Goru rules SFA fishing tourney

From left, Goru anglers Frankie Meno and Aaron Roberto and captain Frank Roberto pose with their winning catch, a 276-lb marlin, yesterday at the weigh station at Smiling Cove Marina during the last day of the 30th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

“We came to the dock empty handed last Saturday. This morning, Saipan fishermen advised us to check the Esmeralda Bank,” boat captain Frank Roberto said.

Roberto and his crew, which includes his 12-year-old son Aaron and friend Frankie Meno, picked up the prized catch north of Esmeralda Bank at around 3pm and brought it to the weigh station at the Smiling Cove Marina around 5pm.

“We got an almost similar big marlin last Saturday, but we lost it. This time, we did not let that unfortunate thing to happen. We thank Saipan fisherman for their tip about the good spot to catch big marlins,” added the older Roberto, who donated the winning catch to the event’s awards banquet in honor of his Saipan-born grandfather Goru.

A crane was needed to haul Goru’s winning marlin, which came a few minutes after Tinian’s Marlin Chasers’ catch hit the scale and registered 269lbs. Marlin Chasers’ marlin was longer (between seven and eight feet long) than Goru’s, but the latter’s was wider and beefier.

Marlin Chasers found its gems in the reef at the Chalan Kanoa area also around 3pm. Captain Bob Taguchi had anglers Gary Peterson and Tim Chen helping him out bring the catch out of the water.

Yesterday’s two 200-plus marlin surpassed the 169.15 caught by Day 1 leader Regulator and the 2013 winning catch of Luka & Ben. Luka & Ben, who reeled in a 221.5-lb marlin to beat more than 40 boats for the grand prize, came in at second after last Saturday’s competition, as it reached the dock with its 149.65-lb catch.

Guam’s Emmanuel, which holds the record of the heaviest catch in the tournament with its mammoth 942-lb marlin in 2012, breaking the 14-year-old record of Love Boat (624.34 lbs/1997) and bringing home a bonus $10,000 cash, was without a big catch in Day 1 of the competition. The Guam boat skippered by Mike James was seen docking at Smiling Cove Marina about 30 minutes before the 6pm cutoff time and results of its final day hunt were unavailable at press time.

Meanwhile, 60 boats joined the two-day competition and winners in the various categories will be announced in tonight’s awards banquet at the Pacific Islands Club. The Top 3 finishers in the marlin, yellowfin and skipjack tuna, wahoo, and mahi will be awarded with trophies and other prizes. The grand prize winner (Goru) and the total weight winner will also get recognition in tonight’s awards ceremony.