77.8 F
Cruz Bay
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesTherapy Jumps IntoTop Boat Lead After Third Day of Atlantic Blue Marlin...

Therapy Jumps IntoTop Boat Lead After Third Day of Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament

A collective cheer echoed up and down the docks at American Yacht Harbor as Therapy backed into its slip on the third day of fishing in the 38th Annual USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament (ABMT). The team aboard the Hatteras 68 not only won the day with the release of five blue marlin but also launched into the tournament lead with eight blue marlin releases total.

“It was hot from the moment we put the lines in the water,” said Therapy owner/angler George Lorton from Tampa, Florida, who released three of today’s fish.
The boat fished north of Anegada, but what really turned on their good luck, said Lorton, with a smile, “is the little dance we do in the cockpit followed by a swig of a special foul-tasting drink. We did it twice yesterday and three times today. Everybody better watch out because we have six bottles of our special drink left for the last day.”
After Therapy, Big OH, Gray Ingram’s Ricky Scarborough 63, out of Jupiter, Florida, is second in the boat standings with the release of six blue marlin. Chach, drops to third with five releases.
Another boat that had a good day was Sandman, a Spencer 63, with boat builder Paul Spencer of Spencer Yachts in North Carolina, fishing aboard as an angler.
“We had a great day,” said Spencer, a veteran charter boat captain turned boat builder, who constructed seven of the multi-million dollar yachts fishing in this tournament. “I caught two of the three fish today.”
Spencer, who is fishing out of St. Thomas for the first time, adds, “It’s nice to get out on a boat, see the product and see how it works. After all, things change, technology changes and getting out fishing gets me thinking about new things or improvements.”
Click Through, the Wanchese 68 that earned top boat honors the first day, released two blues today and stayed near the front of the pack.
“We came down last year and fished about three months,” said owner/angler Keith English from Pensacola, Florida. “This year, we came straight here, after winning the Bermuda Triple Crown in July, in order to fish this tournament.”
Looking ahead, said English, “We need to find another four to five fish for a legitimate shot at winning. To hopefully do that, we’re going out to scout around tomorrow on the lay day.”
In angler standings, Puerto Rico’s Carlos Garcia aboard his Cabo 40, Peje, is first with four blue marlin releases. Damon Chouest on Chach is in third with three releases, while Big OH’s Ingram is third also with three releases.
A total of 105 blue marlin have been released in three days of fishing by the 41-boat fleet.
The angling action concludes Wednesday, after a layday Tuesday on the full moon.
The ABMT’s final fishing action on Wednesday ends with the sport fishing fleet’s swift Jim Smith ‘Race from the Edge’ at 4:30 p.m. The best place to watch this often photo finish is from the spit of land past the pool at the Sapphire Beach Resort. The awards ceremony takes place later in the evening along with the naming of the 2010 USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Top Angler, who pockets a $10,000 cash prize. For the first time, viewers can get in on the fun from anywhere in the world by entering the boat pool on line for the chance to win prizes. Visit: www.abmt.vi
The ABMT is fished under International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) rules, and is overseen by a professional Board of Captains and well-qualified observers.
The tournament benefits the Virgin Islands Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
For more information, call: 1-888-2-FISHVI (1-888-234-7484), or 775-9500, fax: 779-8605, or visit www.abmt.vi
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.