Photo by Stewart Loveland

 

 

Links
Updated 8/4/08

julyopen

July 15, 16, 17

2008 Dolphin Derby

April 27

wahoowindup

November 16

 

julyopen
45th July Open Billfish Tournament

July 15, 16, 17, 2008

"It's always the first 3 days before the Full Moon!"

World Billfish Series WBS Caribbean Division

REEL TIGHT WINS 45TH ANNUAL JULY OPEN BILLFISH TOURNAMENT

Reel Tight Winners
Reel Tight in the Top Boat winner's circle. (photo Pat Ford)

2008 Pictures
 General Registration Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Awards

See Tournament Home Page

2008 July Open Score Sheet
Boat Name Day 1
Releases		 Day 2
Releases		 Day 3
Releases		 Total
Abigal III
1
1
1
1500
Big Oh
1
2
2
2500
Black Gold  
1
3
2000
Black Pearl  
1
1
1000
Da Bait  
1
  
500
Deguello        
Game On
1
    
500
Golden Eagle    
1
500
Gulf Rascal
1
  
1
1000
Mixed Bag        
No Excuse  
1
1
1000
Reel Tight  
3
3
3000
Revenge  
1
1
1000
Rude Awakening  
1
  
500
Therapy        
Uno Mas
1
    
500
 
5
12
14
  
Blue Marlin = 500 pts, White Marlin = 300 pts, Sailfish = 200 pts.

REEL TIGHT WINS 45TH ANNUAL JULY OPEN BILLFISH TOURNAMENT
by Carol Bareuther, RD

July 17, 2008

Top Boat honors in the 45th annual July Open Billfish Tournament went to Reel Tight, and you could call it by divine intervention. Just weeks ago, owner, avid Virgin Islands' sports fishermen and Hillsboro Beach, Florida-based angler, Jim Lambert, passed away after a long fight with cancer.

"It was always his idea that we would continue. We all have a shared love of fishing," says Reel Tight mate, Robert 'Fly' Navarro.

Tournament fishing started out slow for the 16-boat fleet and Reel Tight went fishless on the first day.

"It was one of those 'awww man' type of days," says Reel Tight captain, Eddie Herbert.

Luck on the 82-foot Merritt, based out of Hillsboro, Florida, changed the next day.

"It was about 11 a.m. when we rigged Jim's special Reel Tight lure and put it in the water," says mate, Joe Figiel. "We didn't catch anything on it, but just putting it in the water changed our luck."

Reel Tight released three fish on both the second and third days of this three-day tournament to end with 6 releases and the Top Boat prize.

"We've never won this tournament before," says Lambert's son, Jimmy Lambert, who fished as one of the anglers. "I think you could say my dad was with us in spirit."

Big Oh, a 63-foot Scarborough finished Second Top Boat, with five blue marlin releases, all by owner/angler, Gray Ingram. Ingram was awarded Top Angler and gets his name engraved on the prestigious 'Give 'm Line' Trophy.

"We've never fished the Virgin Islands before, but we've heard how good the fishing was," says Ingram, who homeports out of Jupiter Beach, Florida. "The first day was slow, but it picked up after that. We'll be here for fishing for the summer."

Black Gold, an ACY 65' owned by Boca Raton, Florida's Harry Sargeant, finished Third Top Boat with the release of (five blue marlin.)

"Fishing kept getting better and better every day," says Sargeant.

The Virgin Islands' Gamefishing Club hosted July Open Billfish Tournament benefits the Boys & Girls Club.

For full results, visit the July Open Home Page

See More July Open Press Releases


Carey Chen

Anglers sign up while marine artist, Carey Chen, paints a blue marlin mural on the wall of the newly renovated Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club. (photo by Pat Ford)

 
2008 Pictures General Registration Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Awards

 

Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club
2008 Offshore Marine
Dolphin Derby
2008 Dolphin Derby
1
yanmar

4/28/08 - Carl Holley on Triple Secret wins 2008 Dolphin Derby for the second year in a row. The winning fish weighed 38 lbs. Jeff Crokin on Gone Ketchin took second and Chad Sheraw on Triple Secret came in third. The Best Boat Award for most dolphin by count went to Triple Secret with 14 dolphin caught.

2008 Dolphin Derby - Carl Holley

Carl Holley with his winning 38 pound dolphin.

 

See Dolphin Derby Tournament Home Page

See Weigh In and Awards Pictures

 

Introducing The 2008
Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club
Board of Directors

Name Position

Sue Boland

President

Nick Pourzal

Vice President

Nic Nicolini

Secretary

Jim Jamison

Treasurer

Red Bailey

 

Craig Friedenberg

 

Rob Richards

 

Albert Sibly

 

Jeffrey Kreiner

 

VIGFC 2008 Tournament Schedule

Couples Tournament February 24
Dolphin Derby April 27
Memorial Day TBA
July Open Kids Tournament July 4
July Open Marlin Tournament July 15, 16, 17
Offshore Four September 21
Wahoo Windup November 16

 

 

2007 Toyota of St. Thomas Wahoo Wind-Up

Sunday November 18, 2007

Toyota Tacoma 4-wheel drive extended cab
Catch the largest  Wahoo over 75lb.
and Win this Truck!!
$25,000.00 value

Over $30,000.00 in cash and prizes for this event!

Only one truck winner will be allowed

Cash and prizes will be awarded to the next 10 largest Wahoo. $1000.00 Winner for the largest Wahoo not winning the truck. $1000.00 to the boat with the most Wahoo by count. IGFA rules are in effect for record fish are in effect for this event. Maximum allowable line is 80lb. Test. Fish USVI waters only.

 

VIGFC Newsletter

Check out the November Newsletter (PDF)

The VIGFC is a active fishing club with a schedule of 9 events over the year, encompassing the full spectrum of fishing to suit all member anglers, and species in the VI.

Members of the VIGFC are a distinguished group of anglers having set world records, winning TBF awards for most tagged Blue Marlin, Sailfish, and indeed the Club won the inaugural TBF Club Conservation Challenge, in 1997. Out of 16 sport fishing clubs, participants reported tagging 367 billfish, the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club won with 207 tags. A tribute to the member anglers and their dedication to conservation of the worlds Billfish population.

For Registration Forms or more information contact
the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club
6501 Red Hook Plaza #201
St. Thomas, VI 00802
Phone 340-775-9144
Email usvigfc@gmail.com