Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
David Stout (right) attempts to release a marlin while Paul Johnson (partially obscured) looks on aboard 'The Shooter' in action from day two of the 42nd Port Antonio Marlin Tournament yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE SHOOTER tagged and released two marlin, keeping very much in the thick of things as action in the 42nd Port Antonio Marlin Tournament continued at the Old Port Antonio Marina yesterday.
Similar to the day's previous outing on the relatively calm seas, yesterday's action also saw a total of 15 marlin tagged and released making it a total of 30 in two days. The Shooter's two-day haul ties it second on points with Prospect III, but both trail Intrepid who had a three-marlin haul to add to its one on the opening day.
Defending champions Safe Passage failed to tag any marlin yesterday, leaving them tied on two points with five other vessels. The day began slowly for the Bajan men and the early morning catches only included a kingfish and sturgeon, both of which have no bearing on the tournament total. But at about 3:00 p.m. there was an excited shout of "Marlin" and a dorsal fin could be seen bobbing in and out of the water as the 200-pound fish struggled to break free, but the anglers stuck to their task to eventually tag and release their first big catch of the day.
Fifteen minutes before "lines out" at 5:00 p.m. the cry was once again heard and an even bigger marlin could be seen as it jumped high out of the water. The patient anglers would once again hold on to make it two out of two to wrap up their day's tally before heading back to shore. Angler Craig Shepherd was thrilled with the day's results.
"It was an all-around team effort today. It's always good to catch any marlin. Obviously, the bigger the more intense the fight and the sweeter the catch," Shepherd said. "I enjoy fishing. We are in second place so we obviously need a few more come Thursday, and I can't wait."
Part boat owner Paul Johnson commended his team for a job well done.
"The crew worked really hard to make it happen. They went through some 25 different lures and tried different things and in the end their hard work really paid off." he said.
Today will be a rest day for the anglers as the 21st Port Antonio Canoe Tournament takes to the water.
