BASTILLE DAY KINGFISH TOURNAMENT - MORE WAYS TO WIN THAN ANY OTHER FISHING TOURNAMENT IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Thrill to the anticipation of catching that "big one" while enjoying the camaraderie of family and friends at the Northside Sportfishing Club's Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament, set for Sunday July 10th at Hull Bay Hideaway. This inshore fishing event offers more ways to win and more cash and luxury gift prizes than any other Virgin Islands tournament of its kind. In addition to fishing fun for anglers, there's a live band and beach party in the afternoon along with special shore side activities everyone in the community will enjoy. Plus, proceeds from the event benefit charitable community organizations

Come one, come all - men, women, boys and girls - anglers of all skill levels are invited to enter, and everyone comes away a winner. "We're expecting more than 250 anglers this year and are grateful for the positive response we've received from all our sponsors," says Monica Lester, tournament director. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, entry fees are low - $35 for adults, $20 for juniors ages 8 to 16.

Coors Light and Snapple, distributed by Bellows International, Ltd., are once again on board as Gold Sponsors of this event. They have donated over $100,000 in cash and product over the last fourteen years, and continue in a starring Gold Sponsor role this year.

Long time Silver Sponsor, Offshore Marine Services, the Yanmar distributor in the Virgin Islands, will donate cash for top prizes: $1000 for Best Boat, $1000 for Best Captain, $500 for Best Male Angler, $500 for Best Female Angler, $250 for Best Junior Male Angler and $250 for Best Female Junior Angler.

The angler who catches the Second Largest Kingfish will pocket $750 cash.

Bronze Sponsor, FedEx, generously provides the official angler hats that have proven to be both a keepsake as well as symbol of an ace angler. New this year, all registered anglers will receive a Free FedEx T-shirt in their goodie bags.

Bronze Sponsor, N.E.M. (West Indies) lnsurance Limited - managed in the USVI by Red Hook Agencies, Inc. - will donate the spectacular $2,000 cash prize for the Largest Kingfish prize.

All registered anglers will receive an official Bastille Day T-shirt thanks to the combined sponsorship support of Coors Light and Bellows International Ltd, Offshore Marine and N.E.M. (West Indies) Insurance Limited.

And the prize giving doesn't end here. Royal Caribbean International has once again donated a 7-night Caribbean cruise for two. Plus, local hotels and restaurateurs have contributed overnight stays and dinners for two, respectively, as additional prizes.

Generous sponsor support enables the Tournament to reward anglers catching the largest kingfish, but also those reeling in the Largest Jack, Largest Barracuda, Largest Bonito, Largest Tuna, Largest Mackerel and Largest Dolphin. In addition to Best Captain, there are also prizes for Best Boat, Best Female Angler, Best Male Angler, Best Junior Female Angler and Best Junior Male Angler.

As an added enticement for junior anglers this year, Hull Bay Hideaway will sponsor a special "Catch In The Hat" award for all registered junior anglers. This means that all junior angler names will be placed in a hat and nine names will be drawn at random. The first eight names will receive $50 cash and the ninth name $100 dollars, for a total award of $500. Juniors must be present at the Awards Ceremony to win.

Last year, 68 boats and 246 anglers - including 38 junior anglers - caught 147 fish weighing a total of 1146 pounds with 42 of these fish being kingfish. St. Thomas' Ricky LaPlace won the Largest Kingfish prize aboard Toots with the catch of a 30.60-pounder. Can you catch more? Bigger? Come out and try!

A Captain's Meeting and Registration will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Hull Bay Hideaway on Friday July 8. Entry forms can be obtained from Bryan's Electrical and Neptune Fishing Supplies. Fishing starts at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 12 noon, sharp. From noon until 2 p.m., while the weigh-master and judges go to work, all anglers can quench their thirst at either a Coors Light and Paradise Rum punch or Snapple open bar, depending on age. There will be drink, food and live music throughout the afternoon for community spectators who come down to see the catch and catch the fun for the day. The Awards Ceremony starts at 8 p.m. at Hull Bay Hideaway.

First organized by the Northside Sportfishing Club in 1987, the tournament has become one of the highlights of French Heritage Week festivities. The event benefits the Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue, The American Red Cross and the Family Resource Center. Additionally, many of the fish caught each year that are not kept for food are donated to the Coral World Ocean Park to be used as food for fish and other marine life.

For more information, call: (340)774-5206.