Neptune Fishing Supplies

14/07/2026

Congratulations Guys!!

JAMES WINS 35TH BASTILLE DAY KINGFISH TOURNAMENT WITH 30.35-POUND KINGFISH

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Bad luck turned into a tournament-winning catch for angler Eli James aboard Catch and Keep in Sunday's 35th Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament. When fellow angler Nate Gatliffe's hat blew overboard, Captain Kai Holmberg circled back in a futile attempt to retrieve it. While the hat was gone, the second pass over the same stretch of water proved lucky. "The planer tripped, I started reeling, cranking in the line in nice and easy," says James. After a 10-minute fight, he caught the 30.35-pound kingfish. The whopper earned James the Largest Kingfish award, with $2,000 in cash and many other prizes.

James was one of 177 anglers, including 39 junior anglers, on 42 boats who fished in this Northside Sportfishing Club-hosted tournament, which National Geographic magazine named in 2019 one of the world's '9 Bastille Day bashes that celebrate French Culture!' The tournament is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands French Heritage Week.

The Second Largest Kingfish prize went to Thomas Ledee, aboard Lucky Strike, who caught a 24.80-pounder.

Billy Biscoe, fishing on Isle, reeled in a 24.25-pounder to win the Third Largest Kingfish, while Allison Querrard caught the Fourth Largest Kingfish, a 23.75-pounder, aboard Wiked Intentions.

The catch of 7 kingfish earned Kai Holmberg the Best Captain award aboard Catch and Keep, while boating 10 total of the tournament's eligible species by count earned Catch and Keep the Best Boat title.

James, on Catch and Keep, earned Best Male Angler with a total weight of 78.15 pounds, while the Best Female prize went to Chelsea Aubain, who caught a total of 41.00 pounds of fish aboard Kaos.

The Best Junior Male Angler award went to Shane Berry, who caught 59.35 pounds of fish off Two Reel.

Tori Aubain earned Best Junior Female with her catch weighing 21.60 pounds aboard Virgin Coast.

Although the tournament is focused on kingfish, other species earned anglers cash and prizes. Shawn Scott, fishing from Catch and Keep, won the Largest Mackerel with his 8.70-pound catch. Finally, fishing from Double Header 5, Connor Szarmach won Largest Bonito with his 3.25-pounder.

Thousands of dollars in cash, prizes, and trophies were awarded this year.

Judges Daryl Bryan and Bobby Laplace officially weighed in the catches.

After weigh-in, the fun continued onshore at The Shack and The Hideaway at Hull Bay, with live music by Oleik – The Music Man with Saline Combo, Klimaxx Band, and Obsession Band. Crowds gathered at 7 p.m. for the Awards Ceremony.

First organized by the Northside Sportfishing Club in 1988, the tournament has become one of the highlights of French Heritage celebrations on St. Thomas. The event benefits the Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue, Nana Baby Children's Home, and the St. Thomas Fisherman's Association. Over the past three-plus decades, the nonprofit Northside Sportfishing Club's annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament has donated over $230,000 to community organizations and scholarships.

The Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is sponsored by The Shack and The Hideaway at Hull Bay; Offshore Marine, the YAMAHA distributor in the Virgin Islands; Masters Insurance & Guardian Insurance; Budget Marine, the Caribbean's Leading Chandlery; Caribbean Gifts N Things/Caribbean Sol; Amalie Car Rental; Frank's Electric; Scoops & Brew; Fish Bar; Searena Properties; Neptune Fishing Supplies; Bee Green Pest Control; Anchor Title LLC; Stabilis Builders; Rock Rakers Landscaping; Cyclone Fencing; and Lime Out.

