Monday, 19 October 2009 – Anegada: Fishizzle, a 40 ft H&H boat from St. Thomas scooped up the major prizes in the just ended Lowell Wheatley Memorial Gamefish Tournament, after reeling in 296 ½ pounds of fish over the two days.

The tournament, now in its 15^th year, is hosted by the BVI Anglers Club and the Anegada Reef Hotel. It is named in honour of the late Captain Lowell Wheatley, who was a well known local fisherman and owner of the Anegada Reef Hotel.

A total of 10 boats registered on Friday for this year’s tournament – 3 from St. Thomas, 2 from Anegada and 5 from Tortola. Fishing took place on Saturday and Sunday, with the prize giving held mid afternoon at the Anegada Reef Hotel, following remarks from Proprietor/Manager Lorraine Wheatley-Tomlinson.

“It was a good tournament,” stated Wheatley-Tomlinson. “This year, while some of the boats did not catch as much fish as they would have liked, they caught bigger fish in terms of weight. We had some good sizes.”

She thanked all of the sponsors for supporting the tournament and said plans are already underway to host a bigger, better tournament around the same St. Ursula’s Day holiday weekend next year.

In terms of the prizes, Fishizzle of S. Thomas was judged Best Boat overall. The crew was awarded $3,000 cash compliments Digicel, The Bigger, Better Network and Anegada Beach Club. Other prizes included free entry to the Spanish Town Fishermen’s Jamboree; a trophy from Buck’s Food Market; 1 Bilge Pump and Switch from Parts & Power; $150 Gift Certificate compliments Bamboushay; $100 from Neptune’s Fishing Supply; 2 bottles of Mount Gay Extra Old Rum from Road Town Wholesale; and a 2-night stay at the Anegada Reef Hotel.

It was the third time Fishizzle’s Captain Lee Steiner was taking part in the tournament, but the first time for owner Joel Finley, who clearly brought the victory. “It was a great experience for the crew,” stated Steiner. “Fishing is hard, but we just took advantage of every opportunity we had. We fished east of Virgin Gorda and came back in with 5 Yellow Fins, 5 Wahoos, 3 Black Fins and 1 King Fish.”

Fishizzle also copped prizes for Best Angler (Wesley), who won $1500 from the BVI Tourist Board, a trophy compliments Bucks Food Market and Big Bamboo Restaurant, dinner for two at Myett’s, a full body massage at Serenity Spa and 2 bottles of Mount Gay Extra Old Rum from Road Town Wholesale.

Wesley of Fishizzle also caught the Heaviest Wahoo – 31lbs – and won $250 compliments Williams & Williams, a $50 Gift Certificate from Supa Valu, a $25 Gift Certificate from Richardson’s Rigging, 1 bottle of Mount Gay Extra Old Rum from Road Town Wholesale and a trophy compliments Buck’s Food Market.

In addition, Joel of Fishizzle caught the Heaviest Tuna – 34 ½ lbs. He was awarded $250 from Corea’s Business Service, a $50 Gift Certificate from Palm Groovin, $25 Gift Certificate from Richardson’s Rigging, 1 bottle of Mount Gay Extra Old Rum from Road Town Wholesale and a trophy from Buck’s Food Market.

In other prizes:

• Shirley of the boat Rampage won Best Angler for bringing in a 45lb Wahoo. She won a 2 night stay at Leverick Bay, $675 from Road Town Wholesale, a facial from Bless Hands, pedicure and manicure from McKelly’s, 1 bottle of Mount Gay Extra Old Rum from Road Town Wholesale and a trophy compliments Buck’s Food Market.
• Sabrina Smith of the boat Princess won Best Youngest Angler for catching a 26 ½ lb Mahi Mahi. She was awarded $375 from the Anegada Reef Hotel, a Digicel cell phone, a gift bag compliments We Be Divin, a DVD player from Varieties & Electronics, 2 round trip tickets to St. Thomas on Road Town Fast Ferry and a trophy compliments Buck’s Food Market.
• Lennox, on the boat Princess, brought in the Heaviest Mahi – 48 ½ lbs. He won $250 compliments Hodge’s Trucking, a Digicel cell phone, 1 bottle of Mount Gay Extra Old Rum from Road Town Wholesale, a $50 gift certificate from Virgin Queen, $25 gift certificate from Richardson’s Rigging and a trophy from Buck’s Food Market.
• Marley of Bad Dog weighed in the Heaviest King Fish at 34 ½ lbs. He was awarded $250 from Hodge’s Trucking, a $100 gift certificate from Supa Valu, a $25 gift certificate from Richardson’s Rigging, 1 bottle of Mount Gay Extra Old Rum from Road Town Wholesale and a trophy compliments Buck’s Food Market.

All boats received discounted gas compliments Delta Petroleum; 1 case of Red Stripe, a bottle of Meyers Rum and 1 case a Highland Springs water compliments TICO.

Wheatley-Tomlinson also mentioned the support of other sponsors, including Jahphix, Trintech Business Services, ZVCR 106.9FM, ZROD 103.7FM and Caribbean Printing.

For more information, visit www.anegadareef.com. For further information on Digicel, visit www.digicelbvi.com.

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