PILAR, Siargao Island — Filipino anglers manifested their mastery of game fishing as they dominated the 10th Siargao World Game Fishing Tournament.
The event, which started Thursday and ended Sunday afternoon, was joined by at least 60 professional anglers from around the world, including the USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, UK, Mexico, Germany and Spain.
Filipino angler Rico Gueco had the highest overall catch in the three-day tourney, garnering a total catch of 93.20 kilograms (kg). He received PHP30,000 in prize.
Gueco’s catches include a 23.15 kg sailfish, a 17.50 kg tuna, a 6.20 kg wahoo, a 5.00 kg wahoo, a 10.85 kg tuna, a 5.40 kg Dorado and 25.10 kg sailfish.
For main Biggest Sailfish category, Filipino angler Elmer Causing won the champion’s trophy and cash prize of PHP60,000.
Causing’s sailfish catch reached 31.95 kg followed by Ryan Damaso with 30.30 kg and Emil Santos with 29.40 kg.
Rico Elimano, Causing’s boatman, also received a separate prize of PHP30,000.
As a rule, every angler must contract a local fisherman from Pilar town who will serve as boatman and guide while fishing in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean.
In the Biggest Giant Trevally (Talikitok) Category, it was Filipino angler Leo Yosalina who came out victorious with his 6.20 kg catch followed by American angler Noli Manas with 5.55 kg and and Dave Karl Kintanar of the Philippines with 4.20 kg.
Yosalina received PHP40,000 while his boatman, Juan Bosito, received PHP20,000.
In the Biggest Giant Tanguige Category, it was Filipino angler Marfin Tan who was declared winner with his 12.95 kg catch followed by Jovy Ancheta, also of the Philippines with 9.50 kg and Carlos Kintanar with 8.30 kg.
Tan received PHP40,000 while his boatman, Lanie Blacanda received PHP20,000.
In the Biggest Dorado Category, Marfin Tan was again declared winner with 12.30-kilo catch; followed by Richard Sharpe of Canada with 5.65-kilo catch; and Rico Gueco with 5.40 catch.
Tan’s boatman, Blacanda, again received a separate PHP20,000 prize for the category.
In the last category, dubbed as “Biggest Others” that exclude shark, stingray, popper fish, dolphin, lumba and turtles, Jeaza Gonzales from the Philippines came out as winner with his 17.90 kg catch followed by Rico Gueco with 17.50 kg and Mico Kawai of the Philippines with 15.30 kg.
Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas extended her congratulations to the winners.
She also commended the local government of Pilar and the organizers for the successful conduct of the international event this year.
Pilar town are headed by Mayor Maria Liza G. Resurreccion and Vice Mayor Luis T. Gonzales, who also served as the tournament director.
Matugas also expressed gratitude to the anglers from other countries for their participation and encouraged them to come back next year for another round of international game fishing. ALEXANDER LOPEZ/PNA-northboundasia.com