By Kyle Terwilliger
Variety News Staff

THE 17th Annual Sports Fishing Tournament is set to get underway in the upcoming weeks as competitors will compete for the Etpison Cup and the $10,000 grand prize.
The Tournament is set to begin May 27th and will be a two day event with the tournament ending on the 28th.
Fishing times will run from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm both days.
The tournament is broken down into five different classes in which competitors will compete.
The first category is that of the Billfish in which competitors who catch a Billfish over 501 pounds will be in the running for the $10,000 grand prize. For fish caught less than 501 pounds there will be a first, second, and third place prize with first collecting $2,000, second will receive $1,500, and third will get $1,000 dollars.
The Billfish category will have the highest payout, but there are four other categories including: Tuna (Yellowfin, Dogtooth, and Bluefin), Wahoo, Barracuda/Spanish Mackerel, and Mahi with the cash prizes going in the amount of $1,000 for first place, $700 for second place, and $500 for third. Registration will run $50 per team with each team getting a five man crew. Each additional crew member will cost $10.
All teams must attend a team briefing at the Drop Off Bar & Grill on Thursday, May 24 at 5:00 pm. The team briefing will go over the prohibited gears, correct fish handling, conservation practices, and will go over the “no fishing zones.”
The tournament is being hosted by the Palau Sport Fishing Association and for registration forms contact Yalap Yalap at 488-3993.