THE RIANNA THOMPSON BOAT “Remember Me Now” emerged champion boat for the 2015 Barbados Game Fishing Association (BGFA) International tournament, over the weekend.
Remember Me Now is owned and captained by her dad Roy Thompson, and the crew of five have lots to remember after ending this year’s tournament at the top with a total of 1 825 points to take the coveted title.
This victory also qualifies them to represent Barbados in the up-coming (IGA) International Game Fishing Offshore World Championships to be held in Costa Rica later this year.
Speaking about their victory, the captain said the crew was confident of hitting it big prior to the start of the tournament. “Everyone was in an upbeat mode and determined to do well this year and it has paid off. We are very happy with our achievement”.
Finishing in second place with 1750 points was Grey Ghos, owned and captained by Gregory Ward. Third place went to the president of the BGFA Joe Brooker boat Sweet Peace with 1750 points. The Larry Warren boat Screaming Eagle finished on 1700. Rounding off the top five finishers was the Bjorn Bjerkham boat De Reel Viking with 1624 points.
This year’s tournament attracted a total of 28 boats, of which six were from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, Martinique and Antigua.
A total of 165 anglers, inclusive of 18 junior angler, nine males and nine females, took part.
Over the three days there were a combined total of 28 tag and releases inclusive of ten blue marlins, seven whites and 11 sail fish.
Taking this year’s prize for the champion female angler was Ruth Liney of Antigua, fishing on board Double Rum N Coke. She also sailed away with the prize for the angler landing the heaviest yellow fin tuna that weighed 170.1 lbs., some 20lbs short of the local record.
Taking the prize for the champion junior angler as well as the overall champion angler of the tournament was Jake Hurley, fishing on board Remember Me Now. He ended with three tag and releases.
The prize for the junior landing the heaviest dolphin was awarded to Kyle Gill for his 22.3 lb. catch on the first day of the tournament. He took home the prestigious Luke Bjerkham Memorial Cup for his efforts.
Alex Cole, fishing on Bjerkham’s De Reel Viking carried away the prize for the angler landing the heaviest dolphin that weighed 30.8lbs.
The prize for the angler landing the heaviest wahoo weighing 32 lbs, went to Anthony James on board The Subway Dragon.
The real deal of the three-day tournament went to Josh Archer for his 324lb record-breaking blue marlin caught on the final day of the tournament.
For his efforts young Archer, more widely known for his prowess on the polo field, took home a cheque of $50 000 for the one hour of work in landing his big blue monster.
