The biggest fishing competition of the year is under way.
The Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament is taking place 3-6 May. Organized by the Cayman Islands Angling Club, action takes place in the waters around Cayman from 6am to 4.30pm.
Competition is split up into two main categories in boats 26 feet and under and those over 26 feet. The eligible species are billfish (catch and release), dolphin, wahoo and yellowfin tuna.
A Bimini start is slated to take place on Thursday, 3 May, at 7.30am from Hog Sty Bay in George Town. Anglers are expected to weigh their catches every evening 4.30-6.30pm at Grand Cayman’s Barcadere Marina and Cayman Brac’s Carib Sands Dock.
There are over $200,000 in cash prizes, with an additional jackpot of over US$100,000. Crews chasing the optional jackpot pay an additional $5,000 per boat (minimum of 10 boats). The captain of the boat that releases the most blue marlins wins a Rolex watch compliments of Kirk Freeport.
For the record, the tournament’s major sponsors are the Cayman Islands Government, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, the Barcadere Marina, Butterfield, Cayman Airways, Cayman National, CICO Rent-a-car, Guy Harvey, Harbour House Marina, Kirk Freeport, Queensgate Bank and Trust and Scott’s Marine.
News of the competition comes after the second annual Kirk Slam tournament. Father-son duo John and Tom Sperandeo were the winners, nabbing 129.4 pounds of dolphin aboard the Reel Crazy II boat. Another whopper was Melissa Rewalt’s 36.2lb catch on Lackamulah.
Tournament registration took place on Tuesday with crews of up to four anglers paying $400. For more information, e-mail [email protected]
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