Pre Tournament Press Statement from the Trinidad and Tobago Game Fishing Association 2010

On the heels of big record breaking fish and big cash prize payouts in 2008, the year 2009 proved to be another amazing year for the Trinidad and Tobago Game Fishing Association "Marlin Madness" tournament in Pigeon Point, Tobago.

In 2008 a young 15 year old by the name of Sean Mendonca fishing on "Indigo" put Trinidad and Tobago on the world map when he landed a whopping 890 lb Blue Marlin in the TTGFA "Marlin Madness" Tournament in Tobago. That catch made him the new IGFA Male Junior Atlantic Blue Marlin World Record Holder. This made front-page news in the local and regional newspapers and the story was featured in several of the leading international fishing journals and magazines.

Local fishermen in Trinidad and Tobago have always believed that there were some very large fish in their waters and the Trinidad and Tobago Game Fishing Association wanted to prove just that by including 130 lb tackle for the first time in it's 29 years of hosting this tournament. So when a year after Sean's record breaking fish a 825 lb Atlantic Blue Marlin was caught by Jovan Jango on board "Reel Finatic"in the 2009 TTGFA's 29th Annual "Marlin Madness" Tournament it should of come as no surprise.

The 2009 "Marlin Madness" Tournament Platinum and Gold sponsors, The Ministry Of Sport and Youth Affairs, The Tobago House of Assembly and Carib loved the limelight as much as the anglers and team mates that conquered these beasts. Silver sponsors included Roof Systems, Gatorade, Black Bart, Sure Parts, Cargo Consolidators and Bronze sponsors included Laughlin and De Gannes, Real Marketing, Subway and Mount Gay.

The TTGFA is also proud to announce that the year 2009 ended with the biggest news of all and again it was the young angler, Sean Mendonca who made the news a year earlier that would now dominate the headlines again.

This time it was in the most prestigious of tournaments on the planet, The IGFA World Championship Billfish Release Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The "Indigo" team qualified for this tournament as a result of winning the TTGFA "Marlin Madness" Tournament in Tobago in 2008.

The four day tournament started with the local team made up of Sean Mendonca, Mark Villain, Clint Quong Sing and Derrick Tardieu tied at third place after the first day. They were then tied for second place after the second day and tied for first place after the third day. On the morning of the fourth and final day of fishing they took the lead with an early morning Stripe Marlin catch and release. However they could not hold on to the lead and had to settle for fourth place in the end.

Speaking of the end, what a coincidence it was that all of this action in Mexico that involved some of our young and promising anglers was taking place while an arch of rod and reels was being formed by twenty anglers at the back of St. Finbars Church to honour the end of a pioneer in Game Fishing, Sidney Johnson. He passed under the arch while our boys were releasing their last fish of the tournament. How proud he would of been of their success and knowing that the sport is being represented by a group of young and enthusiastic anglers that are equally concerned about conservation efforts to ensure that future generations enjoy game fishing.

The 2010 Trinidad and Tobago Game Fishing Association "Marlin Madness" tournament will be in Sid Johnson's honour and is expected to be one of the best tournaments in TTGFA's history as it will also mark 30 years of hosting this tournament in Tobago.

The celebrations will be big! The prize money will be big! The attendance should be big and hopefully the catch will be as big as the two preceding years too!

Reg Maclean TTGFA Committee

WILL MORE "MONSTERS" BE HOOKED IN 2010 TOBAGO MARLIN MADNESS ?

By Steven Valdez

"Yes" is the answer that came from Richard De Verteuil, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Game Fishing Association (TTGFA).

He continued "For the last couple of years we have seen some very large Blue Marlins being caught in our tournaments and anglers the world over will be looking to hook up more in 2010"

Readers may recall that in 2008 the TTGFA “Marlin Madness” Tournament made local, regional and international headlines as a result of the International Game Fishing Association (Male Junior World Record) 890 lbs Atlantic Blue Marlin caught by angler, Sean Mendonca on board "Indigo".

The year 2009 was also a huge success for the organizers of this Tournament with the landing of a 825 lb Blue Marlin which was caught on "Reel Finatic". As a result of the hype created by this event year after year the TTGFA and the main sponsors, Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs (MSYA), Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and Carib beer are expecting an even greater interest in this year’s Tournament.

The Trinidad and Tobago Game Fishing Association (TTGFA) will be celebrating it's 30th anniversary of hosting the International Game Fishing “Marlin Madness” Tournament at Pigeon Point, Tobago between 21th April – 24th April 2010.

This year’s tournament will pay special tribute to the late Sydney A. Johnson for his many years of service to the TTGFA along with his contribution to conservation efforts in the Southern Caribbean region.

The TTGFA International Game Fishing “Marlin Madness” Tournament in Pigeon Point is the third qualifying tournament for the Southern Caribbean Bill Fish Circuit in 2010. The first tournament was hosted in Grenada in January and the second in Charlotteville, Tobago in March. The first was won by Team Papasan and the second was won by Team Ring Leader. Both teams are from Trinidad and Tobago.

There will be over TT$ 1,000,000 (US$ 160,000) in prize money to be won which includes a big payout for any angler landing a Blue Marlin of 1,000 lbs and over.

Previous TTGFA International Game Fishing “Marlin Madness” Tournament winners are :

2009 - Reel Finatic
2008 - Indigo
2007 - Charge Up
2006 - Trendsetter
2005 - Grand Slam II
2004 - Barbie Doll Too
2003 - Four Sons
2002 - Hard Play
2001 - Pair A Dice
2000 - Hard Play II