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Monster 70.5-lb wahoo breaks record
Crew of the boat Le’Ana Vae with captain Elvin Masga, second left, pose with the monster 70.5-lb wahoo that won them the side bet $2,200 prize in the Saipan Fishermen’s Association 19th Annual Mahi Fishing Derby at the Smiling Cove Marina on Saturday. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Elvin Masga caught a monster 70.5-lb record-breaking wahoo during the Saipan Fishermen’s Association 19th Annual Mahi Fishing Derby at the Smiling Cove Marina on Saturday.
Aboard his boat the Le’Ana Vae, captain Masga and crew won $2,200 in the side bet of the derby with the catch.
Le’Ana Vae was the only boat registered from Tinian during the derby.
The prize was second only to the $2,500 first place prize that went to the biggest mahi (26.2 lbs) caught by Keith O. Torres in the 10-7.
Masga told Saipan Tribune after the derby, “The team of the Le’Ana Vae and I are extremely happy and honored to know that we now hold the record for biggest wahoo, as well as breaking the record.”
The whopping wahoo obliterated the record held by MV Gloria and captain John T. Sablan who caught a 54-lb wahoo in 2008 during that year’s Saipan International Fishing Tournament.
SFA president Tony Scragg said about the wahoo, “It set a new record, not just for the mahi [derby] but for the international fishing derby as well—we haven’t seen a wahoo that big, so it’s definitely a record.”
“Today’s derby was fantastic. The mahi and wahoo were biting,” said Scragg about the derby.
Sponsors of the derby were MarPac and Budweiser and Tan Holdings—both celebrating 50 years of business and community contributions to the CNMI. Fishing Tackle and YCO True Value Hardware also gave in-kind contributions.
The derby was originally set for March 25, but due to inclement weather, the SFA decided to postpone it for a week to April 1.
The SFA’s 39th Saipan International Fishing Tournament is set for July 22 to 23, 2023.
Last year, the 38th Saipan International Fishing Tournament champion was Rose 1 with a 135.1 lbs marlin.
