PORTLAND, Jamaica— Daney-Ann Thomas, director of the Port Antonio Local Canoe Tournament and president of the Portland Chamber of Commerce said that she expects the 40th staging of the competition will bring in big catches as it kicked off Tuesday morning at the Ole Marina in the parish.

This year’s competition includes three-member teams aboard 55 canoes comprising fisher folk from across Jamaica.

Thomas said the sea conditions are such that competitors should be bringing in huge marlins, evidenced by defending champions Red Bull catching a 120-pound fish at the start of the tournament.

“Red Bull won last year and on the way in they actually caught a 120-pound marlin so I expect that we are going to have a very good day. The seas are nice and flat and we suspect that the marlin will be biting,” Thomas said.

She went on to outline how the sponsors of the tournament, including West Indies Petroleum, pitched in this year to make the competition a success.

“They (the competitors) have been given breakfast by KFC, they are going to get lunch from CC Bakery, the good old ‘holy bulla’ and of course in the evening they will be feted by National Bakery, the Sir Henry Morgan Angling Association and of course the promoters, the Portland Chamber of Commerce,” Thomas said.

“So thank you again for this opportunity so we can showcase the talent, the brilliance that is local artisanal fishing,” she added.