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Former champs join fishing tourney
Two former champions from Guam will be among those crowding for the overall title when the two-day 31st Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament kicks off this weekend at the Smiling Cove Marina.
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- Captain John Hattig, second left, and captain Mike James, third right, and their crew enjoy a light moment after arriving at the Smiling Cove Marina in time for this weekend’s 31st Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament. (Contributed Photo)
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- Captain George Quichocho, far right, and the crew of the Angela Gale take a break after arriving on Saipan on Thursday. Quichocho and his crew made the northern trip to join the 31st Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament. (Contributed Photo)
The opening is on Saturday and anglers will have one more day to reel in what could be the tournament’s biggest catch on Sunday.
Boats head off to find the heaviest fish at 6am and must be at Smiling Cove Marina by 6pm on both days for their catch to be weighed and be listed as official entries for the tournament.
Captain Mike James and his crew of the Emmanuel and his counterpart John Hattig with his crew arrived on Saipan Wednesday morning.
Hattig will be the captain of Goru this time after boat owner Frank Roberto is currently in the Philippines for vacation and rest.
Hattig, who have won top prizes in the Mahi Mahi and Wahoo categories of previous Saipan Fishing Association events, will try to defend Roberto’s overall title.
In last year’s edition, Roberto and his 12-year-old son Aaron ruled the fishing tournament after reeling in a 276-lb marlin.
Team Goru will have James and the Emmanuel crew as one of its top opponents after a record-breaking feat in the 2012 edition.
James and his crew fought for three hours before reeling in a 942-lb Pacific Blue Marlin to win the grand prize that year. They took home a total cash prize of $14,600 for that record-breaking marlin.
The Emmanuel broke the previous marlin record of 624.34 lbs caught by Captain Danny Agulto in 1997.
Another Guam entry, captain George Quichocho and the crew of the Angela Gale arrived Thursday morning.
Organizers are expecting more participants from Guam, Rota, and Tinian to arrive today to pre-register their boats at the Smiling Cove Marina.
The Marianas Visitors Authority, Docomo Pacific, Century Insurance, Mobil Oil Marianas, Budweiser, Pacifica Insurance Underwriters Inc., Yamaha/Joeten Motors, T Galleria, Coca Cola/Foremost, and the Division of Fish and Wildlife are the tournament sponsors.
For more information, call Martin Duenas, at the MVA at 6643200 or the SFA committee at 483-8425.
