The 2016 Grand Turk Liquors & FLOW fishing tournament was a resounding
success, with more fish caught than in any previous year. Conditions were
stormy on Saturday but the 12 boats that entered made the most of the weather
and local knowledge to bring in a record catch. Sunday’s conditions were perfect
and saw even more fish brought to the scales.
The event kicked off on Friday night with a lively event at the Salt Raker Inn
hosted by Erika Faller, with the Calcutta bidding and live and silent auctions, also
a lively bar for a great start to the annual fund raiser.
For the second year in a row, Ralph Dietcshe’s “My Boat’ team took top honors
as tournament champions with the heaviest overall catch of 163.4 pounds on day
one, and 205.8 pounds on day two for a total of 379.2 pounds overall and six
category wins to take the Calcutta prize too.
Damian Noyes’ “Screaming Reels” team landed a fantastic 67.9 pound wahoo to
take the biggest fish honors and several of the cash categories, including the TCI
Lotto $1,000 biggest fish bonus.
Kadis Simmons’ “Oasis Prince” took the largest fish Saturday with a nice 42.3
pound yellow fin tuna. Levardo Talbot’s “Blue Beast” was also in the money with
a nice 38.5 pound YFT.
For the first time this year there was also a ladies category, and the tournament
committee would like to recognize the very colorful “Fish & Chicks” team for their
tenacity as they were back out on the water within an hour of their main boat
breaking down, having accosted a second boat. Also special thanks to The
Marine Police Branch and G & G shipping Co. for assisting with the recovery of
the first boat.
The lively fish auctions were the best we have ever had, with some furious
bidding generated as our two “celebrity GT auctioneers” William Cole and Keith
“Mice” Simons worked the enthusiastic crowd.
The victor’s collected their spoils in a prize giving ceremony with H.E. The
Governor, Peter Beckingham, with special remarks from Hon. Akieria Misick
Deputy premier and Minister for Education, and Dr Hubert Fulford, Principal of
the TCI Community college.
The GTFT Inc. would like to say a HUGE thank you to ALL our incredibly
generous sponsors, Far too many to mention from all over the TCI and beyond,
especially Grand Turk Liquors who have been with us since day one, and FLOW
as one of our new lead sponsors. We could do not this without the incredible
support across the entire TCI community, which makes this event possible every
year, and of course all our tournament participants from both Grand Turk and
Providenciales; but most of all the incredible community of Grand Turk for their
unwavering support every year!
GTFT Inc. is a registered Not for Profit run solely by volunteers. We use the
annual game fishing tournament as a fund raising vehicle to support local
causes. In our inaugural year we supported the Geriatric & Special Needs Unit at
the GT Hospital, in year two we sponsored a new computer suite at the H J
Robinson High School, in our third year we sponsored Eliza Simon's Primary
School with various legacy projects. All proceeds for the 2016 tournament will
be going to legacy projects at the TCI Community Colleges.
Seamus Day
President GTFT Inc.