Port Antonio, Portland — Fair Prospect topped the 53rd Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament which ran for three days instead of its usual four due to the passing of Hurricane Matthew recently.

The David Moss-led team shot to the front on Sunday, October 9 after lying in second place the previous Friday tagging and releasing two marlin, as 10 marlin were tagged and released on the second day.

They struck another double Sunday to top the tournament.

The results are as follows: Fair Prospect (four), Safe Passage (two) which had Olympian Yohan Blake for two days, Keepin It Jiggy (two), and one each for U Sea Mi, Odyssey, Feeva, Integrity, Oh Reely, The Great Escapade and Reel McCoy.

David Moss was pleased with winning the tournament.

“We give thanks that we had a tournament as Hurricane Matthew spared us and could have changed everything here. We remember our brethren in Haiti and The Bahamas as we fish there also. It was a good three days, three solid days of fishing.

First day we got some food fish wahoo and dolphin; yesterday (Saturday) I and Mr Silvera (Raymond) got two fish and today we got a real great double headed. Raymond fought his fish real well; performed excellently.

Our captain yesterday was Lester Spaulding and he did really well with his wealth of experience. “The fish took a lot of line but the team worked really well and it took a lot of time.

Our captain today was Joe Matalon and he did a good job and we did a great teamwork and the break came with us and we are thankful. We look forward going to Costa Rica to represent Jamaica and we are looking forward to doing well.

Earlier this year I won the Barbados tournament as well, so I have two roles to play and I will fly the Jamaican flag in Costa Rica,” he said.

Raymond Silvera added: “The tournament was wonderful, the weather was super and the fish cooperated with us, we had a great time.

” Fair Prospect will represent Jamaica at the IGFA tournament in Costa Rica. Olympian Yohan Blake was on second- placed Safe Passage and shared his experience.

“I give God thanks. The first day was real bad. I kept on vomiting and Roger kept on asking if I was okay and I said I was, but I wasn’t.

I went home, read about it and decided to come back and I focused and I was patient as I recovered and today (Sunday) was much better.

I almost caught something and it was a lot of fun. The team here was great and I enjoyed it. It is my first time fishing and I really enjoyed it,” he said.

Safe Passage was second tagging and releasing two marlin. Michelle Cunningham, assistant brand manager Red Stripe, was pleased with her company’s involvement in the tournament.

“Red Stripe is about what’s is good in Jamaica. We celebrate sport. This marlin tournament is a big sport, and we just wanted to come on board and support it.

“It is a unique sport and we are about that unique great Jamaican beer and sport… great Jamaican things, so it was a no-brainer to come on board and support the marlin tournament this year.

We are very happy that we had a tournament and it was real exciting with that double-header on the final day,” she said.

— Everard Owen