Champions lauded, friends remembered

After back-to-back 12-hour days upon the seas, the roughly 200 participants, guests, and volunteers who made the 21st Saipan International Fishing Tournament a success gathered at the Aqua Resort Club poolside on Monday night to see the top anglers get their due for bagging the biggest fish and setting new records.

One by one, fishermen from throughout the region made their way to the stage to receive their trophies and prizes, but without a doubt the most anticipated award of the night was the Grand Prize awarded to the captain and crew of the two-time champion Charlie Cat.

Quang Ly and Jesus Cura took the stage with last year’s teammate Nguyen Hoa to receive the perpetual trophy for their tournament topping catch of a 422.40-lb. marlin to the repeat as the ace anglers.

When the winners were offered a chance to say a few words, many members of the crowd begged to hear their secret to catching the big fish.

“We hook them they same way that you do. We love the Saipan people they are pretty friendly people—especially the Tudela family. They always bring us lunch for the boat, the sinigang is pretty good, so that’s why we probably catch the big fish in Saipan. Biba Saipan,” said Jesus Cura.

Just like last year, the Charlie Cat was also the winner of the SaipanCell Side Bet to take home an additional $3,800 that will certainly make for a happy boat ride back to Guam.

A day earlier, Lawrence Concepcion and his crew from the Mari were only 30 minutes away from taking the top catch of the tournament, but they still were honored to walk away with $2,500 and the Governor’s Cup for the biggest non-Grand Prize wining billfish with a sizable 334. 22-lb. marlin they caught on the first day.

While the event was highlighted by a number of awards and congratulatory speeches given by the participants, members of the Saipan Fisherman’s Association took it in turn to recognize the loss of some of their fellow anglers.

Plaques were presented to the families and representatives of the current record holder for the Billfish Category and last year’s Mahi Mahi champion Danny Agulto, longtime angler Pete Atalig, former Grand Prize winner Jerry Perez, and former president of the Palau Fisherman’s Association Silas Orruken—all of whom recently passed away.

SFA president Juan San Nicolas made extra mention to them in his opening statements when he noted that the safety of the tournament was ensured by their friends.

“While their bodies were unable to join us upon the seas, we know their spirits were present to watch over all of this year’s participants from above to ensure the safety of their fellow fisherman throughout the weekend,” he said.