24th Saipan International Fishing tourney casts away this weekend

The 24th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament will push through this weekend and the Marianas Visitors Authority has confirmed that more than 50 boats will take part in the sporting event.

MVA’s Frank Tudela said that while the final number of boats that will take part in the competition will not be ready until Friday’s pre-registration, he is confident that the event will draw in excess of 50 boats.

Tournament activities officially get underway today, Aug. 8, with the aforementioned pre-registration from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Smiling Cove Marina.

Reel action starts the following day when the region’s best anglers cast off for the open seas in search of wahoo, mahi, tuna, and marlin bright and early at 6am on Aug. 9.

Twelve hours of trolling is all the anglers are allowed as the boats must be back to the marina with their respective catches no later than 6pm for consideration. The same times apply for Day 2 of the tournament on Aug. 10 but spectators will be at the docks to see the weigh-ins long before the 6pm deadline.

Launching points for both days are Sugar Dock, Smiling Cove Marina, and Garapan Fishing Base from 6am to 8am. After that, boats can only launch from the Smiling Cove Marina.

Organizer, Saipan Fishermen Association, will award prizes to the Top 3 in five categories—Bill Fish, Yellow Fin, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, and Skipjack.

In addition, a special prize of $10,000 will be given to the first participant to land a marlin weighing over 624.34 lbs.

The fishing tournament’s winners will be announced during the awards banquet set for Monday, Aug. 11, 6pm at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.

In keeping with tradition, the Department of Public Safety’s Boating Safety Unit will conduct Boat Safety Inspections prior to the tournament and all participants in need of a once over from the experts should contact Boating Safety at 664-9180 to make an appointment.

To obtain tournament applications, rules, and the official schedule of events, go to the Marianas Visitors Authority headquarters in San Jose or at Fishing Tackle in Susupe. For more information about the event, call Tudela or Ed Diaz at the MVA at 664-3200.

Other supporters of this year’s Saipan International Fishing Tournament are Division of Fish and Wildlife, MVA, Saipan Mayor’s Office, DFS Galleria Saipan, Island Apparel, SaipanCell Communications, Joeten Motors, MARPAC, and Pacific Trading Co.

Cabo Express reeled in the heaviest marlin last year when its crew caught a 288.50-lb. monster.

The crew of the Saint Patrick, meanwhile, topped the billfish category with the second-biggest marlin, which weighed 140.35 lbs.

An 18.20-lb. yellowfin tuna was netted by the Dr. V, while Leemetau’s crew caught a 23.30-lb. wahoo to claim the top honors in their respective divisions.

Seacraft Four I’s 6.25-lb. mahi-mahi was lone entry in the division and easily won first place, while LG Fish Dealer topped the skipjack category with a 14.05-lb catch.