In the team category, s
Scott Russell, an old time spearfisher and Peter Houk a marine biologist both of Saipan won the championship as they together speared 72.92 lbs of different bottom fishes like parrot fish, blue shade trevaly and skip jack tuna.
The second annual competition spearheaded by Marianas Apnea Spearfishing Club drew 42 participants at the launching are at the Smiling Cove Marina, according to the group’s president, Morito Asai.
During the launching of the first tournament last year, there were only 26 divers who competed.
Catching a total of 47.40 pounds of different bottom fishes, Genereux topped the individual contestants in weight category beating Saipan’s Jess Hapdei who placed second for 47 lbs catch, and Russell third, for 45.22 lbs.
Genereux won $300 cash and a trophy.
Hapdei partnered with Marianas Apnea Spearfishing Club vice president Felix Sasamoto Jr., in the 2002 Micronesian Games spearfishing competition while Russell is one of the long time spearfishing habitués on Saipan and the oldest among participants.
Russell and Houk won $300 cash and a trophy.
Togetherm, they beat Guam’s Genereux and Myles Driscoll who placed second for 62.70 lbs, and brothers James and Ken Borja also of Guam, who caught 61.78 lbs for the third place.
James Borja is the president of Muff Divers in Guam.
There were four teams from Guam who participated in the whole-day competition.
Houk partnered with Russell winning last year’s competition in the team category for the heaviest weight category said the tournament was very well run as all the divers had excellent time with a lot of volunteer doing a good job maintaining the safety of all competing divers.
Scott Moen caught the biggest fish that weighs 24.10 pounds.
Last year’s winner in the biggest fish category was John Starmer.
For consolation prizes, Brian Fritzgerald caught the biggest parrot fish that weights, 4.24 lbs; Mike Lizama, 4.66-pound Trevally; Cliff Sabo, 3.14-pound rudder fish; Felix Sasamoto, 1.5-pound black snapper; Ton Roberts, 4-44-pound Sweetlips and 1.08 goat fish; Nick Gross, 5-14-pound Unicorn fish, Dan Repeki 2.64-pound grouper and Frank Pangelinan, 3.26-pound Emperor.
Competitors limit there area in the waters around Saipan, except in the island’s sanctuaries and dive spots. The fish had to weight a minimum of one pound to be counted in for the tournament.
Holding spearfishing competition, according to Asai promotes latest safety tips, conservation and technique of fishing, and Marianas Apnea Spearfishing Club will continue to do this not only for present but also for the next generations.
Sasamoto said they now plan to make next year’s tournament one notch higher, as the Marianas Visitors Authority expressed desire to make it an international competition.
The spearfishing club wants to thank all is supporters, volunteers and the fishermen who participated especially the Department of Public Safety’s Boating Safety, the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Marianas Visitors Authority and Senators Luis Crisostimo and Maria Frica T. Pangelinan.
The officers and members appreciate MarPac-Budweiser, Palms Resort Saipan, Saipan Fishermen’s Association, Aquarius Beach Tower, Fishing Tackle, Ren’s Restaurant, Moomin-Mura Restaurant, Asin’s Fish Mart and its fishermen, Johnny’s Bar &Grill, Hawaiian Skin Diver and Aimrite Hawaii.
