Register This Week for Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament on July 14

A previous Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament

People can register now for the 31st Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament. Set for Sunday, July 14, at Hull Bay Hideaway – and named one of the “Top Ten Best Ways to Celebrate Bastille Day in the World” by online travel advisor Hotwire.com – the Northside Sportfishing Club’s tournament is a chance to catch that “big one.” And if not, there are more than a dozen other ways to win, plus, over $13,000 up for grabs in cash and prizes.

“New this year, and thanks to our longtime sponsor NEMWIL, we were able to raise the purse for the Largest Kingfish prize to $3,000! Not bad for a day of fishing,” said Catherine Bryan, one of the team of six tournament organizers.

“We want to invite all anglers to register and for the public to come enjoy the party, good food and live music at Hull Bay Hideaway. We’d also like to let the community know that at 3 p.m., we will recognize the efforts of longtime weighmaster Mr. Herman Richardson, who recently passed away. Thanks to the public’s support and help of our stalwart sponsors, we are pleased to continue our longstanding practice of giving back to the St. Thomas community by donating to beneficiaries such as the Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue, the Civil Air Patrol and Nana Baby Children’s Home.”

Take the hassle out of parking and catch a free shuttle from the parking lot at Sib’s On the Mountain Bar & Restaurant (intersection of Routes 33 and 37 in Estate Elizabeth) to Hull Bay Hideaway on July 14. Or, flag the shuttle down along Hull Bay Road that day and hop on. There will be two shuttles operating simultaneously. Shuttle service starts at 10 a.m. and the last ride departs Hull Bay at 6 p.m.

Entry forms are available on Tuesday at Neptune Fishing Supplies in Red Hook. Registration continues at the Captain’s Meeting at 7:30 p.m., July 12, at Hull Bay Hideaway. Full Circle Band will entertain from 6:30-10 p.m. Final registration will take place from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, July 13, at Hull Bay Hideaway. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, entry fees are low: $45 for adults, $35 for juniors ages 8 to 17.

All registered anglers will receive an official Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament T-shirt, hat and goodie bag. Over 200 anglers – adults and juniors of all skill level – as well as over 60 boats are expected to enter.

Prize categories include: Largest Kingfish, 2nd Largest Kingfish, 3rd Largest Kingfish, 4th Largest Kingfish, Best Captain, Best Boat, Best Male Angler, Best Female Angler, Best Junior Male Angler, Best Junior Female Angler, Largest Barracuda, Largest Bonito and Largest Mackerel.

This year Budget Marine is sponsoring the Best Female Angler prize package valued at $500. In addition, several Virgin Islands’ businesses have generously contributed cash prizes. There will also be a 50/50 raffle drawing.

Conservation-oriented organizers of the Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament have eliminated the jack species and increased the minimum length on barracuda to 40-inches in length. To assure fairness for all, tournament participants are not allowed to leave shore until 4 a.m. on Sunday, July 14.

Lines in the water starts at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 14, and tournament ends at noon, sharp. From noon until 2 p.m., while the weighmaster and judges go to work, registered anglers can quench their thirst with Coors Light and rum punch or juice, depending on age. The Awards Ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. at Hull Bay Hideaway on Sunday, July 14.

Junior anglers are eligible for the special “Catch in the Hat” drawing, sponsored by Offshore Marine. All registered junior angler names will be placed in a hat. The first eight names drawn will receive $50 cash and the next one will win $100 dollars, for a total award of $500. Junior anglers must be present at Hull Bay Hideaway to win. The drawing will take place during the band break Sunday afternoon. There will also be a bouncy house and face painting for the kids in the afternoon.

Additionally, there will be a “Lucky/Unlucky” prize drawn of $1,500 distributed over several participants. There will be more details at the Captain’s Meeting. The drawing takes place at the evening’s prize giving. Anglers must be present to win.

Come for the fishing and stay for the party! Cool Session Brass plays from noon to 5 p.m., followed by Dem Fellaz & Friends from 6-10 p.m. Hull Bay Hideaway will be offering food for sale throughout the day. The Armstrong Real Tasty Ice Cream Truck will also be parked at the venue during the day.

The 31st Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is sponsored by Coors Light and Captain Morgan, distributed by Bellows International; Offshore Marine, the YAMAHA distributor in the Virgin Islands; NEMWIL; Red Hook Agencies Inc.; TOPA Insurance Services Inc.; Budget Marine, the Caribbean’s Leading Chandlery; Caribbean Gifts and Things; Scoops & Brew Gelato and Coffee Bar; Frank’s Electric; Amalie Car Rental; and Hull Bay Hideaway.

For more information, email nssfcvi@gmail.com or call 998-0854. Follow the Northside Sportfishing Club on Facebook.