The Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament ended Sunday, July 27 with a winning school bluefin tuna measuring 42.5” caught by Evan Page of Connecticut. For the third year in a row, the largest striped bass caught from shore was by angler Colin Mansfield, a 29” fish. There was a tie for the largest striped bass from a boat with both anglers Josh Faria and Pat Walker landing a 43” fish.
The First Place Team this year went to team ‘Hot Time’ led by Evan Lepage of Connecticut. The team took the largest fluke and largest bluefin tuna species categories.
Capt. Chris Willi of Block Island Fishworks, tournament director, said, “The Tournament expansion this year to nine species and an expanded area from the mainland off Rhode Island to about 15 miles south of Block Island made it the best ever. Our use of the GotOne fishing smartphone app made this possible and we had about 110 anglers participant, the most ever.
The Tournament was held in loving memory of Wendy Northup, a longtime supporter of fishing and conservation on the Island. Thanks to Ørsted (owners of the Block Island Wind Farm) and our co-sponsor tackle shops we were able to donate 100 percent of Tournament fees to the Fire & Rescue Department. We make a $6,180 contribution to the Block Island Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, half of that in tournament fees and as in the past Capt. Nick’s Rock & Roll Bar matched the gift.”
Over $10,000 in prizes, gift cards and tournament swag were awarded at the ‘After Party’ on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
The Tournament included shore, youth, and boat divisions. Striped bass and bluefish for all divisions plus black sea bass and fluke for boat and youth divisions. New this year were five combined youth/adult pelagic species categories including bluefin and yellowfin tuna, bonito, false albacore, and mahi-mahi. There was also a team prize and photo division prizes awarded for best fish, best scenic and best team photos taken with a wind farm in the background.
New this year, Capt. Paul Eidman, New Jersey, of Anglers for Offshore Wind Power, took seven anglers out to fish in the Tournament so they could experience what it is like to fish in a wind farm. They fished on the Frances sport fishing boat out of Pt. Judith with Capt. Frank Blount. Eidman said, “When we arrived at the South Fork wind farm it was like an aquatic zoo. Humpback whales feeding on sand eels, dolphin, tuna, mahi, bonito and lots of bottom fish to catch too.” Anglers for Offshore Wind Power is a program that advocates for the responsible development of offshore wind energy.
Tournament co-sponsors were Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren; Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown; The Tackle Box, Warwick; Ocean State Tackle, Providence; Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown; and Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly.
» Visit www.sandypointco.com/bi-inshore-tourney for full tournament results.
F ORSTED for trying to win the fisherman over.