Bailey Island Fishing Tournament sees strong turnout, but fewer tuna

The Bailey Island Fishing Tournament saw just four tuna caught this year, compared with 18 last summer. However, despite low tuna numbers, the Casco Bay Tuna Club’s 83rd annual tournament — revived last year following a pandemic-related hiatus — was a lively success.

Thirty-three tuna boats, 46 sportfish participants and 40 junior competitors hit the waters of Casco Bay from Saturday, July 19, to Friday, July 25, in search of this summer’s biggest catch.

The number of sportfish participants doubled from last year, thanks to the addition of striper to this year’s tournament after numerous requests from participants last summer.

The biggest tuna this year was caught by Keith Jordan and J.R. Giddings aboard the Bailey & Bella. Their winning tuna came in at 574 pounds and 108 inches, securing them the $5,000 first prize.

The second-place tuna, fetching a $3,000 prize, was landed by Cam Murphy aboard the Blue Dolphin II at 527.5 pounds and 101.5 inches. In third place were Adam Armstrong and his sons, Samuel and Andrew Armstrong, on the Sam & Andrew, with a 421.5-pound, 90-inch tuna, winning them $1,500.

The Armstrongs brought in their third-place tuna Wednesday evening, after fishing for almost two full days.

“We made a pretty good steam offshore … and the boys did a pretty good job of getting us some fresh bait,” Adam Armstrong said. “We were lucky around 11 o’clock. We were the only boat to really hook up out of six or eight boats out there.”

Adam Armstrong echoed the sentiment of many fishermen that the fish weren’t as plentiful this year because of cooler water temperatures.

“The water temperature didn’t really warm up here in the Gulf of Maine,” Armstrong said. “It’s been difficult fishing.”

Margaret McNelly-Davis watches from under Cook’s Wharf on Bailey Island as a tuna is hoisted up during the Bailey Island Fishing Tournament on July 23. (Sara Coughlin photo)

J.R. Giddings, left, and Keith Jordan pose with their first prize-winning tuna at Cook’s Wharf on Bailey Island on July 24. (Sara Coughlin photo)

From left, Adam Armstrong, Samuel Armstrong, and Andrew Armstrong stand with their 421.5-pound tuna on the weigh station at Cook’s Wharf on Bailey Island on July 23. The family took third place in the tuna division of the Bailey Island Fishing Tournament. (Sara Coughlin photo)

From left, Keith Jordan and J.R. Giddings pose with their first-place trophy for largest tuna in the 83rd annual Bailey Island Fishing Tournament during the closing banquet at Cook’s Lobster & Ale House on July 25. (Sara Coughlin photo)

The decline in tuna followed disappointment at another local tournament. In June, the Harpswell Community School Parent Teacher Organization had to reschedule its new striper tournament after no fish were caught. A second attempt in July was more successful.

In addition to competition and cash prizes, the Bailey Island tournament contributes to science.

Researchers from the University of Maine Pelagic Fisheries Lab were present at the tournament. After each tuna is weighed, they take the guts and head of the fish to collect samples that help them understand the highly migratory species.

Sammi Nadeau, manager of the lab, said its research is used by fisheries management bodies, such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. The research helps such organizations make informed decisions.

“An added benefit on top of all of that is that we get to interact with the fishery and be able to have that face-to-name connection with them and be able to connect with them and let them know what we’re working on, how it impacts them and why it’s important,” Nadeau said.

The tournament finished off a week of fishing with a lobster banquet on the point at Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, where awards were presented for each category. Attendees included Nikki Yanok, a climate finance specialist for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

The institute is working with the nearby Cook’s Wharf, with a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to rehabilitate the wharf and figure out how to make working waterfronts across New England more sustainable. Yanok was at the banquet to encourage participants to fill out a survey about how to rebuild the wharf to best meet the needs of the community.

This year’s tournament and banquet were dedicated to Les McNelly, a former president of the Casco Bay Tuna Club who died in November. A table of McNelly’s trophies from the tournament was set up at the banquet. McNelly also was a registered Maine guide and a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard. He ran Sea Escape Cottages and Charters with his family.”

Stripers were his passion,” said Jess Tranter, a tournament organizer who serves as both secretary and treasurer of the Casco Bay Tuna Club. This year, the Perpetual Sportfish Striper Trophy was renamed The Les McNelly Cup to honor his legacy.

83rd annual Bailey Island
Fishing Tournament results

Tuna

Sport pollock

Sport haddock

Sport mackerel

Sport striper

Junior pollock

Junior mackerel

Junior striper