Those Captains who land the five largest Blue-fin tuna qualify for cash prizes: 1st place is $6,250, 2nd is $3,250, $1,500 for 3rd, $1,000 for 4th, and $500 for 5th place. The tournament is limited to 40 pre-registered boats and the accumulated entrance fees pay for the $12,500 prize money. As an added incentive, the largest blue-fin tuna landed that officially sets the Maine State Rod and Reel Record (819 lbs), will win a Grand Prize award of $50,000! Last year, Captain Imad Khalidi and the crew of Reel Action took home the $6,250 first-place prize when they brought in the largest tuna weighing 681 pounds.
Over the past 14 years, with the help of tournament participants and generous sponsors, the Sturdivant Island Tuna Tournament has made charitable contributions approaching $500,000! Some of this money has been donated to established scholarships at five of Maine’s Community Colleges: Central Maine CC, Northern Maine CC, Southern Maine CC, Washington County CC, and York County CC. In addition, donated funds have been given to the Byron R. Gouzie Foundation, the McAuley Residence at Mercy Hospital, the Isaac Baker "Baker-Mobile"
In 2010, at a red carpet banquet in Washington D.C., SITT was awarded the prestigious Council for Resource Development Benefactor Awards for its many contributions to Maine’s community colleges.
Please visit our website at http://www.mainetuna.org