For more information, Email: [email protected]. Or check us out on Facebook and Instagram

Photo: L to R Kai Holmberg, Dante Poli, Nathan Gatcliffe, Shawn Scott, and Eli James with Largest Kingfish, on Catch and Keep. Credit: Josh Brown, Palm + Pixel

2026 RESULTS
42 Boats
177 Anglers (includes 39 Jr. Anglers)
78 Fish Caught, 637.70 pounds
40 Kingfish Caught, 506.70 pounds

Largest Kingfish, Eli James, 30.35 pounds, Catch and Keep
2nd Largest Kingfish, Thomas Ledee, 24.80 pounds, Lucky Strike
3rd Largest Kingfish, Billy Biscoe, 24.25 pounds, Isle
4th Largest Kingfish, Allison Querrard, 23.75 pounds, Wiked Intentions
Best Captain, Kai Holmberg, 7 kingfish, Catch and Keep
Best Boat, Catch and Keep, 10 fish
Best Male, Eli James, 30.35 pounds, Catch and Keep
Best Female, Chelsea Aubain, 41.00 pounds, Kaos
Best Junior Male, Shane Berry, 59.35 pounds, Two Reel
Best Junior Female, Tori Aubain, 21.60 pounds, Virgin Coast
Largest Mackerel, Shawn Scott, 8.70 pounds, Catch and Keep
Largest Bonito, Connor Szarmach, 3.25 pounds, Double Header 5

CONGRATULATIONS FROM OUR SPONSORS
The Shack, Hull Bay
The Hideaway Hull Bay
Offshore Marine Inc., the YAMAHA distributor in the Virgin Islands
Masters Insurance, Guardian Insurance
Budget Marine, the Caribbean's Leading Chandlery
Caribbean Gifts and Things
Amalie Car Rental
Franks Electric And Utility LLC
Scoops & Brew
Fish Bar
Searena Properties
Neptune Fishing Supplies
Bee Green pest Control
Anchor Title LLC
Stabilis Builders
Rock Rakers Landscaping
Cyclone Fencing
Lime Out VI

07/07/2026

Let's go......

BASTILLE DAY KINGFISH TOURNAMENT SET FOR SUNDAY, JULY 12 – REGISTER JULY 10 & 11

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The 35th Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament will take place on Sunday, July 12, at The Shack at The Hideaway in Hull Bay, St. Thomas. This Northside Sportfishing Club-hosted tournament is your chance to catch the Largest Kingfish and pocket $2000. Even if that 'big one' gets away, there are other categories to win: Second Largest Kingfish, Third Largest Kingfish, Fourth Largest Kingfish, Best Captain, Best Boat, Best Male Angler, Best Female Angler, Best Junior Male Angler, Best Junior Female Angler, Largest Bonito, and Largest Mackerel. This adds up to over $10,000 in cash and prizes.

Registration takes place at the Captain's Meeting on July 10 at 7:30 p.m. at The Shack at The Hideaway in Hull Bay. Final registration happens on Saturday, July 11, at the same location from Noon until 4 p.m. Entry fees are low - $60 for adults and $50 for juniors ages 8 to 17. All registered anglers receive an official Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament T-shirt, hat, sunscreen and goodie bag. Over 200 anglers – adults and juniors of all skill levels – and over 60 boats are expected to enter.

Lines in the water start at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 12. Weigh-in begins at Noon, and all boats must be in Hull Bay by Noon. Entertainment for the day includes the Klimaxx Band from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Obsession Band from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The 'Catch in the Hat' drawing, sponsored by Offshore Marine, happens at the 2:30 p.m. band break. All registered junior anglers' names will be placed in a hat whether they catch fish or not. The first eight names drawn will receive $50 in cash, and the ninth will win $100, for a total award of $500. Junior anglers must be present at The Shack at The Hideaway to claim their prizes. The 50/50 raffle drawing will be held at 5 p.m., and participants must also be present to win. The awards ceremony follows at 7 p.m. at The Shack at The Hideaway in Hull Bay.

Take the hassle out of parking and catch a FREE shuttle from the parking lot at Sib's on the Mountain Bar & Restaurant (at the intersection of Routes 33 and 37 in Estate Elizabeth) to The Shack at The Hideaway on July 12. Two shuttles will operate simultaneously. Shuttle service starts at 10 a.m., and the last ride departs Hull Bay at 7 p.m.

