Over 50 boats each with four to six anglers on board sailed away for this year’s tournament vying for over $20,000 worth of prizes including a special prize of $10,000 for the first boat that will bring in a marlin weighing over 624.34 pounds.
Nobody however broke the record set a few years ago.
The grand prize winner in the tournament will bring home $2,500 and up to $2,000 cash prizes in different categories.
On the first of the tournament on Aug. 9, title holder Cabo Express landed 484 pounds of blue marlin. This almost doubled their winning catch last year which was only 288.5 pounds.
Hofschneider sailed to the ocean with anglers, Patrick Diaz, Louie Manibusan and Conrad Hofschneider.
They about 70 miles far using the same bait they had last year, when that big flash, 50 yard from their boat made them feel the’re going to win again.
“You can already tell from the initial flash of the water how big the catch is,” Hofschneider said.
It took them 30 minutes to pull in the 484 pounder from the bait to the boat.
With such weight of their catch, Hofschneider and his team had to deal with the situation underhanded.
Out of 52 boats that launched on Saturday, only 41 made it on time.
Hofschneider’s team was among those who beat the deadline.
Yesterday, the same number of boats came out again and almost half of them made it on time.
The five boats of anglers from Guam that participated include Split Decision, Emmanuel, Tao Tasi Nguyen Hoa and Consolation.
The boat that caught the next biggest catch was Cha Cha II that landed 277.5 blue marlin, followed by the anglers of boat CM-345-CP who caught 265 pounds, and I Familia with 226.5-pound blue marlin.
The tournament was spearheaded by Saipan Fishermen’s Association Inc., in with supports from Division of Fish and Wildlife, Marianas Visitors Authority and Mobil.
SFAI President Gene Weaver extends his heartfelt appreciation to the sponsors, and warmest welcome and thanks to all off-island participants especially those from Guam, Tinian and Rota.
