Wedgeport tuna tournament weigh-ins back on home turf on Aug. 23

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Last year was the first time in 31 years that a tuna tournament was held in Wedgeport. This year will be the first time since the heydays of the international matches that the weigh-ins will be back on the Tuna Wharf where it all began.

“The excitement of yesteryear is coming back,” says Doris Bain of the Wedgeport Tuna Museum, who is also on the organizing committee of the tournament. “Since we’ve mentioned that it’s coming to the Tuna Wharf there is even more enthusiasm, more excitement, people are really hyped up.”

Hype is something that is no stranger to tuna tournaments in southwestern Nova Scotia. In the days of the international tuna matches that began in 1931 and continued until 1976 (the match in 1939 was cancelled because of the outbreak of World War II and the event took a break between 1959-65) teams from countries from around the world descended on Wedgeport. Crews included people like U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, author Ernest Hemingway, aviator Amelia Earhart and hockey all-star Jean Beliveau.

In 2004 a tuna tournament became a component of the annual Shark Scramble. Last year it was decided that it was time to bring the tournament back to Wedgeport.

“It was a whole different experience bringing it back to home turf,” Bain says.

Last year seven boats took part in the tournament, landing nine tuna. Hundreds of people came out for the weigh-ins and saw the crew of the Fin Seeker – with their combined weight of 707 pounds from two tuna – take the top prize.

This year organizers are expecting more boats to register. As of July 24 there were nine boats registered, including two U.S. teams, and more boats were expected to sign up. Even the high cost of fuel didn’t seem to be acting as a deterrent.

The boats will leave the wharf on Tuesday, Aug. 19, heading out about 10 to 12 hours from shore. The fishing begins on Wednesday, Aug. 20, with all boats required to be back at the wharf by noon on Saturday, Aug. 23. The weigh-ins will begin at 1 p.m., with the closing ceremony and trophy presentation planned for around 3 p.m.

Like last year, fish buyers will be on hand to bid for the tuna during an auction.

Bain is again expecting a lot of excitement when the tuna are landed. For some people, prior to this the only time they will have seen a tuna is in photographs, in a can or between two slices of bread.

“Most people who fish tuna commercially do not call home and say, ‘Get the gang together, we’re coming home, put the party on the wharf’,” she says. “As soon as they unload they’re gone, versus when you have a tournament, you get to see the excitement of the fishermen and hear the stories.”

More details about the tuna tournament, including registration information, can be found at the Wedgeport Tuna Museum website.



OTHER ACTIVITIES PLANNED IN CONJUNCTION WITH TUNA TOURNAMENT

While the tuna landings will be the main attraction, organizers of this year’s tuna tournament in Wedgeport are also adding activities on shore to turn the fishing tournament into a mini festival.

Borrowing a tradition from the old international tuna matches that used to take place here, a tuna queen pageant will be held in the days leading up to the tournament. A group of young ladies representing various communities from around the tri-counties are taking part.

Events will be held in conjunction with the pageant, like an Aug. 18 wine and cheese that will be open to the public, and a tour of the Tusket Islands for the contestants. The pageant itself will take place Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. on the Wedgeport Tuna Museum grounds.

Other activities being planned include a teen dance and a musical concert. People are also invited to visit the tuna museum.

Last year was the first year since 1976 that a tuna fishing tournament was held in the Acadian community. But aside from the tuna weigh-ins and closing ceremony, there were no other activities held in conjunction with it.

“I had people coming in the museum asking what activities are going on with the tournament and we didn’t have any so it got us thinking that this year we will have to have some activities,” says Doris Bain of the tuna museum, who is also part of the tournament’s organizing committee.

She says it will be nice to see the excitement from the days of the old international matches return to the area.