ILTT Tournament: U.S, Bahamian & Local Anglers
June 11th sees the start of the International Light Tackle Tournament [ILTT] one of Bermuda’s oldest and most well established fishing tournaments. With anglers representing Bermuda, the United States and the Bahamas it will once again be a keen competition.
Anglers can expect to catch a variety of local fish – wahoo, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, barracuda and almaco jacks are among the most common contributors to points allocated at the end of each day’s fishing. Tuna under 18lbs are released but points still awarded. The occasional white or blue marlin has also been caught.
The 60lb wahoo pictured below was caught during last year’s tournament on a 12lb test by Bermudian Danny Fox. Pictured below left to right: Captain Craig Curtis, Richard Ricca, Danny Fox, Mark Teceria, Matt Crumley and Wayne B Booth.
Many will hope to land line class world record catches. In Bermuda waters there is a good chance of a world record almaco jack. The winning team qualifies for the International Game Fish Association [IGFA] Offshore Championship Tournament that is being held in Mexico next year.
The Bermuda Anglers Club, the Island’s oldest fishing club, hosts the event which is fished over four days with the first day’s fishing starting on the 12th of June.
Anglers yielding the best catch can look forward to winning trophies for a number of categories, including: -
- Championship team
- Second place team
- Third place team
- Daily high point team
- Daily high point fish (that’s the heaviest fish each day)
- Daily high point rod (that is the individual angler amassing the most points each day)
- Overall high point fish
- Overall high point rod
- Overall high point boat
The overall high point rod [the angler with the most points in the tournament] wins a watch donated by Crisson Jewellers to be presented at the prize giving on June 17th.
All teams use the same tournament line – 12lb breaking strain monofilament. It is an even playing field and all teams compete on the same basis. Spectators are invited along each day to watch the daily weigh-in at the Spanish Point Boat club at about 4pm.
