Birthday haul nets Jolene first place

It was a birthday gift unlike any other for birthday boy Luther Taylor, angler for Jolene in the Inaugural Tasi To Table’s CNMI “Reel Heroes” International Fishing Derby last Saturday, as he hauled in the first place 101-lb. marlin.

Their first-place catch made them $3,000 richer, as they celebrated Taylor’s birthday, and honored a veteran aboard, Chico Reyes.

Second place and $2,000 went to Rose I captained by Juan Tenorio and Melvin Tenorio with their 72-lb. marlin. The side bet winner was 6.2 lbs. off the boat Sea Folly captained by John Stewart.

In the awards ceremony at the Smiling Cove Marina, Jolene captain Alex Sablan said that birthday boy Taylor, who turned 32 that day, called it before the derby that he would reel in a marlin for his birthday, and that he did later in the day.

Sablan then thanked Tasi to Table for putting on the first CNMI “Reel Heroes” International Fishing Derby; thanked the real heroes—U.S. military veterans, and thanked his crew, Amanda Hayes, his wife Jolene, who the boat is named after, and Jeff Taylor and Luther Taylor.

“Thank you again to everyone and we’re happy to win,” said Sablan. As for the weather throughout the derby, he said, “It was pretty nasty, but it was fun.”

Tasi to Table president Gene Weaver said in an interview after the ceremony that “overall, the support was amazing.”

The derby, he said, was for veterans. Also last Saturday, the U.S. celebrated Armed Forces Day. During the derby, there was supposed to be a commemorative fly-over, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it was canceled.

As for the unpredictable weather, Weaver said that the waters were “a little choppy, but it was fishable. The only time I’m going to postpone a tournament is if there was a Small Craft Advisory.”

“I thank all of my sponsors who came in and supported this event,” said Weaver. The derby was for catching billfish only, with only two boats catching marlins—hence only first and second place. “We wanted to start small, and gradually grow so next year it’ll be a lot bigger.”

Sponsors of the derby were the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, Black Micro Corp., Saipan Mayor’s Office, Budweiser, KKMP, Saipan Select, and JEM Co. Ltd. Mobil Station.