20 BOATS SET TO FISH THE 39TH ANNUAL USVI OPEN/ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT



St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. A sea of magnificent sports fishing vessels are docked at the IGY American Yacht Harbor Marina ready to cast off with world-class anglers to fish the 39th annual USVI Open Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament (ABMT), also known as the ‘Boy Scout Tournament’ due to the event’s chief beneficiary. The 20-boat fleet will head to the famous North Drop in search of blue marlin on Wednesday, the first of the four-day tournament. Before they do, there will be the ceremonial Blessing of the Fleet and Boy Scout’s Color Guard’s Flag Raising Ceremony which starts at 6:30 a.m. at the marina’s Flag Pole.



Much of the fleet has already been out testing the waters in the run up to the tournament.



“The fishing is really starting to pick up,” says Mike Lemon, who captains the 58 Revenge. The Revenge, with past tournament-winning angler/owners Sam and Jon Jennings of Juno Beach, Florida, enjoyed some pre-tournament fishing on Monday and released two blue marlin. “I think everyone who went out to fish today has at least one if not more than one flag flying.”



The chief excitement on Monday night centered on the return visit of Australian angler, Annette Maudi (Lopez) Dallimor. Dallimor, on July 6, 1982, reeled in the still-standing IGFA Women’s ‘All-Tackle’ world record blue marlin–a 1073-pounder–that now resides as an exact replica mold compliments of Gray’s Taxidermy atop a specially-built scaffolding at the head of AYH’s ‘A’ dock.



“I can still remember coming back to the dock and weighing in the marlin,” says Dallimor. Dallimor re-united with Joe Lopez, former husband and then-captain of the 44-foot Merritt, Prowess, from which she caught the record blue marlin, for the fish-raising commemoration. It was a night of nostalgia and tribute to one of the historic catches that put the Virgin Islands’ on the map as a blue marlin hot-spot.



The roll call of boats registered to fish this year’s ABMT reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of sports fishing. There’s Revenge, 2009 ABMT Top Boat; Black Gold, 2011 July Open Billfish Tournament (JOBT) winner; Reel Tight, top boat in the 2008 JOBT; and Fish On, 2011 Bermuda Triple Crown champion – just to name a few.



Anglers, captains and crews competing in this ‘Super Bowl of Sports Fishing’ will set their sights on catching and releasing the most blue marlin first.



Viewers can get in on the fun from anywhere in the world by entering the boat pool on line for the chance to win prizes. Visit: www.abmt.vi/pages/boatpool.htm to learn more.



The angling action continues Thursday, Friday and Sunday – three days before and a day after the month’s full moon.



The public can catch the spirit of sport fishing by ‘doing the docks' or watching the big rigs come in around 6:30 p.m. and counting the number of marlin release flags flying from the outriggers. The more flags, the more marlin the boat released. Blue signals the catch was a blue marlin, while white flags denote a white marlin. Commemorative tournament T-shirts will be on sale each night of the event and there will be a cash bar and other festivities on the docks.


On Friday, enjoy Cheese Burgers in Paradise. The Boy Scouts invite visitors and locals alike to their cookout at Camp Wahoo, located by the tournament tent at the American Yacht Harbor Marina. The Caribbean Night Show starts at 8 p.m.


The ABMT’s final fishing action on Sunday ends with the sport fishing fleet's swift Jim Smith ‘Race from the Edge’ at 4:30 p.m. The best place to watch this often photo finish is from the spit of land past the pool at the Sapphire Beach Resort. The Awards Ceremony takes place later in the evening along with the naming of the 2011 USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Top Angler, who pockets a $10,000 cash prize.



Started by Chuck Senf back in 1972 – and nicknamed The Boy Scout Tournament since a portion of the proceeds have always benefited the VI Council of the Boy Scouts of America, one of Senf’s favorite charities – the ABMT has evolved into the competitive saltwater sports fishing events in the world. It’s one of legs of the prestigious Bermuda Triangle Series and Spanish Main Series.



The ABMT is fished under International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) rules, and is overseen by a professional Board of Captains and well-qualified observers.



The tournament benefits the Virgin Islands Council of the Boy Scouts of America.



For more information, call: 1-888-2-FISHVI (1-888-234-7484), or 340-775-9500, or Fax: 340-779-8605, or visit www.abmt.vi