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Record-Setting Marlin Bite Highlights Day 2 of Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament

Aug. 27, 2007 — A record 87 hook-ups and 59 blue marlin releases Sunday marked a magnificent, record-setting, second day of fishing in the 35th annual USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament (ABMT), fished out of St. Thomas.
“The migration has really turned on,” said tournament Director Jimmy Loveland about the fantastic blue marlin bite, according to a news release from tournament organizers. “The fish are here,”
Bandalero, one of the boats whose anglers collectively released four blue marlin for the day, had a “great day of fishing,” said Manuel Battle, owner and angler aboard the Puerto Rico-based FNS 63.
“We saw nine, hooked up seven and released four,” Battle said. “The first fish was huge, over 500 pounds. The other three we released were about 200 pounds apiece, and they were all between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.”
Bandalero’s four releases Sunday added to the two they released the event’s first day equals six fish, or a 2,400-point total. This gives Bandalero the lead for Top Boat at the tournament’s mid-point. Uno Mas also released six fish for 2,400 points, but Bandalero scored their releases first and topped the leader board on time.
Battle admitted that their lead and legacy as last year’s defending Top Boat champion put the pressure on. But he was quick to point out that this year’s contingent of anglers and crew are identical to last and hail from a trio of the Caribbean’s billfish hot spots — the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
One of the most exciting stories of the day was about an angler who wasn’t entered in the ABMT. Ten-year-old Travis Morrison released his first blue marlin. His father, Eddie Morrison, runs the St. Thomas-based charter fishing boat, Marlin Prince, and who has Louisiana anglers, Sonny and Debbie Freeman fishing aboard the ABMT.
“The owner of the Lady Lane asked me to go out with them for the day, and I thanked them and said yes,” Travis said.
The junior angler was up first in the chair after a blue marlin bite danced on the surface, re-bit the line and sounded to the ocean depths, peeling all the line off the rod’s reel as it went.
“I fought the fish for one hour and 42 miles before I released it,” Morrison says. “Sometimes I thought about giving up, letting someone else reel in the fish, but it was something I really wanted.”
More than 100 junior anglers took to the American Yacht Harbor docks earlier in the day for the Innovative Wireless Handline Tournament.
Fishing was set to continue in the USVI Open/ABMT Monday, with Yacht Haven Grande hosting the evening’s Caribbean Night festivities, complete with a live Calypso Show and stilt-walking Mocko Jumbies.
Anglers, captains and crews were set to take a lay-day from fishing Tuesday. This is the full-moon day, and, according to experienced sports fishermen, fishing is best right before and after the noon.
Fishing concludes Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. when the fleet makes a mad dash for shore during the Jim Smith “Race From The Edge.” There’s a lot of machismo in winning this event.
“Spectators can sip cocktails and witness the race to the finish line at the Sapphire Beach Resort’s pool bar,” says Jimmy Loveland, tournament director. Winners are named at the evening awards banquet to be held at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa.
Started in 1972 by an avid Virgin Islands’ angler, the late Chuck Senf, the USVI Open/ABMT has evolved into one of the most competitive saltwater sports fishing events in the world. It’s one of the events making up Bisbee’s World Billfish Series and is a qualifier for the Rolex-IGFA Invitational Tournament of Champions.
Cumulative Results — Day 2
Top Boats
1. Bandalero, 2,400 points
2. Uno Mas, 2,400 points
3. Peje, 2,000 points
Top Anglers
1. Brooks Smith, Uno Mas, 1,600 points
2. Midel Gomez, Mojito, 1,200 points
3. Bill Waldorf, AIA, 1,200 points
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