At least 18 boats have already signed up for the inaugural North Drop Open, a catch-and-release blue marlin tournament to be held Aug. 8-10 out of the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour.
Organisers hope more will join in the coming days.
“I would like to encourage anybody who’s got a boat and some fishing rods to consider entering this event, because there really is no greater thrill than catching a fish that’s about the size of your boat,” tournament chairman Tom Warner said during a July 19 launch ceremony broadcast on the government’s Facebook page.
“And some of the catches that we’ve been seeing in the Atlantic Basin this year are 800 pounds, 900 pounds.”
Mr. Warner added that a team in Bermuda recently caught a 1,268-pound blue marlin.
That catch, he said, was a “wonderful indicator for the health of the fishery and how it’s being managed — and the potential for us to catch a fish like that two weeks from now.”
The tournament — which is part of the Caribbean Series Blue Marlin Championship — will include two days of fishing on Aug. 9 and 10 following registration on Aug. 8.
$50k from gov’t
To help support the event, government will provide $50,000, Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr. Karl Dawson announced during the launch ceremony.
“I see the North Drop fishing tournament as the start of something great — not just as a one-off event,” Dr. Dawson said.
“We see this as an opportunity that has tremendous growth and potential not only as a fishing tournament but more importantly for placing the Virgin Islands back at the centre of sportfishing in the world.”
Mr. Warner expressed confidence that the new tournament will make the territory “world famous” for blue marlin fishing.
“I encourage everyone to follow us, come out, get involved and make the BVI a great success,” he said.
Participating boats must be in Virgin Gorda with their teams registered by 6 p.m. on Aug. 8, organisers said. They also must depart from Spanish Town on the days of the tournament and attend the awards ceremony on Aug. 10.
Entry fee
The entry fee is $2,500 per boat, which includes the tournament and angler fees that are required by the government. Food and drinks will be available from 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 8.