ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SPORTS FISHING ASSOCIATION

Following last weekend’s launch party held at the Tides Restaurant in Coolidge, the country's enthusiasm for its favourite event has been refueled, and is now ready for this weekend's tournament.

The Tournament, in 2013 celebrating its 47th Annual event, begins a day early this year, as the new Antigua and Barbuda Marlin Classic has a new date, taking place this coming Friday 17th May. Registration for the one day event takes place on Thursday evening in Nelson’s Dockyard along with the skippers briefing.

This event lifts the weight minimum on blue marlin bought to the scale to 500lbs with severe penalties for underweight fish, blue marlin released score 500 points and all other bill fish released score 200 points. Each boat that enters pays US$1000 and the winner takes 80% of all registration fees, so competition is fierce.

Then Friday night, seafood Friday goers don’t despair, as the vendors will be set up and ready to serve from Friday evening. Along with the normal vendors to include Global Catering, Food and Drinks ‘Grab n’ Go’, Jane’s BBQ is the addition of sushi and Radley Baptiste will be cooking fish straight from the catch. Food will be on sale on Friday from 6pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 3pm. Stylish bars along with the famous EC$5 will be in place throughout and for anyone with a sweet tooth enjoy Just Desserts and Jacqueline’s ice cream. Kid’s tattoos, toys and games will offer entertainment into the early evening for the entire family.

Two days of competitive sport and marlin fishing will then head out for the Bimini start at 6.00 am on Saturday morning outside Fort Charlotte with boats from Antigua and around the region including St. Maarten, St. Martin, Guadeloupe and St. Barths. Lines are in and weigh in takes place from 4.30pm on Saturday and 4.00 pm on Sunday.

The Awards Party take place underneath the fish scale at 8pm on Sunday 19th May and the party will continue late into the night. The team take their strap line seriously, ‘Enjoy the fishing, Enjoy the Lime’ and that is what they are inviting the whole of Antigua to come out and do.

The committee would like to thank this years’ sponsors: Harney Motors Ltd, Yamaha Outdoor World, Carib, Monster, Observer Media Group, United Insurance, Guardian Security, Chivas, Wadadli Event Services, Cavalier Rum, Oasis Water, Shades, Signpro and Antiguanice.com