Youth Achieve And Set New Records In 2015 Game Fishing Tournament

Republic Bank was once again pleased to support the 2015 Barbados Game Fishing Association (BGFA) International tournament which was one for youthful achievement and the record books.

An inspired performance from Jake Hurley saw him taking the prize for the champion junior angler as well as the overall champion angler of the tournament. He ended with three tag and releases and 600 points fishing on board Remember Me Now.

Antigua’s Ruth Liney emerged as the champion female angler with 383 points fishing on board Double Rum N Coke. She also took the prize for the angler landing the heaviest yellow fin tuna weighing 170.1 lbs., just 20lbs short of the local record.

Three days of exhilarating game fishing action climaxed with a spectacular showcase of youthful talent and exuberance as another young angler Josh Archer snagged a 324lb record-breaking blue marlin caught on the final day of the tournament.

Commenting on the success of the tournament, Mr. Ian De Souza, CEO of Republic Bank said it was testament to the Bank’s focus on helping young people to pursue their dreams in all aspects of life.

“This tournament clearly demonstrated what our young people can achieve when they are facilitated and afforded the opportunities to excel, whether in a sport like game fishing, or indeed in other important aspects of their lives such as their educational and career aspirations. Republic Bank will certainly be there to support them. We offer our congratulations to all competitors, and well done to our champion anglers Jake Hurley and Ruth Liney.”

A total of 165 anglers, inclusive of 19 junior anglers including two of a total nine female participants, among the highest for game fishing in the southern Caribbean participated in the tournament.

Twenty Barbadian boats competed against eight from overseas and the tournament attracted 48 visiting anglers. A combined total of 28 tag and releases inclusive of ten blue and seven white marlins, eleven sail fish and five tunas were landed over the three days.

In other notable achievements, Kyle Gill copped the prize for the junior landing the heaviest dolphin for his 22.3 lb. catch and was awarded the prestigious Luke Bjerkham Memorial Cup.

Alex Cole, fishing on Bjerkham’s De Reel Viking was the angler landing the heaviest dolphin at 30.8lbs, while Anthony James on board Subway Dragon landed the heaviest wahoo weighing 32 lbs.