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Team Salty Bandits captures Mike’s Cup
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Posted on Aug 29 2022
The Salty Bandits crew, consisting of captain Masaki Kitami, Joey Tudela, Austin Benavente, and Kalama Fernandez, poses with their winnings and the Mike’s Cup trophy after the 4th Annual Mafuti Derby at the Saipan Lagoon last Saturday. (LEIGH GASES)
Salty Bandits won the total weight category of this year’s 4th Annual Mafuti Derby hosted by ISLA or The I Sanhalom Laguna Anglers Association held last Saturday at the waters inside Saipan Lagoon.
Captain Masaki Kitami, crew members Joey Tudela, Austin Benavente, and Kalama Fernandez won the Mike’s Cup with their 6.35-lb catch and also took home the side bet winnings of $700 for their total catch of 9.40 lbs.
Team Ri, captained by George Moses, won the biggest catch category with their 5.2-lb mafuti. In second place was dethroned three-time champion Edward Diaz and crew of the Nibbler who came up with a 4.25-lb mafuti. Third place was Martin Camacho and crew of Chaw Me Naw with a 2.8-lb haul.
After being presented their awards, a clearly excited Kitami told Saipan Tribune “really feel blessed” and “it’s an honor” winning. He added that it took time for them to win the top prize after joining all four derbies but “eventually we conquered what we wanted to accomplish.”
When asked what he and the crew will do with their prizes, they all yelled “celebrate!”
Kitami, a 22-year-old CNMI resident and recreational fisherman, has been fishing for the past eight years. He said they will join next year’s derby and “hopefully [win] next year again.”
He then thanked ISLA and Island Image and Motion “for giving us all these blessed awards.”
ISLA was established in 2018 by a group of anglers that treat fishing as a way of life. The Mafuti Derby is restricted to the waters inside the Saipan lagoon and participating boats can’t exceed 17 feet in length.
