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Gulf Rascal Leads 1st Day of July Open Tourney

Dancing on the docks with the fishing fleet under nearly full moon. (Dean Barnes photo)Fishing proved red hot Saturday aboard the 54-foot Hatteras, Gulf Rascal, where the St. Thomas father-and-son team of Rick and Lee Steiner released a blue marlin a piece to put the team in the top boat lead during the first day of the 46th Annual July Open Billfish Tournament.
“We had a great day,” says Gulf Rascal captain, Billy Borer. “We saw four, had three bites and released two.
Gulf Rascal angler, Rick Steiner, caught and released the first blue marlin of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Alican, a 72-foot Tribute owned by Florida-based Andres Fanjul, with Capt. Doug Heaton at the helm, finished second for the day with a pair of blue marlin released after those on Gulf Rascal.
Nelson Morales’ Prime Time PR, out of Puerto Rico, rounded out the top three boats with Morales release of a blue marlin early in the day.
“I made by release about 11 a.m.,” says Morales. “It was a beautiful day. Calm seas.”
In total, the 19-boat fleet caught and released nine blue marlin and one white marlin.
A nearly full-moon light up the docks at American Yacht Harbor where the evening’s dock party celebrated the Fourth of July as much as a good fishing day.
Fishing continues Sunday with lines in at 8:30 a.m. and lines out at 5 p.m.
The JOBT concludes Monday. Up for grabs is not only the Top Boat award, but the prestigious Capt. Johnny Harms ‘Give Him Line’ Trophy for the angler who releases the most billfish first. The Awards Ceremony will be held at 8 p.m. at the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Clubhouse in Red Hook.
Proceeds from the JOBT benefit the Boys & Girls Club of the Virgin Islands.
For more information, visit: www.vigfc.com.

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