Tarpon-Fishing-i.com/Trinidad-Tobago

The 2012 dates have been set: July 28th & 29th!!

Get set for the adventure of fighting big tarpon in a tropical paradise that few international game fishermen are yet to discover.

This tarpon haven is the island of Trinidad in the southern Caribbean, which was ranked #3 in the world by Sportsfishing Magazine in 2010. This will be the 2nd annual UTC TRINI TARPON Tournament – a charity fundraising event by the Diego Martin chapter of the Rotary Club of Trinidad and Tobago (RCDM) – and is scheduled to be held at the height of Trinidad’s tarpon season when the mighty ‘silver kings’ are rolling in the still waters of the Gulf of Paria and the sea channels into the Caribbean Sea called The Bocas.

The two-day ‘catch-and-release’ tarpon tournament promises to be a dream-come-true for amateur, experienced and champion anglers alike.  Dan Jacobs of Marlin and Sport Fishing magazines, who organized and hosted the island’s first international tarpon fishing event, Trinidad Tarpon Bash is scheduled to be there as the weigh master and head judge. The tournament will be using the live weigh in format for fish that are 125lbs and over; similar to what is done in the famous Boca Grande tournament in the Florida keys.

Also expected is Captain Bruce Ungar from the Bonefish & Tarpon Conservation Center, who will be conducting a simultaneous satellite tarpon tagging exercise using pop-up archival tags (PAT). In addition to this, the tournament will also be giving several competitors DNA sampling kits in an attempt to get as many DNA samples as possible. These DNA samples are invaluable when it comes to the research and conservation work being done by Captain Ungar and the  Bonefish & Tarpon Conservation Center. 

 Anglers wishing to participate in the UTC Trini Tarpon Tournament can enter with a fee of TT$700 (TT$500 for Juniors) per angler.  The fee permits you to fish in the designated fishing zones during the morning and evening sessions on the two tournament days as well as entrance to the Awards Dinner and Prize Distribution function and any other activities hosted by the tournament’s organizers.

The Registration and Captains’ Meeting is scheduled for Thur 26^th July at 7:00pm and will be held at Trinidad & Tobago Yacht Club.

For additional information on this not-to-be-missed event, email: trinitarpontournament@gmail.com or call Winfield Aleong at 1-(868) 386-7281.