A big swordfish catch figures to inspire more competitors in upcoming Cayman fishing tournaments.
A 392-pound fish, a new local record, was recently nabbed in Grand Cayman waters. Cayman Islands Angling Club President Franklin Thompson states as a result, more anglers will hunt the species next month.
“This catch will have a positive impact on the Cayman Swordfish Challenge,” Thompson said. “I’m sure participation will increase in next month’s tournament. The swordfish challenge is scheduled for 30-31 March. The swordfish challenge, led by Clarence Flowers, has contributed greatly to us learning more about swordfishing in Cayman. They have enlisted the help of scientists and renown charter captains from the US to uncover the secrets to this fishery in Cayman.
“This catch also highlights the quality of fish in our waters. In January Charles Ebanks, Emil Terry and Johnathan Ebanks fought a swordfish estimated at over 600 pounds for over 11 hours before the line broke. The big ones are here!”
Jason Begg-Smith fought the swordfish for 14 hours and 30 minutes off the shelf of the Ritz-Carlton last Thursday, the largest catch of the species in the history of local fishing. Begg-Smith, 31, would best the previous mark by nearly double aboard a 16-foot Lund boat named Catch My Drift, captained by Kevin Wall.
The Camana Bay resident, who has been in Cayman since 2006, saw his catch weighed at George Town’s Barcadere Marina, in front of a large crowd. Helping to load the fish to the weigh station was celebrity angler Charles Ebanks. Members of the angling club, the national competitive fishing body, were on hand to confirm the new record. The old mark was 205lbs, set by Curtis White back in September 2009 on a 50lb test reel.
Wall states it was an epic battle to reel in the swordfish.
“I was doing all I could not to lose the fish,” Wall said. “I manoeuvred the boat, it was hours of doing that and I brought him water the whole time. He was working hard.
“I fish semi-regularly, as a hobby in my spare time. That was the biggest fish I’ve ever seen or caught up close.”
Interestingly, the fish was hauled in a little over a month before a scheduled swordfish tournament, the annual Cayman Swordfish Challenge. Last year’s event saw some relatively small catches as Thom Guyton of More Time emerged the winner with fish weighing 62.2lbs and 51.6lbs.
Begg-Smith, who lives with his pregnant wife Caroline and son Charles, 2, stated he is new to fishing and had no plans to compete. Wall did not rule out the event completely.
“I didn’t know there was a swordfish tournament. But possibly I’ll compete.”
Begg-Smith and Wall split nearly $4,000 from the sale of the fish. After being cut up into pieces at the dock by Ebanks, the fish sold for about $10 a pound, earning the men about $3,920.
For Thompson, who also has his focus on the annual Rooster Shootout on 23-25 March, the catch is a means of being educated further on swordfish.
“It is a remarkable catch, it’s the largest swordfish caught on rod and reel in the Cayman Islands. We are still exploring our swordfish fishery in Cayman so it’s a bit early to say if this is the best time of year to catch the big ones.”
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