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Team RJ clinches top spot of Mafuti Derby
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Posted on Aug 30 2022
RJ Rasiang of Team RJ holds his winning 5.2-lb mafuti during the 4th Annual Mafuti Derby organized by ISLA last Saturday in the waters of the Saipan Lagoon. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
After an exciting and sun-soaked weekend outing off the waters of the Saipan Lagoon, Team RJ conquered the top spot with the single biggest catch of a 5.2-lb mafuti in last Saturday’s 4th Annual Mafuti Derby organized by ISLA or The I Sanhalom Laguna Anglers Association.
Team RJ was captained by George Moses, manager of Joeten Hafa Adai Shopping Center. He was joined in the boat by his wife Candelaria and grandson and young fisherman, RJ, or Reyong John Moses Rasiang, who their team is named after.
In second place of the biggest catch category was dethroned three-time champion Edward Diaz and crew of the Nibbler who came up with a 4.25-lb mafuti. Third place was Martin Camacho and crew of Chaw Me Naw with a 2.8-lb haul.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune, Moses credits his 8-year-old young fisherman and grandson, RJ, a student of Oleai Elementary School, for their “luck” in winning this year’s derby. Moses said that their crew has joined every Mafuti Derby thus far and has always been behind the “master” fisherman Edward Diaz and his crew. However, for this year, his grandson “got lucky” and he and his family are “very proud of him.”
RJ was taught how to fish at the young age of 3 years old and now has 4 years of experience with fishing. Moses said they will be joining next year’s Mafuti Derby again but that “there’s not much expectations. We just participate and hope to win… That’s all. [It’s] anybody’s game. The fish doesn’t choose who to win—it’s a sport of luck. Fishing to me is 50% knowledge. You have to know how, 30% equipment, and 20% luck. Without all three, you can’t catch fish.”
Moses thanked ISLA, saying that the derby is a “good community program and you can take children out. The ISLA committee has done an outstanding job and had a lot of volunteers to do a successful Mafuti Derby.”
