Olympic/San Juan rules Mahi Derby

Olympic/San Juan anglers pose with Saipan Fishing Association president Gene Weaver, right, and Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero after winning the 15th Mahi Mahi Fishing Derby last Saturday at the Smiling Cover Marina. (Jon Perez)

Olympic/San Juan bested 29 other boats to rule the 15th Annual Mahi Fishing Derby last Saturday.

The crew of Olympic/San Juan caught a mahi that weighed 18.7lbs, which was a little over five pounds lighter than last year’s winner K-Fisher of captain Tak Nakazato. Olympic/San Juan won the $1,000 top prize that also included a $500 gift certificate from Fishing Tackle.

Trophy/10-7 came in at second place again with a catch that weighed 18.3 lbs to settle for the $500 cash prize and $200 Fishing Tackle gift certificate. The same crew caught a 21.25-lb mahi last year. Pastime III was third with a mahi that tipped the scales at 18.2 lbs and it brought home $400 cash and the $100 gift certificate from Fishing Tackle.

Victoria, captained by former lieutenant governor Diego Benavente, returned to the Smiling Cove Marina dock just in time for the 5pm cutoff, but came in tied for fourth place with K-Fisher II. Both caught a 17.8-lb mahi.

A side bet for the heaviest wahoo was also held with 28 of the 30 boats joining at $50 each for a total prize money of $1,400. There was only one winner for the side bet—M/V Gloria II. After missing the win for the heaviest mahi with its 15.4-lb catch, M/V Gloria II won the side bet after reeling in a monster wahoo that weighed 39.5lbs.

Pastime III was at far second at 18.3 lbs while Gready White came in third at 18.1 lbs. Le’ana Vae (18.0), Zeppelin II (16.1), K-Fisher (15.8), Carmelita II (15.3), Olympic/San Juan (14.3), and Villa Marie (12.7) were the other boats that joined the Wahoo side bet.

Meanwhile, the organizing Saipan Fishing Association, in cooperation with the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance, gave Joey Cruz, George Moses, and Randy Sablan $100 each (Joeten gift certificates) as they were named marine debris winners.

SFA president Gene Weaver thanked MINA, represented by Daniel Kaipat and Kaiza Lucido, for partnering with them with the project.

“This is SFA’s little way of cleaning up our ocean, which goes in with MINA’s mission. For their [Cruz, Moses, Sablan] efforts in cleaning up our waters, we congratulate them in removing as many man-made debris floating in our waters,” Weaver said.

After the Mahi Derby, up next for SFA is the Saipan International Fishing Derby in July where anglers from nearby islands also compete.