On the backs of giants like José Alberto Sánchez, a well-known fisherman who moved to St. Croix in the 1960s as a young boy from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, families gathered with children under 15 to participate in the free Handline Tournament in Christiansted.
The event, hosted by the Golden Hook Fishing Club and the St. Croix Environmental Association, Saturday was a celebration of both community and tradition. Unlike many of the tournaments “Papa Sánchez” has won over the years catching over 800 pounds of fish, every child walked away a winner — receiving medals, hand lines, and for a few, their very own fishing rod, given away during the raffle, despite the smaller fish caught along the boardwalk, ranging from 0.5 oz. to 3 lbs.
The duality of the sea — its love and the sustenance it has provided — dates back to when enslaved Africans used hand lines and traps to feed their families on these very islands. Today, although fishing rods are the most popular method, events like these continue to keep traditions alive in the territory.
“The St. Croix Environmental Association was honored to be part of co-hosting this community tradition alongside Golden Hook Fishing Club! The Kids Handline Tournament, while tons of fun, is also about teaching our youth patience, confidence, and what a resilient community looks like,” said Olivia Walton, education coordinator for SEA. “For us at SEA, events like this are all about getting our kids outside and deepening their connection to the ocean that surrounds and sustains us, while sowing the seeds of food sovereignty.”
