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MAKING STRIDES IN GAME FISHING

Barbados stands to benefit in a big way from game fishing, as it gains popularity locally and internationally. Captain and owner of the Barbadian vessel Eclipse, Mario Williams, has his sights set on the Game Fishing Offshore World Championship Tournament being held, from April 16 to 21, in Marina Pez Vela, Quepos, Costa Rica. 

Mr. Williams is a second-generation fisher from the close-knit fishing village Conset Bay, on the east coast of Barbados. He explained that in game fishing, the fish were caught, counted, and then released into the ocean to allow others a chance to catch them.

“If you are in a tournament, you have to release them and give someone else the chance to catch them.  We are trying to save the species and not kill everything.  It is a catch and release tournament,” he explained. 

After bringing home the pride of victory following the Spice Island Bill Fish Tournament in Grenada last year, he and his crew are ready and eager to go for victory. It was the first time in 30 years that a Barbadian boat had won the most prestigious fishing competition in the southern Caribbean.

“The World Championship is very big….  This World Championship, we have a chance at winning,” said an excited Williams.

The Barbadian vessel and crew – Mario Williams, Mario Springer and visiting husband and wife team members, Jonathan and Diana Webster – will be going up against competitors from around the world, including those from Puerto Rico, Panama, Brazil, America, Croatia, and Kenya.  “They are all very good fishermen,” Mr. Williams admitted.

However, the young fisherman remains confident that his crew and vessel stand a good chance at winning.  “We fish every day.  We practise a lot, especially now that they have the FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices).  Since they put the FADs down, we have been practising and getting good opportunities to get a lot of fish,” he said.

But, it was not always smooth sailing for the captain.  Mr. Williams recalled that soon after acquiring his vessel Eclipse in November 2019, he headed to Grenada for the first time in January 2020.  All the while, he was trying to start his business, Eclipse Fishing Charters, and for an opportunity to take part in a tournament.

The Barbadian vessel Eclipse. (GP)

As he neared Grenada, he “popped” a fan belt and “blew” a manifold, around 1:00 a.m.  Yet, still determined to take part in the tournament, Mr. Williams used all his savings to ensure that his vessel was ready for competition.

On the first day, he fished on one engine, and maintained second place for the first two days of the tournament.  That was until he developed an abscess in one of his teeth, resulting in him falling all the way down to 10th place.

That, however, did not stop the captain of the charter vessel, as he continued competing in tournaments whenever he could.  Recalling a tournament he took part in on January 26, 2022, Mr. Williams said within the first two minutes of competition he and his crew doubled up on sail fish.

“That day, 15 fish were caught out of 45 boats and we released five of them.  It was a great start,” he recalled.

Mr. Williams said they were also looking to compete in the Sir Charles Williams International Fishing tournament in Barbados, which is already under way and ends on April 16.

He said fishing tournaments were gaining popularity in Barbados, and becoming increasingly so, since the introduction of the FADs in the water.

In fact, Mr. Williams noted that people flew from across the world to visit Barbados’ waters to practise their techniques and take part in these fishing tournaments.  

“The FADs now bring a lot of foreign boats to Barbados to fish in our international tournament, which is a good thing as it would get Barbados on the map.  If you go by the FAD, within 20 minutes you can get a lot of fish,” he said.

Crew members of Eclipse – husband and wife team, Jonathan and Diana Webster.

He added that more people were flying to Barbados in groups to fish but lamented that many still did not know about the improvements in fishing.

Mr. Williams stated that there was also a strong interest by visitors to become involved and learn how they can participate in game fishing.

He pointed out that he first met British visitors Diana and Jonathan Webster on an afternoon fishing charter during their visit to the island.   From there, they learnt how to fish, and returned to the island annually, sometimes twice a year to take part in tournaments.

The young fisherman disclosed that the couple also went as far as to help in the purchase of his vessel and form part of his crew for tournaments.

Mr. Webster, speaking about his experience here with game fishing, said: “We come to Barbados for the island.  It is a lovely island and lovely people.  We spend half the time fishing and half the time relaxing.  When we first came, we came for a week, then increased it to 10 days, then two weeks.  The longest we stayed is six weeks.”

He added that it is hoped that game fishing could be seen as a tourism product for Barbados and promoted widely, given its importance in the developing blue economy. (PR/GIS)

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FINAL T20I WASHED OUT

Article by David Harris

Rain washed out the fifth and final T20I match between the West Indies and England at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Sunday evening. 

