This year’s winner in the international division was Team Magic Lady.
Team Magic Lady, consisting of Christian Hadley, Barry Williams, Francois Mouttet, Sean Mendonca and Michael De Freitas, won the 23rd Annual Tobago International Game Fishing Tournament. The team was presented with their prizes by TIGFT Representative Tamika Charles. With the win, Magic Lady qualified to represent the Tobago International Game Fishing Tournament and compete in the Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica in 2019.
The 2018 Tobago International Game Fishing Tournament (TIGFT) concluded its 23rd annual event on Saturday, May 19, 2018. The four-day Charlotteville-based event hosted 14 boats in the two divisions. Ten boats competed in the International Division and four in the Local Division. A total of 50 international anglers from the U.S.A., Canada, Grenada, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago, including 2 female anglers, participated in this year’s event. In total, they released 5 blue marlin and 25 sailfish, with 192 pounds of fish brought to scales.
A total of 10 anglers, including 1 female angler and 1 junior male angler, participated in the tournament's Local Division. A total fish weight of 38 pounds were brought to the scales by anglers.
This year’s event was judged by Shammon Walker, of Castara, Tobago. Mr. Walker is an I.G.F.A. Certified Observer who has been involved with sportfishing for over a decade, and he has fished competitively in several regional and international tournaments.
This year’s winner in the International Division was Team Magic Lady, of Trinidad. Lead by Capt. Michael De Freitas, and teamed by Francois Mouttet, Christian Hadley, Barry Williams and Sean Mendonca, the crew released 1 blue marlin and 5 sailfish to take the top spot with 2,000 points. With this win, Team Magic Lady qualified to represent the Tobago International Game Fishing Tournament and compete in the Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica in 2019. Second place went to Team Fish Attack, of Barbados, with 2,000 points, and third place went to Braveheart, with 1,750 points.
In the international division, the best male angler went to Francois Mouttet, on Team Magic lady, with 1,250 points. Caitlyn Cohan, of Team Fish Attack, won the best female angler with 1,000 points.
In the local division, Team Big Chance took top honors with 44.20 points. For their outstanding achievement, they received a Carey Chen trophy, fishing tackle, a 50-quart Yeti cooler, and a Skewer’s voucher. Second place went to Team Schmily with 31.80 points.
Continuing in the local division, the largest dolphin prize went to David Smart, of Team Schmily, with a 15.9-pound catch. The largest wahoo prize was awarded to Bertini Chadband, of Team Big Chance, with a 22.1-pound catch.
In the local division, Team Big Chance took top honors with 44.20 points. Bertini Chadband was presented with their prizes by TIGFT Representative Tamika Charles.