Alexia Williams impressed at the scales during the 2022 Burger King Big Fish tournament, after she reeled in the biggest dolphin (mahi mahi) ever caught by a female angler in the event’s five-year history.
She weighed-in her ‘sea monster’ on Saturday, 2 April, at the Barcadere Marina in George Town, where nearly 100 spectators were wowed by her 34.6-pound catch that won its respective category.
Only James Sherieff’s 38.4-pounder dolphin fish that he reeled in during the 2019 tournament was a heavier result than Williams’.
“I am new to this, so it’s a really big deal for me and it is the biggest I’ve ever caught,” Williams told the Cayman Compass.
Williams, who has only been fishing consistently for the past year, recalled the battle when she hooked the record-breaking fish.
“It was awful, I’m beat up… It took at least 20 minutes,” she said, adding that without her teammates, it might have been impossible to reel in that fish.
“Honestly, it’s crazy but I couldn’t have done it without my team, they were phenomenal coaches.”
The 2022 BK tournament, which took place 1-3 April, featured contestants aiming to hook the heaviest dolphin, yellowfin tuna or wahoo, or catching and releasing the most blue marlin.
Mark Tomkins, of team ‘Match the Hatch’, caught the biggest wahoo, while Lamar Jackson, of team ‘In God’s Hands’, reeled in the biggest tuna at 44.4 lbs. Sea Pleasure’s Nyron Downs hooked the biggest barracuda, at 28.8 lbs, and team ‘Chasin Broads’ earned first place in releasing the most blue marlins at three.
Mark Anthony, the new owner of the tournament, told the Compass that he was pleased with the turnout and hopes to continue to build the annual event.
“We have [67] boats and over 300 anglers out here,” Anthony said. “It’s a great honour for me to be able to continue the work of the Rutty family. They have been so gracious, and I consider it a privilege to continue this.”
He added; “We introduced the new prize this year, where we teamed up boats randomly… which we call ‘the combo’.”
Anthony said the prize served well in encouraging camaraderie and giving more opportunities for people to win cash.
As for the event as a whole, he said, “It’s been phenomenal. Fishing is just a foundational part of the Cayman Islands culture and we’ve got to do what we can to maintain it and help grow it.”
In partnership with the Cayman Islands Angling Club, the tournament also featured its traditional family fishing clinic, in which young aspiring anglers learned the basics of fishing, tying knots and casting, and had a chance to test their lines in the canal off the George Town Yacht Club.
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