After four full days of fishing, the 2026 Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament wrapped up, marking more than 25 years as the islands’ premier sportfishing competition.
This year’s event drew a competitive field of 51 teams and 211 anglers, including a dozen international participants who travelled to local waters to compete for cash, prizes, and a chance to secure a qualifying spot in the 2027 Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica.
The action began on 30 April with the traditional Bimini Start at 7.30am across the George Town Harbour, South Side Channel and South Hole Sound Channel. Following the opening day, anglers returned to the water from 1-3 May maintaining daily fishing hours from 6am to 4.30pm.
Each evening, the action shifted to the weigh stations at the George Town Yacht Club, Channel Wharf and Kingston Bight, where the day’s catches were officially recorded.
Walking away with the most points and rising to the top once again as the Cayman National Jackpot winner was team Scotch Bonnet Express who pocketed US$109,500 after accumulating 2,000 points.
This victory is a significant repeat performance for the team, as they also won the tournament in 2025. Their back-to-back success is particularly impressive considering the team just returned from competing in the 2026 Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica last month.
By securing the jackpot win again this year, Scotch Bonnet Express has officially qualified for the 2027 Offshore World Championship, ensuring they will represent Cayman on the global stage once more next April. Additionally, the team won the billfish release category by reeling in five marlins.
The second-place spot in the Cayman National Jackpot went to Naut Wukin with 1,760.4 points while Rocksteady secured third place with 1,200 points.
At the end of the tournament, the statistics included a total of 24 wahoo weighing a combined 670 pounds and six yellowfin tuna totalling 267 pounds.
Conservation remained a priority for the billfish categories, as anglers successfully released 21 blue marlin and one white marlin.
Other notable catches included four dolphins (mahi mahi) with a collective weight of 115 pounds and a single swordfish – reeled in by Joshua Clark of team Soul Rebel – weighing in at 318.7 pounds.
Lewis Wood of team Just Right took the top spot for yellowfin tuna with a 53.6-pound fish, while Nicolas Ebanks of team Naut Wukin brought in the heaviest dolphin (mahi mahi) at 43.2 pounds.
Vilma Cayasso of team Jah Bless landed the heaviest wahoo at 48.4 pounds and earned the title of Lady Angler of the tournament.
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