Fishermen, we wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2009. In our outspoken fashion these are our three wishes… You’ll release everything that has a bill on it; unless of course there is a World Record to claim. You’ll return eating fish back to the sea (to breed), unless you are boating them to feed your family. And lastly, please support the local charter fleet because many of the boat owners are just barely hanging on. They play an important role in the fishing industry by introducing new anglers and young crew members to the sport everyday.
2009 Tournaments
The 37th Annual ABMT or “Boy Scout” Dates - Aug. 3-7, 2009. The 6th Annual Bermuda Triangle Series (BTS) June 22-24, Spanish Cay; fished inside the ABC. Bermuda July 6-8, USVI, Aug. 3-7. New this year, a separate “Beast Masters” division (new pot and prizes) will be operated simultaneously for the hardcore and the heavyweights. Many anglers go there to catch a “Grander” so we’ll watch them go at on 130 lb. test!! The 3rd Annual Spanish Main Caribbean Series (SMS) - Venezuela, Mar. 11-14 inside of Rick’s La Guaira Intl. “Shootout”. Cap Cana, DR, May 8,9,10, St. Maarten, June 7,8,9, and BVI July 28, 29. St. Thomas Aug. 3-7. Boy Scout entry fees will be rebated (value $4,000) to the SMS team who beats last year’s series winner “Big Oh”. However, if Team Big Oh wins again, they fish the leg for free! A newly developed progressive scoring method enables late entering boats to join in and win… still you must fish at least 3 legs. Fuel prices are down… the bite will be hot; please let us know early if you plan to compete in our events.
OTE Magazine Coming Out Soon!
You’ll enjoy the 3rd edition of our tournament magazine. In the new On The Edge there are exciting articles by pro-writers Jan Fogt, Carol Bareuther and Vincent Daniello. Learn of the history and development of the speed hulls of South Florida and read tips from the pros on “how to catch them fast and not to get sharked” by veteran St. Thomas captains. Read about our popular tournaments, the exciting competition that exists between the teams and meet Capt. OB O’Bryan who is the 2009 ABMT “Board of Captains” honoree. You’ll also be introduced to Adrian Gray, the rising star of fish art and you’ll learn of the feats of angler Sam Jennings who at the age 81 yrs. has racked up over a thousand blue marlin (and is still going strong) aboard his famous vessel Revenge. On The Edge is “coffee table” reading that comes out in time for the Big Game Room at the Miami Intl. Boats Show (Feb. 12-16). We’re printing over 15,000 magazines which will be distributed to the tackle stores and marinas on a year round basis. If you would like a copy sent to your home or office send a $10 (tax deductible) check to Boy Scouts of America, 6616 Estate Nadir, St. Thomas, VI 00802. Smart advertisers, we have great advertising rates! Drop dead deadline for advertising is Jan. 12th. Contact us at 340-775-9500 or email: loveto@islands.vi
Progress Report – The Grand “Fish Off” of Big Game Fishing
In the islands we have a local expression “don’t put the goat mouth on it” – meaning, don’t spoil things by announcing things too soon. Well… it’s too late! We’ve started broadcasting our ambitious plans to wrap the world with the ABMT tournament model and to televise the exotic travel and fishing action on a major network. It’s two years out… why announce grandiose plans so far in advance - especially with the economy in the dumps? Because it’s going to take two years of heavy promotion to recruit the fishing teams and to find the finance needed for television production. The teams themselves need time to seek corporate sponsors and we need time to ramp up our organization to meet the challenge.
The plan… We’ll operate the ABMT, the Bermuda Triangle Series and the Spanish Main Series in the Atlantic and Caribbean this year, adding new teams to the game and hopefully seeing improved financial times ahead. In other words, we’ll work hard to keep the balls in the air, maintaining what we’ve accomplished thus far, specifically, 2 exciting series and 9 separately scored tournaments in 7 countries.
The timing…. Next year (2010) we’ll establish a third series known as the “Pacific Rim Series”. Our anglers will be fishing the hot spots of Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala. The following year (2011) is the “Big One” so to speak, because we’ll be hauling around television crews and at the same time, establishing our fourth and final series known as the “Southern Cross Series”. The anglers in that series will be fishing Panama, Hawaii and Australia in seasonal order.
And finally… In mid-October 2011, just as the Southern Cross teams are determining the winner of the new “down-under” series… in fly’s the three teams who won their series on the other side of the globe. Now the stage is set for a showdown on the Great Barrier Reef! After 4 days of hard core, world-class angling…. one of the four teams will emerge the World Champion. Wouldn’t you like to fish for one of these teams? Thirty some years ago Capt. Ron Hamlin scribbled the words “let’s go for it” (I left his first two words out) on the inside cover of his book titled Tournament. Well …. We are going for it and knowing Capt. Ron – he’ll try to head up the winning team!
Big Game Room – Coming Feb. 12-16
The skeptics said the idea of bringing fishermen together once each year wouldn’t work either. There were fifty-reasons why it wouldn’t happen. It did and the 6th Annual Big Game Room (BGR) is coming up Feb. 12-16 at the Miami International Boat Show! It has grown into a display of almost 100 booths, featuring the latest in fishing tackle, fishing destinations, fishing art and many “how to” demonstrations given by famous captains and mates. The traffic in the BGR has been described as “a sea of fishermen” because thousands of anglers, captains and crews flow through it! The BGR has become the international meeting place of the ‘who’s who’ in the fishing industry and you should come and be seen yourself!! The BGR is located upstairs of the Miami Beach Convention Center on the Washington Avenue side. Vendors contact Joanne Zito at 954-441-3229 or email her at: jzito@nmma.org for information. Joan Vernon will be honored this year for her contribution to the sport, be sure to come to the celebration in her honor. The ABMT “Boy Scout” booth is located in the main room and we invite you to stop by to pick up your copy of On The Edge.
Marine Vocational Program (MVP)
We’ve got it going on! One year under our belt and 17 kids have received their PADI Certification!! Thirty-two scouts received a Basic Boating Class on Dec. 21st. and afterwards we celebrated our first year of operation by going out sailing and snorkeling aboard a 76’ catamaran. They ran the sails, cranked the winches, dropped and pulled the anchor and snorkeled with great proficiency. We thank everyone who has contributed to the program. Call us toll free 1-888-234-7484 if you would like to be a part of the MVP program. The VI Council, BSA is a 501(c3) organization.
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Thank you all for your continued support of the Boy Scouts and our tournament goals. If you wish to be removed from our mailing list just let me know. Jimmy
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