All set for kids fishing derby this Sunday

Attention, youthful anglers. Oil your reels, replace your old hooks and replenish your bait boxes as the 6th Annual International Children’s Fishing Derby gets underway this Sunday, July 18.

The sporting event, the only one of its kind in the CNMI, will drop anchor from 1:30pm to 4:30pm just off the waters of Managaha Island.

Novice fishermen are expected to harvest a variety of reef fish that includes mafuti, snappers, tarakito and groupers.

Open to a maximum of 22 participants, the derby will award prizes to the following categories: Most fish, longest fish, and most variety.

Event organizer J.M. Guerrero said the purpose of the fishing derby for kids is to introduce children to the activity of sport fishing and to promote friendship among locals and tourists alike.

He said a considerable number of Japanese kids are expected to join the event and enrich their experience of the Northern Marianas with the fishing derby.

Local kids will also get some pleasure from this fishing adventure, as they would get an opportunity to relive how their forefathers gathered the plentiful riches of the sea, Guerrero also noted.

He said parents would also be able to give their children a summer activity like no other by having them participate in the fishing derby.

Beginners need not worry about bombing out on their first fishing competition either, Guerrero assured. He said fishing instructors would be on hand to accompany the kids during the trip and provide them with invaluable tips before, during, and even after the derby.

The kid who reels in the most number of fish takes home a $50 school supply gift certificate and a Saipanda backpack. Second place in the category gets a $25 school supply gift certificate, a $15 ice cream gift certificate, and a Saipanda backpack, while third place wins a $10 school supply gift certificate, a $10 ice cream gift certificate, and a Saipanda backpack.

Winners of the longest fish and most variety category also net the same type of in-kind prizes from the organizer and sponsors.

The fishing derby is open to children of all nationalities between 7-12 years old. It will also require a $5 entrance fee. Deadline for submission of entries will be tomorrow, July 16.

Participants will be using the Sea Star Boat docked at the Sea Plane Romp for their one-of-a-kind fishing experience. Check-in time for the event is exactly at 12:15pm with organizers holding the briefing from 12:30pm to 1pm. Departure time to the site of the fishing competition is set at exactly 1:30pm.

Those interested can pick up their application forms at JM & Associates Office at Fina Sisu with telephone no. 234-3533; fax no. 234-2138 or at the Fish & Wildlife Office with telephone nos. 664-6000.

Other event contacts are Ray Roberto of the Fish and Wildlife Office, Martin Duenas of the Marianas Visitors Authority, and Yoichi Matsumura of Pacific Development Inc.

The 6th Annual Children’s Fishing Derby is sponsored by the MVA, PDI, CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife, Sea Star, Inc., Shell Marianas, Dollar Rent-A-Car, Ebisuya, R&C Tours (Saipan), Inc., Hula Girl Ice Cream, Lt. Governor Diego Benavente, the 14th CNMI Legislature, and the Saipan Tribune.