Best Female Angler Tiefen Benjamin from Chief Tess. (Robert Luckock photo)
PHILIPSBURG--Navigator from Saba won the champion boat category for the second consecutive year at the 12th SXM Wahoo Fishing tournament awards ceremony held at Grumpy’s Bar, Dock Maarten, on Saturday evening.
Navigator overcame engine problems to reel in 266.50 lbs of Wahoo (11 wahoo) to win the first prize category and an invitation to the Offshore World Championships to be held in Costa Rica in April 2024. They also took home the prize for Largest Tuna (42.3lbs). Navigator was also back on stage for the Best Junior Angler category which went to “JJ” (16) for his 29.3lb Wahoo. The second prize went to Vitamin Sea from St. Barths with 190.60lbs of Wahoo, and third prize to O’ Top Sea, also from St. Barths with 176lbs of Wahoo. The Best Female Angler prize was a close race with another female angler, but with a difference of just 0.2lbs, the prize went to Tiefen Benjamin from the boat Chief Tess with her 32.90lb Wahoo. Of the 28 boats that entered the tournament, 21 entered the level 2 category, vying for the Wahoo jackpot (put your money where your mouth is award) which was won by the boat Three little Birds for St. Martin. It was a double triumph as they also won the Biggest Wahoo category of 65.90 lbs. This same boat, emcee and co-organiser Sergio Hodge recalled, broke the 10-year-record last year with their 77.8lb catch, and the glut of prizes, including a dinghy, that went with it. “Luckily this year we get to keep the dinghy,” joked Hodge. In other results the Largest Mahi Mahi went to team Jupiter for their 12lb catch. The Best Dressed Crew prize went to “Blu Bi U.” Prize winners went home with cash and many other prizes courtesy of the numerous sponsors. The awards ceremony got off to a light hearted start as members of the audience were called up on stage to try their hand at simulating reeling in a fish from the stage. Organisers expressed how happy they are with the location for the tournament and disclosed next year, the tournament will have another day added as the marina will be completed, and set the dates as November 1, 2, and 3, 2024.
