Robalo breaks yellowfin record

Captain Ivan Ilmov and deckhand Christbino Rapugpai pose with their record-breaking 125.5-lb yellowfin tuna in last Saturday’s 38th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament at the Smiling Cove Marina. (SFA)

Captain Ivan Ilmov and the crew of Robalo is the new record-holder for heaviest yellowfin tuna after reeling in a 125.5-pounder last Saturday in the  38th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament.

Caught near Banzai Cliff after a close to 45-minute struggle, the prized yellowfin was caught by Ilmov and his seven-man crew made up of Christbino Rapugpai, Albert Emananpiy, Jeff Morgexa, Jordan Tagabuel, Henry Maliuwelau, Mano Piyalal, and Walter Paulus.

Due to high gas prices, this year’s edition of the premiere event  of the Saipan Fishermen’s Association has been reduced to one day and Ilmov and company made the most of it.

However, it almost didn’t happen as the crew aboard Robalo were about ready to give up after the fish weren’t biting in the first few hours of the abbreviated derby.

“[We] went all the way to Pakapaka early in the morning and [went] back to Banzai and Suicide cliffs and we almost gave up…It’s the end of the morning and when you don’t catch anything before lunch you’re done,” Ilmov told Saipan Tribune.

Captain Ivan Ilmov and the crew of Robalo pose for a group shot during last Saturday’s 38th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament at the Smiling Cove Marina. (MARK RABAGO)

Fortunately, hope springs eternal and thanks to Rapugpai and Maliuwelau, the crew of Robalo hit the jackpot when the record-setting yellowfin finally took their shrimp bait.

It didn’t go without a fight though, as Ilmov and Rapugpai said the fighting fish almost exhausted their line before finally yielding.

“It’s pretty hard because it came close to cutting our line and run away. We have over 1,200 feet of line and the fish already exhausted 900 feet of it when it went under our boat,” said Ilmov. 

In all, all six of the crew took turns holding the rod and pulling  the fishing line for nearly 45 minutes. Rapugpai said he knew from the get-go that it was a yellowfin and it was a monster.

Ilmov was emotional after breaking the reportedly 10-year record.

“First time in my life that I’m joining the derby with my friends…Before I went out with other boats. This is my boat… [I’m] dedicating the record to my family, especially my crew members who I regard also as family,” he said.

With the 125.5-lb catch, Robalo unofficially wins the Paradise Dental Spa-sponsored heaviest yellowfin award.

In other awards, listed on the leaderboard were Rose 1 for the MarPac-sponsored heaviest marlin (135.1 lbs), MV Tivanna for the Docomo Pacific-sponsored heaviest wahoo (22.9 lbs), 10-7 # 2 for the TSL Foundation-sponsored heaviest mahi (3.6 lbs), and San Juan for the Steven Brownstein-sponsored heaviest skipjack (18.12 lbs). As of press time, there is still no winner of the Mobil Oil Marianas-sponsored total weight category.

In all, 88 boats took part in the 38th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament with about 20 of them steaming from Guam, Rota, and Tinian.