Kids Reel in Big Smiles at the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Annual Tournament
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Eight-year-old Kain LaPlace ran up to the weigh station at the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Annual Kid’s Fishing Tournament, held on Saturday, October 4, at IGY’s American Yacht Harbor Marina. “I have another one,” LaPlace said, beaming a big smile to staff from DPNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife, who weighed in the catches at this annually anticipated family-friendly event. “It’s hooking them,” he said, in reply to what he enjoyed most about participating in the tournament. LaPlace certainly did reel in fish and prizes too, earning four awards: 3rd Largest Fish By Weight for a 445 gram Mangrove Snapper, 1st place for Most Fish Caught by Weight (2075 grams), tying for 2nd place for Most Fish Caught Total, with 15, with fellow junior angler, 4-year-old Kaylee Bridgewater, and 1st place for the Most Unique Fish, a Pufferfish.
Nearly 140 junior anglers, ages 14 and under, plus parents, family members, and friends, took part in the tournament. Each entrant was equipped with Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club-provided handlines, bait, and buckets as they spread out along the marina docks and tried their luck. Club members walked the docks and helped junior anglers and adults alike with everything from fishing techniques to untangling lines. It didn’t take long for the fish-catching action to happen.
It’s the “thrill of catching fish” that 12-year-old Czade George said he most enjoyed.
For 8-year-old Carl Benjamin, the fun was all about “just fishing”.
“Mangrove Snapper, Blue Runner, Yellowtail Snapper, Horse Eye Jack, White Grunt, Needlefish, and Puffer Fish were among the species caught today,” said Maggie Rios, DPNR F&W’s fisheries biologist.
The Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Kids Tournament’s overwhelming success was evident on the young faces as they ate pizza and drank cold drinks following the call for lines out and before the prize-giving.
“Today we saw lots of smiles with lots of determination in those smiles. As the 9 a.m. lines-in were announced, fish started coming to scales right away. From 9 to 11:30 a.m., the bite was on. The bait stand also saw action, with a consistent flow of fresh bait for the anglers. Importantly, right next to the anglers, we saw moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and even some grandparents, all there encouraging the anglers to try different techniques to get the fish to bite. The tournament even had fish coming to the scales right before lines out at 11:30 a.m.,” says TP Danet, tournament co-director.
The tournament was free for junior anglers and promoted the sport, as well as the life skills and catch-and-release conservation practices associated with recreational fishing.
The Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Kids’ Fishing Tournament was sponsored by IGY’s American Yacht Harbor, Lattes in Paradise, Neptune Fishing Supplies, Island Time Pub, Coki Dive Center, and Red Hook Dive Center.
Upcoming, the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club will host its Wahoo Windup on Saturday, November 2, 2025.
For more information, call (340) 775-9144 or Email: usvigfc@gmail.com. Check out photos from the event on Facebook
www.facebook.com/pages/Virgin-Islands-Game-Fishing-Club
Results
Largest Fish by Weight
1st Stevie Anaclerio, 545-gram Mangrove Snapper
2nd Manuel Cerrale, 485-gram Mangrove Snapper
3rd Kain LaPlace, 445-gram Mangrove Snapper
Most Fish Caught by Weight
1st Kain LaPlace, 2075-grams
Most Fish Caught Total
1st Dominic Martinez – 21
2nd Kain LaPlace – 15
2nd Kaylee Bridgewater – 15
3rd Christian Bryan – 11
Smallest Catch
1st Sage Stewart, 10-grams, Yellowtail Snapper
1st Czade George, 10-grams, Mangrove Snapper
Most Unique Fish
1st Kain LaPlace, Pufferfish
Last Fish Caught
1st Hazely Lemm, Mangrove Snapper
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