Sportfishers caught and released three blue marlin and hooked several more last week in the inaugural North Drop 2024 Open tournament.
Though as many as 18 boats were initially expected, competitor and co-organiser Chad Lettsome said fishers aboard the nine that ultimately competed were richly rewarded.
“The trip was great, the two days of fishing,” Mr. Lettsome said Tuesday. “It wasn’t an abundance of fish, but the fish that were seen and hooked were very big fish. All of them seemed to be between the [300-] and 600-pound range. And they were all Atlantic blue marlin, which was great.”
Order of operations
Last Thursday was the day to sign up, with registration open at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour from 4-7 p.m.
Mr. Lettsome said attendees were excited to fish, despite more than half a dozen boats dropping out.
“One of the boats from Texas came down — they were literally sitting on the dock [the] day before the tournament: cancelled,” Mr. Lettsome said, adding that he believes the boat owner was called away to a corporate function. “I don’t know what, but the boss couldn’t show up and then they didn’t fish.”
While fishers registered their vessels last Thursday, dinner was served to the tune of Leon and the Hotshots at CocoMaya Restaurant.
Early the next morning, boats launched as the sun was coming up, putting their first lines in the water by 8 a.m.
“On the first day, Arabita from Puerto Rico had their first fish within minutes of putting the lines in the water, and they took home the prize of Best Boat,” organisers said in a Tuesday press release.
That night, dinner was served at The Rock Café with live music and dancing.
Saturday marked the final day, with land-based participants taking part in a daytime tour of The Baths while the fishers hunted for marlin.
Awards were presented that night at Leverick Bay Resort with It’s a Secret Band on stage.
According to organisers, “very positive comments” were received from participants after the tournament regarding the quality of the facilities and the dinner venues.
Results
Mr. Lettsome also owns Salt Shaker, a 33-foot sportfishing boat previously owned by Jimmy Buffet.
Aboard his vessel, Ms. Lettsome’s team wasn’t able to land a marlin despite hooking into two large ones, but he said plenty of “world-class fish” were swimming the North Drop.
All told, more than 20 Atlantic blue marlin were spotted, “six or seven hooked up,” and three were landed, according to the captain.
“When they say, ‘land them,’ they brought [the marlin] to the boat, touched the leader, and released them,” Ms. Lettsome explained.
Tournament co-organiser Tom Warner said the sportfishing industry could provide a substantial boost to the territory’s economy.
“Right now, there are $100 million worth of fish swimming in BVI waters, and sportfishing is the most sustainable way to get maximum benefit with minimum investment,” Mr. Warner said in the Tuesday press release.
Gov’t support
Government provided $50,000 to support last week’s tournament, Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr. Karl Dawson announced previously 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 during the July 19 launch. “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.