The third time was a charm for angler Ernest Quetel Sr. When the official weigh-in was complete at the 23rd Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament held July 10 at Hull Bay Hideaway, it was Quetel of St. Thomas who reeled in the Largest Kingfish, a 27.38-pounder, aboard the Rambo 27, Alpha-Q. Quetel’s sons, Ernest Jr. and Derek, whom he fished with this year, won the same Largest Kingfish prize in 1997 and 2008, respectively. Quetel was one of 213 anglers, including 34 junior anglers, on 62 boats who celebrated a successful tournament at the Coors Light and Snapple angler bars, provided compliments of Bellows International Ltd., who distributes these brands and who has sponsored this tournament for over two decades.
The Quetels, with Derek captaining and Ernest Jr. and Sr. manning the rods, headed out to the south side of St. Thomas for the 5:30 a.m. lines in.
“There was a lot of seaweed and it would get hooked up on the bait. That was harassing,” answered Quetel Jr., when asked about conditions. “It was also rainy, windy and the seas were rough.”
The less than perfect fishing conditions didn’t dampen Quetel Sr.’s ability to reel in a whopper kingfish.
“I knew it was a big one when I hooked up because of the drag on the reel,” he said.
When asked about his secret to success, Quetel Sr. answered “preparation and planning ahead, it’s a family recipe.”
For his efforts, Quetel pocketed $2,000 in cash for his Largest Kingfish, sponsored by NEMWIL, managed in the USVI by Red Hook Agencies Inc.
The Second Largest Kingfish prize also went to Quetel Sr., who caught a 23.91-pounder and won $1,000 in cash.
Mark Bistarkey, fishing aboard Fish Whistle, reeled in a 19.95-pounder to win the Third Largest Kingfish cash prize of $850, sponsored by Offshore Marine and Yanmar.
With 10 fish (91.65-pounds) caught total, Capt. Danny Berry aboard Rosaly won Best Boat and was awarded $1,000 cash from Offshore Marine and Yanmar.
Meanwhile, the catch of four kingfish (11.27-pounds) earned Capt. David Berry, aboard Summer Ann, the Best Captain award and $1000 cash from Offshore Marine and Yanmar.
Peter Turbe’s catch of a total of 91.65-pounds of fish, aboard Rosaly, earned him Best Male Angler, and a $750 cash prize from Offshore Marine and Yanmar.
It was Rosie Greaux, aboard Red Bikini, who reeled in a total of 42.34-pounds of fish to pick up the Best Female Angler award and a $750 cash prize – $500 of this sponsored by Red Hook Agencies.
The Best Junior Male prize of $250 cash from Offshore Marine and Yanmar, went to Nathan Gatcliffe, who caught 59.39-pounds of fish aboard, Double Header.
Nicole Berry won the Best Junior Female prize, $250 cash from Offshore Marine and Yanmar, with the catch of 9.87-pounds of fish, aboard We Be Fishing.
Although the tournament is focused around kingfish, other species earned anglers $525 cash each courtesy of TOPA Insurance Services, Inc. Ashley Bryan caught the Largest Jack, a 14.74-pounder, from aboard Livin Rich. Eli James reeled in the Largest Barracuda, an 18.83-pounder from aboard Great White. The Largest Bonito was caught aboard Double Header II by Malin LaPlace and it weighed 3.87-pounds. Finally, Donald Greaux reeled in the Largest Mackerel, an 11.62-pounder, from aboard Reel-M-In.
Winners also received overnight stays at local hotels, dinners for two, and a variety of luxury gifts and excursions all generously donated by the Virgin Islands’ business community.
Judges Herman Richardson and Kevin LaPlace Sr. officially weighed in the catches.
After weigh-in, the fun continued onshore at Hull Bay Hideaway. Cool Session Brass entertained throughout the afternoon. Later, crowds gathered inside Hull Bay Hideaway for the Awards Ceremony at 8 p.m., where the C4 Band entertained.
All 34 registered junior anglers were eligible for a special “Catch in the Hat” award. In this award, where $500 was sponsored by Red Hook Agencies and $200 by Edmund Bryan and Lorraine, the first 14 names drawn from a hat received $50 cash.
Nearly $10,000 was awarded in cash and prizes this year.
Each year, the Northside Sportfishing Club makes donations to community organizations and individuals. This year’s beneficiaries were The Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue and Kidscope. The Club also awarded $4,500 in college scholarships to seven recipients.
In addition, tournament organizers welcomed other fishing-oriented public service groups to take part. For example, CaribCATCH researchers in cooperation with the Schneider Regional Medical Center, St. Thomas Fishermen’s Association and the University of the Virgin Islands conducted a survey to ascertain the public’s knowledge about ciguatera fish poisoning in order to develop appropriate educational materials. For more information, contact 626-1698
Catherine Bryan, Gene Brin Jr., Danny and Jessica LaPlace, and Carlyn and Wesley Ledee organized this year’s tournament.
The Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is one of the most popular French Heritage Week activities, a week observed this year from July 8-July 14.
2011 RESULTS
62 Boats
213 Anglers (includes 34 Jr. Anglers)
128 Fish Caught, 978.72-pounds
40 Kingfish Caught, 340.27-pounds
PLACEMENT ANGLER LBS BOAT
Largest Kingfish Ernest Quetel, Sr. 27.38 Alpha-Q
2nd Largest Kingfish Ernest Quetel, Sr. 23.91 Alpha-Q
3rd Largest Kingfish Mark Bistarkey 19.95 Fish Whistle
Best Boat Danny Berry 10 fish Rosaly
Best Captain David Berry 4 kingfish Summer Ann
Best Female Rosie Greaux 42.34 Red Bikini
Best Male Peter Turbe 91.65 Rosaly
Best Junior Male Nathan Gatcliffe 59.39 Double Header
Best Junior Female Nicole Berry 9.87 We Be Fishing
Largest Jack Ashley Bryan 14.74 Livin Rich
Largest Barracuda Eli James 18.83 Great White
Largest Bonito Malin LaPlace 3.87 Double Header II
Largest Mackerel Donald Greaux 11.62 Reel-M-In
