The crew of the boat Bella, captained by Justice Perry Inos, poses with their winning catch — a 255-pound blue marlin — at the conclusion of the Saipan Fishermen Association 3rd Annual Elijah Craig Bourbon Billfish Jackpot Tournament at Smiling Cove Marina on Saturday.
Contributed photo
BELLA, captained by Justice Perry Inos with anglers Dixie Inos and Carlos Rivera, went home $20,900 richer after topping the Saipan Fishermen Association 3rd Annual Elijah Craig Bourbon Billfish Jackpot Tournament with a 255-pound blue marlin hauled onto Smiling Cove Marina on Saturday.
The derby was a test of luck and skill, as an unlimited number of anglers were allowed on a boat in search of the biggest billfish eligible for the jackpot prize.
The tournament started at 6 a.m., and just under the three-hour mark, the boat Borrow Fan had already set the pace with a 254-pound blue marlin, nearly securing the prize.
Fortunately for the crew of Bella, they struck gold around 7 a.m., taking on the fight of their lives — a five-hour battle for the jackpot.
In an interview with Variety, anglers Dixie Inos and Carlos Rivera shared their experience. “The weather was good. We were able to strike early. It took us a while, and it was a challenge to find it before we had a five-hour fight,” Rivera stated. “The three of us had to work together to bring the catch onto the boat.” For Rivera, it was the biggest fish he had ever reeled in.
For Dixie Inos, it was the longest fight she had ever experienced, though she had caught other large marlins before. “Everyone had a goal, everyone had a role. Our mission was to get this blue marlin onto the boat with no missing parts,” she continued. “There was some uncertainty about the fish at first, but once it surfaced, we knew what we had.”
After weighing the catch, the SFA announced Bella as the winner. Perry Inos and the crew received a bottle of Elijah Craig and the $20,900 jackpot prize.
Rivera dedicated the win to the Inos family, and his own wife and children. Dixie said the victory was always for her family, thanking Rivera for his support in landing the winning catch.
