The bite is on in the islands!

El Pilar Wins Historic

Hemingway tournament in Cuba

It was fitting that the 60th annual Ernest Hemingway International Billfish Tournament in Cuba was won by a team fishing a boat named El Pilar. “With this victory we paid homage to that man who gave his name to this event. Cuban anglers had a lot of influence on Hemingway and he liked them enough to allow this tournament to have his name while he was still alive,” said El Pilar’s owner, José Luis “Pepe” Conde of Spain.The event hosted 31 teams representing 17 countries. A Russian team fishing aboard a boat called DC-9-III placed second and a Danish team aboard Marlin XVIII finished third while teams from Argentina and the United States—fishing in a chartered boat—placed fourth and fifth respectively. Next year’s Hemingway Billfish Tournament is scheduled for June 6 to 11.

USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin

Tournament August 21 to 25

 The June moon signals the start of blue marlin season in the Virgin Islands. With many boats releasing four or more blues a day early in this year’s season, it can only mean tight lines to come in August for the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament. The goal this year is to beat the 159 blue marlin released by the 34-boat fleet last year.  “We’re expecting 40 or more boats this year,” says Tournament Director Jimmy Loveland. “We’ve heard from several boats that usually fish out of the Gulf.”
Set to take place three days before the full moon and one day after, this contest is held along the Virgin Islands’ famous North Drop. Skill is the byword as tournament rules allow only 50-pound test.
Last year, Sam Jennings’ 58-foot Revenge out of Juno Beach, Florida, won Top Boat with the spectacular release of 12 blues. The Revenge crew pulled out every blue marlin release flag they had aboard and still had to borrow one from Luis Bacardi’s Rum Bum in order to display their triumph.
This year’s events start with a party on August 20 at the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club and include a special Full Moon Party at the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. Tournament winners are named at the Awards Banquet to be held at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, on August 25.  For details, call 340-775-9500 or click on abmt.vi

Cap Cana  in the Dominican Republic

is the new white marlin hot spot

 The white marlin bite turns hot in the waters off the eastern shores of the Dominican Republic from April to June. This makes destinations like Cap Cana a must for world record hunting anglers.  In April, 9-year-old Jack McCluskey, from Palm Beach, Florida, caught a white marlin and successfully ended a 10-month quest to set the world record for the youngest angler to achieve a Billfish Royal Slam.
White marlin are also what attracted well-known female angler Stacey Georgia Parkerson to the Dominican Republic. Earlier this summer she caught a 46-pound white marlin on fly with 12 pound tippet aboard the 52-foot Paul Spencer Spirit of Pilar, with Capt. Scott Jones at the helm. This is a pending IGFA world record. For information about Cap Cana, call 809-695-5539 or visit capcana.com

New 60-Ton marine hoist in

operation at Power Boats

 Hurricane season sees many cruisers head “below the belt”, making Trinidad a popular place for respite and repair. Power Boats Mutual Facilities in Chaguaramas, has made the latter easier with the installation of a fast new Acme 60-ton Marine Hoist. The upgrade allows the company to haul larger and heavier boats. Because the frame is larger, sailboats up to about 46 feet LOA don’t have to remove their forestays before being lifted. For more information, visit powerboats.co.tt.