PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica — At just 20 years old, Kissanique Spence was the only female angler to compete in the eighth staging of the Mayberry Superstars Marlin tournament at Errol Flynn Marina in Portland from September 30 to October 5.

Fishing with the team Still Keepin It Jiggy, Spence earned the title of Best Female Angler, finishing with 450 points.

Spence is not new to the sport.

She has been fishing professionally for the past four years and works full-time with Just Hook It Charters, a Montego Bay-based charter company. Her performance in Port Antonio was consistent with her growing reputation as a serious competitor in Jamaican sport fishing.

“I am the only female here and the youngest crew member,” Spence said. “But I do not take that lightly. I fish because I love it. This is my job and also something I have a real interest in.”

During the tournament, she successfully fought and released a blue marlin, qualifying her for an informal tradition known as “walking the plank” in which anglers are pushed off the boat after their first official marlin fight.

“It was not my first time catching a blue marlin,” she explained. “But this was the first time I fought one from hook-up to release as the lead angler in a tournament. That is a different level of pressure.”

Spence described the physical demands of marlin fishing with clarity.

“It is like tug of war. The fish runs, and you must maintain control without rushing. If you reel too fast, you burn out. If you pull too hard, you lose it. You have to breathe, stay calm, and stay focused.”

Her interest in fishing began when she was a child.

Her father is a captain, but she chose to work with his best friend instead, learning the trade through on-the-job experience. She has competed in multiple tournaments, including spring events in Portland and Montego Bay, and her team has taken part in regional competitions in Belize and Costa Rica.

“Fishing is not something I just picked up,” she said. “I have always wanted to do this. Even if I were in a different career, I would probably find my way back to the sea.”

She has a straightforward message to other young women considering the sport.

“Find someone who knows the job and is willing to teach you. You will get tired. You might get bruises. But if you care about the work, you will learn and get better.”

Spence spoke highly of the fishing conditions in Portland.

“The marlin here are different. Once they bite, they quickly run down the line. The fight is intense. But I also like being here because it is peaceful. It feels calm. The surroundings are green and the energy is good.”

As the only woman in the field and one of the youngest competitors overall, Spence’s finish as Best Female Angler was not just symbolic. It showed that she could compete on equal terms in a challenging and often male-dominated sport.