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Puerto Rico’s ‘Aribita’ wins inaugural North Drop Open

Puerto Rico's Team Aribita emerged as the overall winner of the Inaugural North Drop Open, taking the top prizes for Best Boat, Best Angler (Ricky LeFrauco), and Best Crew. Second from left is Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) while right is Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr the Hon Karl Dawson. Photo: VINO
NORTH SOUND, Virgin Gorda, VI- The North Drop Open, a two-day ‘catch and release’ fishing tournament, took place from Friday, August 9 to Saturday, August 10, 2024, and was part of the Caribbean Series Blue Marlin Championship.

Puerto Rico's Team Aribita emerged as the overall winner, taking the top prizes for Best Boat, Best Angler (Ricky LeFrauco), and Best Crew.

The Best Boat Award also came with a $10,000 cash prize.

Spicy M and Marlin Monroe were second and third respectively in the Best Boat Category.

The ‘Spirit of the Sport’ Award went to Justine Callwood of Capital Punishment.

Among those at the awards ceremony were Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr the Hon Karl Dawson (R1).

The Government of the Virgin Islands, in collaborating with the BVI Tourist Board and North Drop Open to host the fishing tournament, had donated $50,000 towards the inaugural tournament.

10 Responses to “Puerto Rico’s ‘Aribita’ wins inaugural North Drop Open”

  • Information (11/08/2024, 08:33) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Did anyone actually hook anything Big photos would be nice!
  • hm (11/08/2024, 08:39) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wish the Government would invest some of that money in the grassroots sports programs
  • potholes galore (11/08/2024, 09:18) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    and they are here throwing away money on foolishness
  • catch and release? (11/08/2024, 09:20) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Bring in some to feed the poor
  • questions (11/08/2024, 11:59) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This event is thin on the facts. 4 boats and Arbita won. How many blue marlin were caught and released? Were there more than 4 boats fishing in this event? Why did the BVI donate $50,000 dollars to this small event?
    • nonsense (11/08/2024, 18:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      ....And denying the children scholarships to go away and study to come back and better the country.
  • WEW (11/08/2024, 13:42) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    No information on the catches, just a photo op for Slowande
  • ANOTHER RODEO GAME (11/08/2024, 17:21) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    YA'LL AIN'T GETTING THE MESSAGE YET , THE ESPAÑOLS IS GETTING MORE CREATIVE / WELL , WE ALL ENJOYED THE MOMENT TOGETHER , THEY MORE THAN US , BECAUSE WHILE OURS FINISHING , THEIRS IS JUST BEGINING AS THEY ARE GOING TO CELEBRATING A JOB COMPLETED ( MEANING THAT THE MERCHANDISE WAS TRANSPORTED SAFELY THROUGH OUR TERRITORY RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES AND ON ITS JOURNEY ON TO
    THE US * PEACEFULLY *
  • Great start (12/08/2024, 14:53) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    How are all of you spewing negativity here? Tom and Chad did an AMAZING job pulling this event off.

    9 boats participated, and I hope next year we double it and have 20!!! Catch and Release Sport Fishing has the opportunity to be an absolutely massive economic opportunity for locals here in the BVI.

    Love that the Government supported it, love that Chad and Tom pulled it off, and can't wait to see it even bigger next year.



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