‘Tiger’ & Stoutt grab Most Catch prizes in Carrot Bay Fisherman's tournament
The Benito Potter Fisherman’s trophy was taken by Tyrone and Lenise Phillips. There were several other prizes handed out to the participating fishermen at the official opening ceremony of the Benito Potter Festiville in Carrot Bay last evening August 8, 2013.
The Fisherman’s competition this year drew the participation of seven teams, most of whom said they would have had better years of fishing. For the new comers, it was an encouraging and exciting challenge.
The teams were led by Antonio ‘Tony’ Martin on boat Kishy ii, Alvin ‘Cumba’ Martin aboard Who feels it knows it, Tyrone and Lenise Phillips on 3-Sum, Melbourne Stoutt on U’Nyah, Elmore Stoutt aboard Geranama, David Smith on Tiger Too and Amaro Potter on What Ever.
For Mr Smith and his boat Tiger Too, it was the first time participating in the tournament, which he described as pure fun, rough waters and a beautiful catch. “I kind of like it. I am a fisherman but I never really entered the competition before, this is my first time,” Mr Smith told Virgin Islands News Online.
He said he entered the competition very optimistic that he was experienced enough to come in first place with the largest catch, “But I doubt that I got it because I heard them saying that Stoutt got over 400 pounds and I got over 300 but that’s cool,” he said shortly on his return from sea.
He said the sea was not of the condition that fishermen look forward to especially when it comes to a competition much less for a catch of daily bread. “Nah nah man that sea was really rough there today. It was too tough to fight but we went out there and we still come back with something good, and for a first time man in the competition we did well I would say,” Mr Smith remarked.
While he noted that entering the competition was for the love of fishing, Mr Smith said the best part for him was seeing persons rushing his catch to get some good fresh fish to take home. “Look you see them out there, everybody dipping in and getting some good fresh fish, who aint going to boil, will fry, some will do all sorts of thing and that is the other part I does enjoy.” He said next year he will be back in the competition as the festival has taken on new adventures and meaning for him.
Like Mr Smith, Mr Melbourne Stoutt said the day was not one that encouraged the best of fishing. He said the sea was trying to be the enemy. “He (the sea) didn’t want to give up his fishes today but we is fishermen and we take what we want from the sea, hard or easy.” He added that his catch was of a wide variety and felt that it could have been a better run had the sea been more cooperative.
“But what, we went out there for the love of it, to give we people some nice fresh fish and so we had to fight the sea and take something. Now that it’s over I having some fun. They said I had the largest catch but we going to know later but that don’t really matter. I having fun now,” added Mr Stoutt.
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