20th annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament

Tag : Jack Mackerel


The finale proved a winner for Derek Quetel, who reeled in a54.11-pound kingfish aboard the 27-foot Rambo 4 KIT 2 - a recordfor the Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament.
"We left out of Frenchtown and worked our way south," says Quetel."Along the way, we caught a few barracuda, a couple of horse-eyejacks and saw a few kingfish."
It was mid-morning when the whopper hit on Quetel's ballyhoo-riggedline.
"It just blasted out of nowhere," he said. "I was captaining at thetime. I asked my friend to grab the wheel, and then I turned,grabbed my rod and hooked up. I had him in the boat in about 15 to20 minutes."
After that, Quetel says, "We didn't see any more. That was the lastfish of the day for us."
For his efforts, Quetel pocketed $2,000 in cash for his LargestKingfish, plus a weekend for two at Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort &Casino.
The Second Largest Kingfish prize went to Dole Brin, who caught a26.63-pounder aboard We Be Fishin. Brin won $750 in cash.
Alvin Turbe, fishing aboard 4 KIT 2, reeled in a 26.61-pounder towin the Third Largest Kingfish cash prize of $500.
With 12 fish (187.14-pounds) caught total, 5 (124.89-pounds) ofthem kingfish, Quetel aboard 4 KIT 2 won Best Boat and BestCaptain, and was awarded $1,000 cash for each title.
Thomas Wiebracht's catch of a total of 107.64 pounds of fish,aboard On The Payroll, earned him Best Male Angler and a $500 cashprize.
Meanwhile, it was Tammy Pimer, aboard Seabee/Bite Me, who reeled ina total of 28.38 pounds of fish to pick up the Best Female Angleraward and a $500 cash prize.
The Best Junior Male prize of $250 cash went to William Golub, whocaught 37.30 pounds of fish aboard Lucy II.
Hannah Cuty won the Best Junior Female prize, $250 cash, with thecatch of 13.36 pounds of fish aboard After Dark II.
Although the tournament is focused on kingfish, other speciesearned anglers $250 cash each. Tamika Amey caught the Largest Jack,a 16.95-pounder, aboard 4 KIT 2. William Golub reeled in theLargest Barracuda, a 17.20-pounder aboard Lucy II. The LargestBonito, 3.92 pounds, was caught aboard Seawitch by female anglerMarielle Brandon. Feanna Fluess, fishing from Sherry, caught theLargest Tuna, a 16.04-pounder. Zachary LaPlace reeled in theLargest Mackerel, a 6.73-pounder, from Making Waves, and AdamTurbe, aboard Rosaly, caught the Largest Dolphin, a 7.33-pounder.
Winners also receive overnight stays at local hotels, dinners fortwo, and a variety of luxury gifts.
Judges Herman Richardson and Kevin LaPlace Sr. officially weighedin the catches.
After weigh-in, activities continued onshore at Hull Bay Hideawaywith special games - like the couple's beer run and a crunch thenuts contest.
The Cool Sessions band entertained throughout the afternoon, with aspecial performance by St. Barths' band the Saline Combo.
Later, the crowds gathered inside Hull Bay Hideaway for the awardsceremonies at 8 p.m., where Obsession Band entertained.
All prize winners except junior anglers were eligible for a grandprize drawing of a Caribbean cruise for two. The winner was FeannaFluess, aboard Sherry, who caught the largest tuna.
A drawing for a 5200KW Yahama generator was won by John Berry,aboard Toots.
Each year, the Northside Sportfishing Club makes donations tocommunity organizations and individuals. This year's beneficiarieswere the Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue, the American RedCross, Kidscope and the Family Resource Center. The club alsoawarded college scholarships to Shanelle Brin, Ryan Greaux,Fernando Bryan and Jason A. Brin.
Tournament Results
Statistics
68 Boats
247 Anglers (includes 35 junior anglers)
137 Fish Caught, 1,153 pounds
42 Kingfish Caught, 442.46 pounds
Winners
Largest Kingfish - Derek Quetel, 54.11, 4 KIT 2
2nd Largest Kingfish - Dole Brin, 26.63, We Be Fishin
3rd Largest Kingfish - Alvin Turbe, 26.61, 4 KIT 2
Best Boat - Derek Quetel, 12 fish, 4 KIT 2
Best Captain - Derek Quetel, 5 kingfish, 4 KIT 2
Best Female - Tammy Pimer, 28.38, Seabee/Bite Me
Best Male - Thomas Wiebracht, 107.64, On The Payroll
Best Junior Male - William Golub, 37.30, Lucy II
Best Junior Female - Hannah Cuty, 13.36, After Dark II
Largest Jack - Tamika Amey, 16.95, 4 KIT 2
Largest Barracuda - William Golub, 17.20, Lucy II
Largest Bonito - Marielle Brandon, 3.92, Seawitch
Largest Tuna - Feanna Fluess, 16.04, Sherry
Largest Mackerel - Zachary LaPlace, 6.73, Making Waves
Largest Dolphin - Adam Turbe, 7.33, Rosaly
Sponsors
Coors Light, Snapple and Paradise Rum, distributed by BellowsInternational, Ltd.
Yanmar, Yamaha and Carib, distributed by Offshore Marine.
NEM (West Indies) Insurance Limited, Managed in the USVI by RedHook Agencies.
TOPA Insurance Services Inc.
Royal Caribbean International.
Hull Bay Hideaway.