CARMELITA II claimed the $3,000 first prize in the Tasi To Table’s 1st Annual Mix Classic fishing derby on Saturday, hauling in a marlin and wahoo that weighed a total of 178.3lbs.
Carmelita II captain Alexandro Castro, with anglers Jeremy Koshiro and Reynaldo “Balong” Fiel, reeled in a total of three fishes — two wahoos and a marlin — in the waters near Goat Island.
In an interview, Koshiro said the 20.3-pound wahoo was caught at 7:30 a.m. and was followed by a second wahoo at around 11 a.m. Then at around 2 p.m., the crew fought with a marlin for 20 minutes before reeling in the 158-pound fish.
Carmelita II also won the $850 side bet for catching the heaviest fish.
In second place was Little Missy which received $2,000. Captained by George David who was with anglers Lawrence Fleming and Jessstin Laniyo, they hauled in a spearfish weighing 29.8lbs and a yellowfin that weighed 30.3lbs for a total weight of 60.1lbs.
In third place was Handline II which received $1,000. Its captain, Max Mogar, caught a wahoo weighing 33.9lbs and a yellow fin tuna weighing 6.9lbs for a total weight of 40.8lbs.
In fourth place was Mako which received $700. Captained by Jeff and Jamin Elliott, who were assisted by Nick Gross, Micah Page, James Eller and John Matthews, they brought in a yellow fin tuna weighing 13.3lbs and a wahoo weighing 19lbs for a total weight of 32.3lbs.
“It was a great event even though the numbers were not what we expected,” said Tasi To Table President Gene Weaver. “It was a fun and exciting tournament. I was impressed with the fish that came in.”
Twenty-four boats entered the derby.
“This is what it’s about, a family outing,” Weaver added. “It’s good to see people coming and joining in for the first time.”
The 1st Annual Mix Classic was organized by Tasi to Table or TTT which aims to hold regular fishing tournaments.
Proceeds from the tournaments benefit TTT, a 501(c)3 non-profit group which implements youth programs with the Public School System.
The 1st Annual Mix Classic focused on targeted pelagic fish species. To qualify their catch, the participating boats must include a combination of the qualifying pelagic species: billfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi mahi and skipjack tuna. The combined weight of the two different pelagic species selected by each team determined the winner. Two of the same species did not qualify.
TTT said it would like to recognize and thank the following sponsors: Fishing Tackle & Sporting Goods, Marpac, FJR Enterprises, Wespac, KKMP, MVA, UR TENTS, Island Image & Motion, Roil Soil and the Department of Public Works.
The crew of Carmelita II, which finished first, poses for a photo with Tasi To Table officials at the conclusion of the 1st Annual Mix Classic on Saturday at Smiling Cove Marina.
The crew of Little Missy, which finished second, poses for a photo with Tasi To Table officials at the conclusion of the 1st Annual Mix Classic on Saturday at Smiling Cove Marina.
The crew of Handline II, which finished third, poses for a photo with Tasi To Table officials at the conclusion of the 1st Annual Mix Classic on Saturday at Smiling Cove Marina.
The crew of Mako, which finished fourth, poses for a photo with Tasi To Table officials at the conclusion of the 1st Annual Mix Classic on Saturday at Smiling Cove Marina.
