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Saipan continues to prepare for tournament
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Posted on May 12 2006
The Saipan Fisherman’s Association returned to the drawing table Thursday afternoon as local anglers met at the Town & Country Restaurant in Gualo Rai to discuss the plans for the 22nd Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament.
Just a week after announcing the dates for the longest running event in the region, the SFA discussed the early responses from local businesses to their solicitation letters and focused on maintaining momentum during the push for sponsors.
Last Thursday, the SFA unveiled its plan to host the finest anglers in the Pacific on Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2. The historic tournament continued to attract crowds of spectators to the massive scale at the Smiling Cove Marina last year, and organizers expect to see more of the same in 2006.
This time around the planners have settled on the July date as opposed to the holding the spectacular in August because they are looking to avoid the postponements that have plagued the tournament for the past couple of years.
According to veteran angler Diego Benavente, the calm waters of July combined with the ideal moon phases should provide for some of the best fishing that the tournament has seen for some time, so spectators should come to the scales with cutting boards and soy sauce in hand.
Organizers also hope that the schedule will attract a large contingent from Guam, and initial reports indicate that the anglers from the south will be coming in full force. Last year there were 98 boats trolling the waters around Saipan, and the goal is to top that number this year.
In order to host the finest event possible, the SFA is calling upon its members and the business community to show their support as in years past, and organizers are already preparing solicitation letters to get the ball rolling as soon as possible.
For more information about the 22nd International Fishing Tournament, contact Frank Tudela at the Marianas Visitors Authority by calling 664-3210. To become a sponsor of the tournament, contact John Guerrero by calling 483-5726.
