GAME FISHING. Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Francisco Jose “Bingo” F. Matugas (2nd from left) together with DOT-XIII Regional Director Ma. Ana T. Nuguid (5th from left), and Pilar town Mayor Atty. Maria Liza G. Resurreccion (left) led the opening ceremony of the 12th Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament on Thursday last week in Pilar, Surigao del Sur. (Alex D. Lopez/davaotoday.com)
PILAR, Surigao del Norte — Filipino professional anglers ruled the recently-concluded 12th Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament here.
William Que of Mandaue City in Cebu coming out as the overall champion of the annual water sports tournament garnering a total catch of 80.85 kilos.
The tournament opened on Thursday last week and concluded last Sunday, April 14.
Data from organizers of the tournament revealed Que’s records during the four-day tournament that includes 26.55, 17.45 and 20.80 kilos for Bill Fish Category; 6.60 kilos for Dorado Category; and, 9.45 kilos for Wahoo Category.
Fifty professional anglers coming from different parts of the world joined the tourney coming from eight countries including the Philippines, the Department of Tourism in Caraga Region (DOT-XIII) said.
These countries include Japan, Egypt, the US, Canada, Poland, Britain, New Zealand, and Singapore.
The opening ceremony of the tournament last week was led by Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Francisco Jose “Bingo” F. Matugas, together with DOT-XIII Regional Director Ma. Ana T. Nuguid, and Pilar town Mayor Atty. Maria Liza G. Resurreccion.
Three other Filipino anglers topped the various categories of the tournament.
Angler Buenaventura Guerzo, Jr. of Bacoor, Cavite topped the Bill Fish Category with 33.50 kilos catch, followed by Sotenes Aparente of Pilar, Surigao del Norte with 31.50 kilos, and Muhammad Aboushahin of Egypt with 30.40 kilos.
Dullfuss Nollora of Butuan City bagged the top post of Giant Trevalley Category with 6.00 kilos, followed by Paul Minor, Jr. of the USA with 4.10 kilos, and Noli Manas of the USA with 3.05 kilos.
In the other category, angler Martin Tan from General Santos City came out first with 13.00 of catch, followed by Inocencio Yncierto of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu with 7.50 kilos, and Dullfuss Nollora of Butuan City with 6.40 kilos.
Jose Mari Lonzon of Singapore was the winner of Dorado Category with a total catch of 9.60 kilos, followed by Paul Minor, Sr. of the USA with 8.50 kilos, and Greg Laude of the USA with 7.50 kilos.
Director Nuguid expressed confidence that more professional anglers from in the Philippines and other countries will continue to compete in the annual game fishing tourney in Siargao as she thanked the anglers who joined this year’s competition.
“DOT, with the support of the local government unit (LGU) of Surigao del Norte is actively promoting water sports activities in Siargao Island. This is to encourage tourists to participate in international events that we host here in Siargao,” Nuguid said. (davaotoday.com)
