Safe Passage safely lands 63rd SHMAA tournament

PORTLAND, Jamaica—Safe Passage landed the 63rd Sir Henry Morgan Port Antonio International Marlin Anglers Association tournament at the Ole Marina after releasing seven of the 12 marlin. Second was Mutual Fun with two marlin, with Integrity in third place. Christopher Berry released four and Isaiah Aleong Baksh two, both from Safe Passage, as Berry copped the top male angler prize and Tina Matalon from Bye Pass, the top female. The top junior angler is Ethan Lyn. Safe Passage walked away with the Tony Myers Trophy and Sterling Asset Marlin Trophy along with cash prizes and Guy Harvey prints. Tournament director, Max Rochester, was pleased with the event despite some challenges. “It was an unqualified success despite the difficulties and challenges, weather-related. We are fishermen, so we adjusted. We got 12 marlin and Safe Passage accounted for seven. We had no complaints about how the tournament was run, so we are happy,” said Rochester. Defending champion Berry was elated. “I am happy to participate as my first time was 2004 and I am here again. I love fishing and the weather was okay. Releasing seven marlin in a tournament is good and you can’t ask for more than that,” said Berry. He added that, “It was fantastic. We promote conservation in sport fishing and it is generally accepted by all fishers now and it is very rare that we kill a marlin and it has to be over 300 pounds. A marlin in the sea is more valuable than a marlin on the plate”. Berry said he hopes to participate in next year’s tournament and make it three wins in a row. —Everard Owen