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HomeNewsArchivesSUNDAY'S BASTILLE DAY, AND THAT'S TOURNEY TIME

SUNDAY'S BASTILLE DAY, AND THAT'S TOURNEY TIME

July 9, 2002 – This year's Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament really takes place on Bastille Day, since the French independence day, July 14, falls on a Sunday.
The Northside Sportfishing Club is the host of the annual tournament at Hull Bay, which traditionally draws the highest participation of any inshore fishing event of its kind in the territory. Anglers will vie for prizes of cash, goods and services, and there will be live music onshore in the afternoon and evening.
The tournament, begun in 1987, is a traditional part of French Heritage Week festivities on St. Thomas. Proceeds benefit Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue, the local chapter of The American Red Cross and the Victim Advocate Program and also go toward college scholarships.
Topping the prize list are $2,000 cash plus a 25-foot Eduardono sportfishing boat for the largest kingfish, and $750 in cash for the second-largest kingfish.
Other prizes include a week's cruise for two, getaways at more than a dozen hotels on St. Thomas and St. John, and dinners at local restaurants. Awards will go to the anglers reeling in the largest jack, barracuda, bonito, tuna, mackerel and dolphin fish, as well as to the best captain, best boat, best male and female anglers, and best junior male and female anglers.
Entry fees are $35 for adults and $20 for juniors ages 8-16. Competition is open to all skill levels. "We're expecting more than 300 anglers this year," tournament director Monica Lester said.
The event's gold sponsors are Coors Light and Snapple, distributed by Bellows International, which have donated more than $75,000 in cash and product to the event over the last decade. Offshore Marine Services and FedEx continue as silver sponsors. New this year is bronze sponsor N.E.M. (West Indies) Insurance Ltd., represented locally by Red Hook Agencies. I Do Video & Photography is providing cash awards totaling $500 for nine junior anglers whose names will be drawn from a hat.
Registration and the captains' meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hull Bay Hideaway. Entry forms can be obtained at E&M Grocery, Bryan's Electrical and Neptune Fishing Supplies. For more information, call 774-5206.
On Sunday, fishing starts at 5:30 a.m. and ends at noon. There will be an open bar for anglers from noon to 2 p.m. while the weigh-master and judges are at work. Food and drinks will be on sale to the public throughout the afternoon, with music provided by Lashing Dog. The awards ceremony starts at 8 p.m. at Hull Bay Hideaway, where there also will be music by Obsession.

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