Blue Waters Anglers Club praised the participation level its annual junior fishing tournament recently, which saw nearly 100 young people win a variety of prizes.

Ray Bean, the club president, said: “It was an excellent event. It had great participation. The downside is that we saw a slight drop in female participation than in recent years. I wish we had more. It’s a great day on the water!”

He added: “This event has been running since the 1960s. There are members now who participated as children.

“The feedback that I’ve gotten from parents and children is that it’s always a positive event.”

Five members’ boats were used this year, with four taken outside the reef — My Three Sons, Bay Roots, Ocean Mile and Sambucca. The Jolly Roger remained inside the reef-line for children under 13.

The Blue Waters Anglers Club Junior Fishing Tournament was sponsored by C-Mart, Rubis, Belco, Sports ‘R’ Us, Butterfield & Vallis, Brown & Co, Fidelity and Barritt’s.

One parent, Gary Foster Skelton, took two children to the tournament.

“They look forward to this every year,” he said. “It’s just such a positive thing for young people. This is a way help them develop. It’s a part of island life, being with friends and doing something positive.”

Traci Woolridge said: “With how things are going in Bermuda with young people, I would encourage parents to get their kids involved.”

She added: “I hope BWAC never dies; this is just what Bermuda needs.”

Jallunde Wilson-Johnston, 15, a CedarBridge Academy student, said he was happy he attended the event — the second time he has been deep-sea fishing. “It was a rough ride, but it was a good day on the Ocean Mile.

Altoinette Wilson said: “I love this because it gets my son out, doing something different.

“As a parent, I know where he is. He looks forward to it. He enjoys it immensely.

“This club has organised this really well. Their hospitality is really good.”

Eleven-year-old Nathan Webb, a five-times attendee from Purvis Primary School, was out on the Jolly Roger. He said that it was “not that rough” inside the reef-line, but was pleased he attended.

After the weigh-in, BWAC members and boat crew filleted the fish, and then bagged and redistributed them to the young anglers.

Prizes included fishing rods. Each participant was also given a goody bag in the form of a knapsack.