Only five overs were possible before the heavens opened up forcing the players to leave the field, and eventually play was called off a few hours later. 

During the five overs, the West Indies raced to 44 for no wickets as openers Evin Lewis (29) and Shai Hope (17) continued from where they had left in the fourth T20 I on Saturday night. 

Chasing 219 for victory, the West Indies scored 221 for five wickets in 19 overs, Lewis (68) and Hope (54) shared an opening stand of 136 runs in 9.1 overs that laid the foundation for the Caribbean side consolation win in the series. 

England had already won the series after defeating their hosts by three wickets in the third T20 I at the same venue.  

The West Indies international season continue with two Tests, three One Day Internationals, and two T20Is against Bangladesh. 

The Test series starts at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua on November 22.  

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A CLOSE WIN FOR ENGLAND AGAINST THE WEST INDIES

Article by David Harris

England won the T20I against the West Indies after defeating the regional team by three wickets in a close match at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Thursday night. 

Set a target of 146 for victory England scored 149 runs in 19.2 overs. The visitors losing the wickets of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell for 43 runs at the end of the Power Play. 

Opener Will Jacks (32) and Sam Curran (41) steadied the innings with a fourth wicket partnership of 38 runs. Jacks faced 33 balls and counted three fours, after Jacks’ dismissal, Curran and Liam Livingstone (39) added 39 vital runs for the fifth wicket. 

Livingstone received three chances during his stay at the crease. Wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran dropped him on six, off fast bowler Alzarri Joseph returning from his two-match suspension. 

His second chance came when he was dropped by Pooran off left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie on eight, and Shimron Hetmeyer failed to clasp a low chance at midwicket off Motie when Livington had scored 21. 

   Livingstone made the most of his reprieves, he struck Joseph for 16 runs in the 18th over before being caught at long-off by Ramario Sheperd off Motie, by then England was within sight of victory. Motie was the most successful bowler for the West Indies with four wickets for 27 runs.  

Earlier England won the toss for the third consecutive time and opted to field; the West Indies innings began disastrously losing five wickets for 37 runs in the sixth over, Rovman Powell (50) and Shepherd repaired the damage with 73 runs for the sixth wicket that took the score to 110 runs in the 16th over. 

The West Indies looked set to make a big score when fast bowler Jamie Overton trapped Shepherd lbw and picked up the wickets of Powell and Motie. 

Joseph 21 not out and Akeal Hosein who was unbeaten on eight added 23 runs in the final two overs to take the score to 145 for eight wickets. 

Man of the Match pacer Saqib Mahmood who took the early wickets at the start of the West Indies innings captured for 17 runs, and Overton picked up three wickets for 20 runs. 

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ENGLAND LEADS WEST INDIES 2-0

Article by David Harris

England took a 2-0 lead over the West Indies with an emphatic seven wicket victory at Kensington Oval on Sunday night. 

Chasing 159 runs for victory captain Jos Buttler smashed a 45-ball 83 which included eight fours and six sixes to guide England to victory in 14.5 overs; Will Jacks contributed 38, and Liam Livingstone made an unbeaten 23 runs. 

England had an early setback in the chase when opener Phil Salt who made a century in the first match was dismissed by left –arm spinner Akeal Hosein for a golden duck; but Buttler and Jacks shared a massive second partnership of 129 runs that placed the visitors on the road to victory. 

Buttler and Jacks were dismissed by medium pacer Romario Shepherd in the 13th over with the score on 130 by then England needed 29 runs to win the match, and Livingstone blasted three fours and a six to take the Englishmen over the line in the 15th over. Shepherd took two wickets for 42 runs from 3. 5 expensive overs. 

Earlier, the West Indies scored 158 for eight wickets after England won the toss and decided to field. Even though England bowlers were wayward with their lines they picked up the early wickets of Brandon King, Evin Lewis and Roston Chase to leave the West Indies wobbling at 35 for three wickets in the fourth over. 

Captain Rovman Powell made 43 and Shepherd got 22 but their score 158 was insufficient to prevent the West Indies suffering a second consecutive defeat by England in two days. 

Pacer Saqib Mahmood took two wickets 20 runs, Liam Livingstone captured two wickets for 16 runs with a mixture of off-breaks and leg-breaks, and off-spinner Dan Mousley picked two wickets for 29 runs.  

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