International Fishing Tournament ends with big catches

The Cayman Islands Angling Club completed its annual Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament with a final count of 45 registered teams and 182 registered anglers.

Beyond the bragging rights of securing the biggest catch, competitors vied for numerous prizes to be won for various categories.

The tournament started with registration on 29 April, followed by fishing days from 1-4 May and weigh in times at 4:30-6:30pm each evening at George Town Yacht Club in Grand Cayman, Channel Wharf in Cayman Brac and Kingston Bight in Little Cayman.

The “highlight” of the tournament, according to Franklin Thompson, president of the Cayman Islands Angling Club, was the awards ceremony, which took place on 6 May at Grand Old House. The ceremony was an evening to celebrate the participants’ accomplishments alongside the event’s sponsors.

Thompson told the Compass,“[The] level of competition was high as always,” and that the prizes were well distributed amongst all of the teams.

The eligible species to be caught during this tournament to secure these prizes were wahoo, yellowfin tuna, dolphin (mahi-mahi) and billfish.

Throughout the tournament, there were 13 blue marlins released, and 23 yellowfin tunas, 22 wahoo, one swordfish and one dolphin weighed.

Richard Orr, of team Trouble Maker, was the only person who made it onto the scoreboard for the heaviest dolphin category with a 19.4lb. catch.

The heaviest yellowfin tuna, 63.8lbs, was caught by Lemar Jackson from team In Gods Hands.

Cachas Stewart of team Jah Bless went away with the heaviest wahoo of 35.4lbs.

The title of Female Angler went to Yogeta Barnett of team Infinity who pulled in a yellowfin tuna of 51 lbs.

The Junior Angler title was awarded to Phillip Barnett of team Infinity, who reeled in a 56 lb yellowfin tuna.

The boat with the most total weight went to team Trouble Maker, who racked up a total of 309 lbs.

The Cayman National Jackpot grand prize winner was Team Scotch Bonnet Express, who won US$113,000.

The Best Video Award was secured by team Who’s Ya Daddy.

Scenes from the awards ceremony for CIIFT

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Thompson confirmed that the weather conditions were good this year and that the tournament ran as scheduled.

He also shared, “[We’re] happy to have [had] anglers join [us] from the US, UK, Barbados and Jamaica.”

The Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament is open to all angling club members – juniors (age 16 and under), women and men – who pay the $100 per year membership fee.

The third annual Billfish Bash tournament is set as the next major event to be hosted by the club. This tournament features “exciting fishing days, cash prizes and a grand prize ceremony” at the George Town Yacht Club, from 6-8 June.

All updates and event information can be found by following @caymanislandanglingclub on Facebook and Instagram or by going to fishcayman.com.

Heaviest Dolphin

Heaviest Yellowfin Tuna

Heaviest Wahoo

Female Angler Heaviest Eligible Fish

Junior Angler 1st & 2nd Heaviest Eligible Fish

Boat With Most Total Weight

Cayman National Jackpot

Billfish Releases