SFA’s 20th Mahi Fishing Derby this Saturday

The Saipan Fishermen’s Association 20th Mahi Fishing Derby is set for this Saturday, March 2, at the Smiling Cove Marina from 6am to 5pm, with the awards ceremony right after.

Registration is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, March 1, from 4pm to 6pm. Prize for first place is $2,500, second receives $1,500, and third place gets $1,000. Fourth and fifth place gets in-kind prizes.

Curtis Dancoe, SFA chairman, said that this year’s derby is special because not only is it the 20th annual derby, but it’s also the first derby of the year organized by SFA.

The mahi derby is usually scheduled in either March or April because, Dancoe, said the mahi are here in our waters. “They’re here waiting for the derby. They’re out there and you can tell just by the catches that are coming in. They’re medium sized, but by the time the derby comes, they’re going to be even bigger,” said Dancoe in an interview two weeks ago.

He said of the upcoming derby, “We should see some exciting record-breaking catches.”

The last derby was postponed a few times until it was staged last April 1, and when asked if the weather forecast for this year’s derby is looking good, SFA president Tony Scragg said, “It may be a little bumpy—who knows. But we want to hold the derby while the mahi is still here. “

SFA is anticipating about 64 boats. “It all depends on the weather. The good thing about the mahi is that you don’t need to go far. You can go right outside the channel and hook mahi there. The registration this year is the lowest—$100—that gets you a captain and an angler. Plus $25 gets you an extra angler,” added Dancoe.

“We want to invite everyone to come out and take pictures of the fish,” said Dancoe.

Last year, 52 boats participated, with first place won by the boat 10-7 captained by Keith Torres with their 26.2-lb catch; second was the boat Ka Fish On with a 22.2-lb mahi captained by Manuel Mogar; and third was the boat Victoria with a 22-lb haul captained by Diego Benavente.

The $2,200 side bet was won by the Le’Ana Vae with their monster 70.5-lb wahoo.