July 14, 2003 – The Lady was not intimidated by the 6- to 8-foot seas and squalls that greeted competitors in the Northside Sportfishing Club's annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament on Sunday morning.
In fact, spirits were bright from early on aboard the Lady Marie — as soon as captain and angler Larry Aubain reeled in a whopping kingfish.
Ruth Gomez, another of the anglers aboard, explained afterward: "Some of us had won the largest kingfish before, but not Larry. And when the others had won, it was the first fish caught. So, when the first bite struck, we all told Larry, 'That's your fish. You're up first." As soon as he got the kingfish in the boat, we knew it was a contender."
The tradition held true. The 36.66-pounder was not just a contender but the winner, netting Aubain a $2,000 cash prize a week's Caribbean cruise.
The Lady Marie also brought home the second-largest kingfish, a 31.67-pounder, netting Alvin Turbe $750 in cash. Marvin Bryan's 29.75-pounder, caught aboard Barefoot Diver, was the third largest, worth $500.
The tournament attracted 73 boats carrying a total of 266 anglers (31 junior anglers under age 18 among them) who caught a total of 250 fish weighing 1,474 lbs. The kingfish tally was 27, with a total weight of 339.54 lbs.
With a record total of 60 fish caught, Mark Quetel's St. Rose won the best boat award. And a record catch of seven kingfish earned Brett Querrard aboard Expense best captain honors.
Jennifer Magras aboard St. Rose earned best female angler with a record catch of 44 fish totaling 124.15 lbs. Best male angler honors went to Franky Lanclos on Reel-Em-In, with 30 fish totaling 89.82 lbs.
Timothy Greaux aboard Reel-Em-In won best junior male with 20 fish totaling a record 53.23 lbs. Taking best junior female honors for the fourth time and the third year in a row was Tiffanie Bryan aboard Bull's Eye, with eight fish weighing 58.63 lbs.
In the "other fish" categories, Hector Maldonado aboard Barefoot Diver caught the largest jack (9.42 lbs.). Joanna Ingram on Gone To Come Back reeled in the largest barracuda (17.7 lbs.). Junior angler Miacha Arnold aboard Bam caught the largest bonito (9.55 lbs.). Rose Berry on Rosaly caught the largest tuna (l8.69 lbs.). And Tony Blanchard aboard C-Hawk reeled in the largest mackerel (6.98 lbs.). No dolphin were caught this year.
The onshore tournament activities this year at the hosting Hull Bay Hideaway included health screenings as well as the usual music, games, food and drink and the tournament awards ceremony in the evening.
This year's major sponsors were Coors Light, Snapple and Paradise Rum distributed by Bellows International; Eduardono Sportfishing Boats, Yamaha and Caribe distributed by Offshore Marine; FedEx; and N.E.M. (West Indies) Insurance managed locally by Red Hook Agencies.
The tournament is an annual fund raiser of the Northside Sportfishing Club for community causes. Last year, the club donated nearly $15,000 — to Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue, the local chapter of the American Red Cross, the Victim Advocates program, the Estate Dorothea tot lot and two college scholarships.
Winners
(Asterisk indicates a tournament record.)
Largest kingfish – Larry Aubain, 36.66 lbs., aboard Lady Marie
2nd-largest kingfish – Alvin Turbe, 31.67 lbs., aboard Lady Marie
3rd-largest kingfish – Marvin Bryan, 29.75 lbs., aboard Barefoot Diver
Best boat – St. Rose / Mark Quetel, 60 fish *
Best captain – Brett Querrard / Expense, 7 kingfish 53.55 lbs. *
Best female angler – Jennifer Magras, 124.15 lbs., aboard St. Rose *
Best male angler – Franky Lanclos, 89.82 lbs., aboard Reel-Em-In
Best junior male angler – Timothy Greaux, 53.23 lbs., aboard Reel-Em-In *
Best junior female angler – Tiffanie Bryan, 58.63 lbs., aboard Bull's Eye
Largest jack – Hector Maldonado, 9.42 lbs., aboard Barefoot Diver
Largest barracuda – Joanna Ingram, 17.70 lbs., aboard Gone To Come Back
Largest bonito – Miacha Arnold, 9.55 lbs., aboard Bam
Largest tuna – Rose Berry, 18.69 lbs., aboard Rosaly
Largest mackerel – Tony Blanchard, 6.98 lbs., aboard C-Hawk
No dolphin were caught, so there was no award in this category.
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