From 1935 to the mid 1960s, Wedgeport was once the sport tuna fishing capital of the world.
What attracted the bluefin tuna close to the shores of Wedgeport was the abundance of feed, making the Tusket River and the Tuna Rip excellent tuna fishing grounds.
Rod and reel tuna fishing began in 1935 when Michael Lerner, accompanied by his guide Tommy Gifford, were told there were plenty of tuna off Wedgeport. Many fishermen made fun of him but he managed to convince Évée LeBlanc to bring him out fishing.
To everybody’s surprise he caught five bluefin during his first visit to Wedgeport. Two years later, in 1937, Wedgeport saw the birth of the International Tuna Cup Match organized by S. Kip Farrington, Jr. Following 1937, some 28 different countries participated in the International Tuna Cup Match.
During the International Tuna Cup matches the winning team would be awarded the Alton B. Sharp Cup, the 5th oldest cup in international sport. The tournament stopped being held in South West Nova Scotia in 1976 due to lack of fish.
The Wedgeport Tuna Tournament and Festival is an annual event that takes place near the end of August. Presently, most of the participating boats sail 12 hours from the wharf to a place called the ‘Hell Hole’, located south of Brown’s Bank and north east of George’s Bank.
Since it’s revival in 2004, the Wedgeport Tuna Tournament and Festival has grown each year, always attracting more participants, more tuna and of course more spectators at its various week long events. Hundreds of volunteers and sponsors help every year making the tournament possible.
Each year, thanks to the South West Nova Tuna Association, they have been allotted 3,200 pounds of quota for bluefin tuna. This allows an average of 10 bluefin.
Boats are also allowed to bring in albacore and big eye tuna, however once they catch their bluefin tuna they must return to the wharf.
In the past 12 years, hundreds of tuna have been landed in the Wedgeport Tuna Tournament and Festival. The biggest Bluefin landed since the tournament’s revival was 796 pounds, caught in 2014 by the Atlantic Angler.
Photos taken by Gordon Pothier.
