Fishing tourney offers US$520,000 prize pool
Tournament ambassador Carey Chen
(CNS Local Life): An international, multi-day fishing tournament will be debuting next year In Cayman with a guaranteed prize of US$270,000, one of the largest on the Caribbean’s competitive fishing circuit. The Cayman Billfish Rundown will take place 14-17 May, 2019, with potential prize winnings more than US$520,000, which includes US$250,000 insured for breaking the local Cayman Islands blue marlin record of 584 lbs.
The tournament also offers 21 added entry categories, to include billfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin, making the jackpot one of the largest in the Caribbean, said a press release.
Unique to this event is the US$10,000 Award to the Captain of the boat with the most billfish release points, the release stated. Eligible species for the tournament includes billfish (blue, sail, white and swordfish), tuna, dolphin and wahoo. The tournament is sponsored by Hurley’s Media, Dart and The Residences at Seafire.
Potential prize winnings are more than US$520,000, which includes the US$250,000 insured for breaking the local Cayman Islands blue marlin record of 584 lbs, said a press release. The tournament also offers 21 added entry categories, to include billfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin, making the jackpot one of the largest in the Caribbean.
Unique to this event is the US$10,000 Award to the Captain of the boat with the most billfish release points, the release stated. Eligible species for the tournament includes billfish (blue, sail, white and swordfish), tuna, dolphin and wahoo.
Tournament headquarters and weigh station will be at Camana Bay harbour with festivities taking place on the Crescent each evening starting at 4pm when the boats return, said a press release.
In addition, the Alex Panton Foundation has been named the beneficiary charity of the tournament. Participants will have the option during registration to donate a percentage of their winnings to the non-profit whose mission is to improve the mental health of children and young adults in the Cayman Islands through advocacy, awareness and support while raising awareness of mental illnesses with a particular focus on anxiety and depression.
Randy Merren, managing director of Hurley’s Media, said this tournament has been more than a year in the making and he was pleased to see the event taking shape. “Cayman Billfish Rundown is a sportfishing tournament to attract both overseas and local participants,” he said.
“Cayman is a very attractive destination and we view this as an opportunity to attract visitors who spend their time off going on fishing trips and may not have had Cayman on the radar. We have scheduled this tournament at a time of year when the fishing is plentiful, when there is a break with other tournaments and to coincide with CayMAS carnival taking place the day after the award ceremony, as we want to showcase all Cayman has to offer, including our incredible entertainment.”
Pilar Bush, executive vice president for marketing at Dart Enterprises, said of the event: “The 2019 Cayman Billfish Rundown is the perfect reason for avid international sportsfishermen to plan a trip to the Cayman Islands.”
In addition, coming onboard as the tournament ambassador is world-renowned marine artist and angler, Carey Chen, who said in the press release, “Cayman has some of the best fishing in one of the most beautiful and successful islands in the Caribbean. I am honoured to be part of this tournament and am looking forward to this being an unforgettable event.
“I fish tournaments throughout the US, Caribbean, Mexico and Central America and always enjoy the fishing in Cayman as well as the hospitality while visiting. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with Mr Merren on the event and encourage boats to sign up.”
Registration for the event is now open, with the entrance fee for those signing up before 1 March 2019 US$2,500 and after that date US$3,000.
For more information, go to the tournament website
Category: Events
Hope you all earn your big bucks from stealing all Angling Club’s ideas and using them after they worked so hard for nothing to get Cayman the fishing recognition it has today!
How about dropping the self pity angle and get off your ass and organize something yourself?
The Angling Club was asked for years to let Dart and other big sponsors get involved, but they were not interested!
I hope the club dies, it’s run by a bunch of short sighted fools who only cater to a select few members and treat everyone else like crap. One thing for sure, they will not get another dollar out of me for membership/registration fees to waste on their annual vacation at the boat show, which I might add produce absolutely nothing.
All of the best tournaments on the island have absolutely nothing to do with the club anyway.
Well said! Bring on the Billfish Rundown!
Poor angling club. Should merge with CMEA and make a country album together.
stop killing fish for sport or fun.
But it’s fun and they taste good! The fish don’t go to waste!