Spice Island Billfish Tournament Celebrates 50 Years
One of the biggest sportfishing tournaments in the Caribbean in terms of boat and angler participation and size of targeted catch celebrates its half-century this year. The Budget Marine Spice Island Billfish Tournament takes place January 21-26 out of the Grenada Yacht Club in St. George’s, Grenada. “We are expecting as many as seventy boats this year, as we are offering a cash prize for the first time,” says Richard McIntyre, tournament chairman.
“That is, five-hundred thousand EC (USD $185,000) for anyone who catches a 1,000-pound or larger blue marlin. Many have reported seeing or fighting these monster-sized billfish in our territorial waters, so we wanted to highlight to the world what is in our backyard.” Blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish are bountiful and the basis upon which results are determined; however, anglers also target yellowfin tuna, dolphin fish (mahi-mahi) and wahoo for additional points and prizes. “Visiting boats are welcome and so are visiting anglers,” invites McIntyre, and suggests to arrive early if you’d like to get on a boat.
By Carol Barethuer, Southern Boating, January 2018