and Tobago that made the 80-mile journey to Grenada in 2010 include Magic Lady, Pair A Dice,Par T Time, Finesse, Mar Caribe, Hooker, Southern Cross, Fun Now, Luhr’d Away, Done Digging, Snap Roll, Champy, Why Worry,Terminated,Fever, Afunday, Gud Time,Cool Runnings,Liquid, Knot Easy and Ring Leader. Several other teams made their way from Barbados, Martinique, St Lucia and the UK to compete with the Trinidad and Tobago teams along with numerous boats from Grenada. From 1964 the event has grown considerably and in recent years would normally attract about 35 boats but last year had an outstanding 45 teams compete.

Team “Papapsan” will be in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 2011 to represent Trinidad and Tobago as the Spice Island Bill Fish Tournament is a qualifying event for the IGFA Offshore Championship.

The 2010 Spice Island Bill Fish Tournament Results:

Best Boat— 1 Papasan (T&T); 2 Crazy Baldhead (Grenada); 3 Blue Fever (T&T); 4 Big Swordfish (Martinique); 5 Temptation (T&T) Top Release Boat— Blue Fever Top Release Angler— Michael De Freitas (Blue Fever) Best Angler— 1 Anthony Brash (Papasan); 2 David Gibbon (Wahoo); 3 Michael De Freitas (Blue Fever)