Local fisherfolkes are being encouraged to participate in the North Drop 2024 Open fishing competition which is a ‘catch and release’ blue marlin fishing tournament, set to run from August 9 to 10 in the waters surrounding Virgin Gorda.
The two-day tournament is part of the Caribbean Series Blue Marlin Championship that aims to promote the Virgin Islands as a prime location for big game fishing, enhancing its global reputation.
Speaking at a media briefing last Friday, Chairman of North Drop Open, Thomas Warner, expressed his optimism about the event’s impact, stating that he is confident the event will make the Virgin Islands world famous in respect to the sport fishing of blue marlins.
“I encourage everyone to follow us, come out, get involved, and make the BVI a great success,” he said.
“We do have a few local entries and I would like to encourage anybody who’s got a boat and some fishing rods to consider entering this event because there really is no greater thrill than catching a fish that’s about this size of your boat,” he added.
Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. the Honourable Karl Dawson, announced during the press briefing that the government will donate $50,000 towards the successful hosting of the two-day event.
He emphasized the importance of the tournament for the Virgin Islands.
“I see it as the start of something great. It is the first tournament that we are putting on in this version…. We do not see it as a one-off event, we see this as something that has tremendous growth potential as a tournament, but I would perhaps say even more importantly, it has growth potential for placing the British Virgin Islands back at the centre of sport fishing in the world,” Dr. Dawson stated.
To participate in the tournament, all boats must be in Virgin Gorda with their teams registered by 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 8. Boats will depart from Spanish Town on the tournament days and are required to attend the awards ceremony. Food and drinks will be available from 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 8.
The entry fee is $2500 per boat, with the organizers covering the Tournament and Angler Fees mandated by the Government of the Virgin Islands. Each boat must provide the names and identification of its anglers.
The tournament is a joint collaboration between the Government of the Virgin Islands, the BVI Tourist Board and the North Drop Open.