By Val Matthias. Updated 11:13 a.m., Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Veteran fisherman Eli Slater of Claire Valley has been crowned Fisherman of the Year for a third time after landing the heaviest catch during the 49th Anniversary Fisherman’s Day competition held at Little Tokyo on May 25, 2026.
Mr Slater, fishing aboard his vessel Angel Eye, secured the 2026 title with a catch weighing 929 pounds.
Speaking after the results were announced, Mr Slater described the victory as “a repeat”, explaining that he had also won the competition in 2007 and again last year.
The experienced fisherman credited his continued success to a change in fishing techniques, including the use of live bait and a semi-long line drift method, which he said was recommended by a fisherman from Grenada.
He also urged younger fishermen to modernise their approach to the industry, saying many were still relying on older methods that were no longer producing strong catches.
Second place went to Oscar Richardson aboard the vessel Sarge. Mr Richardson landed 742 pounds of fish and received a prize of 12,000 dollars.
Loma Cordis, fishing aboard Fishhook, placed third with a catch weighing 567 pounds and received 7,000 dollars in prize money.
Mr Slater said much of his winnings would go towards supporting his grandchildren.
In 2007, Slater won the Fisherman of the Year title with a catch weighing 738 pounds. At the time, he was described as a former police officer attached to the Coast Guard division who had spent 24 years in the force before returning full-time to fishing.
END
One News SVG 