SPICE ISLAND BILLFISH TOURNAMENT PRESS RELEASE
(2 pages)
Contact: Richard McIntyre FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: (473) 440 3753 Thursday 29th January 2009.
One Hundred and Four Billfish Released at the 40th Spice Island Billfish Tournament
Grand Slam Grenada 20-23rd January 2009
The 40th Anniversary Spice Island Billfish Tournament attracted a fantastic turnout of Forty-Five boats carrying 206 anglers to the Grenada Yacht Club, home of the event. Anglers entered from Trinidad & Tobago (more than half the boats came from the twin island state), St Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, Jamaica, United Kingdom, Germany and Grenada. The fishing did not disappoint with the official results showing one hundred and four billfish released and only one blue marlin landed after it died during the fight (Four Hundred and forty one pounds by Pair a Dice from Trinidad and Tobago). Many more billfish escaped and additional catches of yellowfin tuna to 163lbs, Wahoo to 56 lbs and Dorado to 42lb kept anglers busy.
The boats paraded out through the Carenage, St George’s on the way to the bimini start across the harbour mouth on Tuesday 20th January. At the start the control boat advised one of the smallest entries “Maya” of Trinidad and Tobago, to go to the end of the line to avoid getting swamped by the bigger boats. It was obvious from the tone of their reply that they had something up their sleeve and sure enough as soon as the cannon sounded they were off – speeding away whilst the big diesel engined boats were still spooling up! Seas were calm and the backdrop of a double rainbow and large cruise ships made for great pictures as the boats roared off. Lines in was at 7.35am.and Pair a Dice called in the first strike - much later they boated the 441 lb marlin when it came up dead. Hard Play II showed they were serious about repeating last years win when they boated a tuna and followed it up with a sailfish release. Grey Ghost had a blue marlin by the boat for the release pictures but after they took them the fish bolted and got foul-hooked – it took them several HOURS to get it back to remove the hook! The new Crazy Horse Again released two white marlin on its SIBT debut. Ruby’s Joy 1 had some action for Team Jamaica who flew down specially to fish the event. UK entry Gecko reported missing about 13 knockdowns before successfully releasing a white marlin. The magnificent De Reel Viking (Barbados)at their first SIBT, started their excellent run of fish with a sailfish release. Lots of action through the day kept everyone occupied with out many quiet spells. Totals for the day were 21 Sailfish, 9 Blue Marlin, and 8 White Marlin released plus the Blue Marlin landed by Pair a Dice – 39 billfish in total.
The second day Wednesday 21st started with a double hook up for Blue Magic at 8am, unfortunately, they lost both fish. Grey Ghost continued from the previous day releasing a Blue Marlin. Miss Abbie had a long fight with a 163lb yellowfin tuna.
To show the quality of the fishing De Reel Viking completed a Grand Slam (Blue & White Marlin and Sailfish in one day). Exactly 2 minutes later Equity achieved their Grand Slam – great action!
Junior angler Matthew Roach fishing on Legacy added a Blue Marlin release to his sailfish of yesterday – definitely a master angler in the making!
The water was very green in most areas on the 2nd day but the catch rate was still good with 9 blue marlin, 6 white marlin and 22 sailfish released – total 37 releases including 2 Grand Slams – great stuff! At the end of day 2 Hard Play II were leading the boats on 2700 points followed by De Reel Viking on 2300 and Legacy on 2100. Adrien Johnson, Edward Aboud and Godfrey George were tied at the top of the anglers table on 1000 points.
Day 3 Friday 23rd January was an early start as usual and the stage was set for a very close fight for both top Boat and Top Angler. Blue Fever released a Sailfish for the first fish of the day. Second place boat De Reel Viking hooked up and released a sail to close within 100 points of Hard Play II. Not long afterwards they released another to take the lead by 200 points. Everyone was waiting to see if Hard Play II could respond – they had not been on the radio all day….
Jeanne Aleong on Ega Beaver (T&T) had great action with sailfish releasing three during the day and taking her to top lady angler position.
Not to be out done Hard Play II suddenly called in hooked up and then released a sailfish to reclaim the lead and also to put Andrew Llanos into a tie with Ryan Agar for first angler on 1200 points.
The 26 sailfish and 3 blue marlin released on day 3 contributed to the final figures for the tournament which were: 69 Sailfish, 14 White Marlin and 21 Blue Marlin released and 1 Blue marlin landed = 105 billfish caught.
The awards ceremony and closing dinner was held at the Grenada Yacht Club and attended by anglers, sponsors and the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Hon. Peter David (who also experienced the fishing on one of the boats); the results were as follows:
First place boat (and back to back winners of SIBT): Hard Play II (T&T), second: De Reel Viking (Barbados), third: Legacy (Barbados).
Joint First place anglers: Ryan Agar (Why Worry T&T) and Andrew Llanos (Hard Play II T&T), second: Adrien Johnson (Legacy (Barbados)), third: Edward Aboud(Reel Finatic T&T).
Top Female angler: Jeanne Aleong (Ega Beaver Trinidad & Tobago)
Top Junior Angler: Matthew Roach (Legacy Barbados)
Boat pool (weight of fish brought to the scale): First: Pair a Dice (T&T), second: Maya (T&T), third: Miss Abbie (T&T), fourth: Contendress (Martinique)
Top Grenadian boat: Crazy Horse Again
SIBT Grenada is the first tournament of the Southern Caribbean Billfish Circuit and the 2008 Trophy was presented to winners Hard Play II.
The SIBT committee would like to thank all the participating boats and anglers for supporting the event, and to thank all their sponsors and especially Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Island Water World and Carib Beer for making this competition possible.
Gary Clifford, SIBT Committee