A portion of funds raised from the 2026 Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament will benefit the Joseph Sibilly School, Nana Baby Children's Home, St. Thomas Rescue and the St. Thomas Fisherman's Association.

In 2019, National Geographic magazine named the Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament one of the world's '9 Bastille Day bashes that celebrate French Culture!'. In 2012, online travel advisor Hotwire.com named St. Thomas one of the Top 10 destinations in the world to celebrate Bastille Day, thanks to the Tournament. The Tournament is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands' French Heritage Week. Additionally, the Club was named Best Sports Organization of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas for 2016, 2017, and 2019 in the Virgin Islands Daily News 'Best of the VI' readers' poll.

The Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament is sponsored by The Shack and The Hideaway at Hull Bay; Offshore Marine, the YAMAHA distributor in the Virgin Islands; Masters Insurance & Guardian Insurance; Budget Marine, the Caribbean's Leading Chandlery; Caribbean Gifts N Things/Caribbean Sol; Amalie Car Rental; Frank's Electric; Scoops & Brew; Fish Bar; Searena Properties; Neptune Fishing Supplies; Bee Green Pest Control; Anchor Title LLC; Stabilis Builders; and Rock Rakers Landscaping.

For more information, Email: [email protected]. Or check us out on Facebook and Instagram

The Shack, Hull Bay
The Hideaway Hull Bay
Offshore Marine Inc.
Budget Marine
Caribbean Gifts and Things
Franks Electric And Utility LLC
Scoops & Brew
Fish Bar
Searena Properties
Neptune Fishing Supplies
Bee Green pest Control
Rock Rakers

03/07/2026

Let’s go….

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

You need to swing by and grab a hat and something to put a cold one in so you don’t spill it. Let’s go….

24/05/2026

Just sending out a big reminder that we will be closed Monday the 25th for Memorial Day!! We will reopen Tuesday at 6:30am

03/05/2026

Good morning,

Just a note to all that we will be closing at Noon today. We will reopen at 6:30 am. Thanks,

Neptune Fishing

13/04/2026

Island Snow Day. Closing at 2pm today. Reopen tomorrow at 6:30 am. Yall have fun!!

07/03/2026

It’s back….

2026 BASTILLE DAY KINGFISH TOURNAMENT SET FOR JULY 12

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mark your calendars now! The Northside Sportfishing Club (NSC) is pleased to announce that the 2026 Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament – the largest inshore small boat tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands – will take place on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at The Shack at The Hideaway, in Hull Bay, St. Thomas.

“We’re proud to host this much-loved tournament again and continue a true family tradition,” says Catherine Bryan, one of the tournament co-directors. “Over the years, we’ve seen grandparents, parents, and children all take part, which is incredibly special. Everyone is invited! Anglers who’ve fished with us for decades and first-timers, residents and visitors alike, are welcome to fish or enjoy the festivities at The Shack at The Hideaway. There will be live music, food, and drink, and activities for the kids.”

First organized by the Club in 1988, the last tournament held in 2024 attracted 177 anglers, including 37 junior anglers, on 40 boats. Gilbert Laban of St. Thomas reeled in the largest kingfish, a 26.9-pounder, from aboard the Double Header 6. More prize categories include Best Boat, Best Captain, Best Angler, Best Junior Angler, and other fish species such as bonito and mackerel.

As well as being a day of fishing and fun for the whole family, the NSC’s Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament has donated over $230,000 to community organizations such as the Joseph Sibilly Elementary School, Nana Baby Children’s Home, and St. Thomas Rescue, since the event’s inception.

The Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament has also received global accolades. In 2019, National Geographic magazine named the Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament as one of the world’s ‘9 Bastille Day bashes that celebrate French Culture!’ In 2012, online travel advisor Hotwire.com named St. Thomas one of the Top 10 destinations in the world to celebrate Bastille Day thanks to the tournament.

For more information, call (340) 998-0854 or Email: [email protected]. Or, check us out on Facebook and Instagram @ Northside Sportfishing Club.

Photo: Gilbert Laban with his 26.9-pound Largest Kingfish in 2024. Credit Sarah Cooper.