PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release

August 20, 2010

41 BOATS SET TO FISH THE 38^TH ANNUAL USVI OPEN/ATLANTIC BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The docks are alive with the sights and sounds of pre-tournament energy and excitement as the 38^th annual USVI Open Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament (ABMT) gets underway. The first day of this four-day tournament will kick-off tomorrow, Saturday August 21, following the Blessing of the Fleet, singing of the Star-Spangled Banner, and Boy Scout’s Color Guard’s Flag Raising Ceremony that starts at 6:30 a.m. at the Flag Pole at the American Yacht Harbor Marina.

“The bite began to pick up today, and like the past several decades, it will continue to pick up all week long as we approach the full moon,” says tournament director, Jimmy Loveland.

Forty-one boats and 124 anglers are registered to compete.

“There’s a high level of competition here and more boats only means more competition,” says Capt. Eddie Morrison, who helms the local charter boat, the 45-foot Viking, Marlin Prince.

Some of the vessels set to fish this tournament, known globally as the ‘Super Bowl of Sports Fishing’, include Click Through, winner of the 2010 Bermuda Triple Crown; Big OH, winner of the International Cap Cana Shootout and July Open Billfish Tournament, and Revenge, which is the defending champion from the 2009 ABMT. There are also several boats visiting from the Gulf of Mexico, including Reel Worthless, Reel Addiction, CZ-Girl, Done Deal and Sea Angel.

Anglers, captains and crews will set their sights on catching and releasing the most blue marlin first.

For the first time, viewers can get in on the fun from anywhere in the world by entering the boat pool on line for the chance to win prizes. Visit: www.abmt.vi/pages/boatpool.htm to learn more.

The angling action continues Sunday, Monday and Wednesday – three days before and a day after the month’s full moon.

The public can catch the spirit of sport fishing by ‘doing the docks' or watching the big rigs come in around 6:30 p.m. and counting the number of marlin release flags flying from the outriggers. The more flags, the more marlin the boat released. Blue signals the catch was a blue marlin, while white flags denote a white marlin. Commemorative tournament T-shirts will be on sale each night of the event and there will be a cash bar and other festivities on the docks.

On Monday, enjoy Cheese Burgers in Paradise. The Boy Scouts invite visitors and locals alike to their cookout at Camp Wahoo, located by the tournament tent at the American Yacht Harbor Marina. The Caribbean Night Show starts at 8 p.m.

The ABMT’s final fishing action on Wednesday ends with the sport fishing fleet's swift Jim Smith ‘Race from the Edge’ at 4:30 p.m. The best place to watch this often photo finish is from the spit of land past the pool at the Sapphire Beach Resort. The Awards Ceremony takes place later in the evening along with the naming of the 2010 USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Top Angler, who pockets a $10,000 cash prize.

Started by Chuck Senf back in 1972 – and nicknamed The Boy Scout Tournament since a portion of the proceeds have always benefited the VI Council of the Boy Scouts of America, one of Senf’s favorite charities – the ABMT has evolved into the competitive saltwater sports fishing events in the world. It’s one of legs of the prestigious Bermuda Triangle Series and Spanish Main Series. This year, Senf’s grandson, Blain Tomlinson, is traveling from California to present his grandfather’s famous fishing jacket, a true piece of Virgin Islands fishing history, at the Awards Ceremony.

The ABMT is fished under International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) rules, and is overseen by a professional Board of Captains and well-qualified observers.

The tournament benefits the Virgin Islands Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

For more information, call: 1-888-2-FISHVI (1-888-234-7484), or 340-775-9500, or Fax: 340-779-8605, or visit www.abmt.vi

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