Only Reels’ 211-lb marlin wins grand prize

It seems that 40 is the lucky number in this year’s Saipan Fishermen’s Association 40th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament, as 40-year-old captain Aaron Benavente of Only Reels hauled in the heaviest catch—a 211-lb marlin during the two-day tourney last weekend at the Smiling Cove Marina.

In the 40th year of the tourney, Benavente, who also celebrated his 40th year around the sun this year, caught the winning haul—his only reel of the day—last Sunday, around 10:30am off the waters of Marpi Reef.

He said that they were about to pack it up and leave the reef, but he and his cousin Jesse Ramon—just the two of them on a 17-footer—decided to put out a big lure to see if they could catch anything.

The marlin was then caught which ensued a fight that lasted for about 30-40 minutes—and became the heaviest catch of the tourney, much to Benavente’s surprise. “When we brought it into the boat, we were hoping to at least be a contender—maybe third or second, but when we came in and it weighed what it was, we were like ‘okay—we’re sitting at first,’” said Benavente.

With that, he said, “I’m just happy that it’s first; all I want is the trophy—doesn’t matter what place—but if I got the grand, then I’m happy.” He also said that this is just the second marlin he’s ever caught and that it’s fortunate that it was during this year’s tournament.

The conditions Sunday, he said, were worse than the first day last Saturday. With just him and his cousin on the small boat, he said they just had to take it easy. “It was rough out there—that’s all I gotta say—but everything’s worth it.”

Benavente said that he’s been joining the previous international derbies in the past and even during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said before he had his boat, he was a crewmember on the boat MV Gloria. “Ever since I got my own boat though, I’ve been going out on my own,” he said.

He then thanked his crew, his family, and everyone that supported him. He also thanked the organizers of the event, the sponsors, and the anglers from Guam that came out to support the tourney.

Tournament sponsors are the Marianas Visitors Authority, Mobil Oil Marianas, Budweiser, Docomo Pacific, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Paradise Dental, Hawaiian Rock Products, Matson Navigation, Coca Cola/Foremost, Pacifica Insurance, Century Insurance, RNV Construction, Bridge Capital Investments, United Management International, JEM Mobile Stations, Fishing Tackle & Sporting Goods Store, Pacific Basin Insurance, and Tinian Shipping.

The rest of the fish categories—Bill Fish (1st-3rd), Yellow Fin (1st-3rd), Wahoo (1st-3rd), Mahi Mahi (1st-3rd), Skipjack Tuna (1st-3rd), and total weight will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.