Ruby Reels nets $20K with 121-lb marlin

Ruby Reels captain Austin Benavente had a productive and rewarding weekend after fishing and slugging his way to the top of his two main sports.

The baseball player and avid fisherman captained Ruby Reels to the $20,000 pot of Saipan Fishermen’s Association’s 2nd Annual Elijah Craig Billfish Tournament last Saturday off the waters of Smiling Cove Marina—the day after helping his Saipan Baseball League team Padres clinch a finals spot.

He and his crew of Anthony Benavente and Kalama Fernandez’s last minute 121-lb. haul had their name written all over it as they caught it off the waters of Mañagaha Island on the way back to the cove around 5pm.

The side bet and second largest blue marlin caught—109 lbs.—was by Guam’s My Princess Jasmine captained by Jeremy Tereas. The anglers were Scott Treras and Promise Teren. They won $1,600.

The 23-year-old said of the water conditions, “it was rough from the morning we went out. We were taking a beating all day long. We couldn’t catch anything going up swell because we were just constantly getting pounded. The moment we turned down swell and fished, our lures were sitting better and managed to get strikes.”

They initially caught a smaller marlin off Marpi Reef up north before their prized catch. With their 121-lb. haul, he said he heard that someone had caught a 109-lb. marlin beforehand. “When I looked at our fish and being that fresh—we thought it had to be over 109 lbs. So, we were happy and we were just praying that no one else came in with a bigger one.”

When they secured the $20,000 with their freshly caught fish just an hour before the cutoff, he said, “It’s a great feeling. It’s still a lot to take in, but we have a year to enjoy it.”

The fisherman of six years said that it’s his first time to win overall in a marlin derby, but placed first during a wahoo and mahi derby under the boat Salty Bandits.

On how he came to captain Ruby Reels this time around, he said, “I fish with the guy who owns the boat and he decided to sponsor the derby, so we just went ahead and fished for his team.”

With his earnings from the $20,000, he said, “We’ve been planning a trip to Japan this February for snowboarding, so we’re going to try and make that happen now.”

SFA’s Curtis Dancoe, chairman of the tournament, said that there were 21 boats that joined this year. “It was a successful event. We had 21 participants—two of which were from Guam. We just got over a nasty spell of weather in the area so we’re still happy with our showing.”

He added, “All the fishermen were happy. Congratulations to My Princess Jasmine and of course Ruby Reels for an outstanding performance at the 2nd Annual Elijah Craig Billfish Tournament.”

He then thanked their sponsor, Elijah Craig. “We’re looking forward to the third annual next year.”

The 2nd Annual Elijah Craig Billfish Tournament wraps up SFA’s derbies this year.