Fishing

It was 287 participants on more than a hundred yachts which were the main characters during four days, making the entire Bay of Banderas vibrate with emotion while Puerto Vallarta captured the attention of the world!
 
This year during the anniversary number fifty of the fishing tournament all records previously established concerning the organization, the participation and the splendor were broken.

The tournament started properly with the registration of the participants on Wednesday the 16th of November. Since then it could be perceived that the atmosphere would be that of a tight competition and of a very contagious joy. Since the first moment it was possible to notice that the fishing tournament, like no other event up to now, generates an exclusive tourism coming from diverse corners of our Mexico as well as from different countries in the world like amongst others Australia, England, Ireland, USA, South Africa and Canada which this year was represented in a worthy and competitive manner, too. This first day we were notified of the first record that was achieved…..the number of participants is more than 280!..... it looked as if the more than USD $200,000.00 which were to be distributed in prizes, which was a new record, too, were also contributing so that the participation increased  as never before.

The first day fishing started in the installations of the maritime harbor as is the tradition. In the presence of the authorities and special guests the event began with the solemn honor of our Flag and the interpretation of our National Anthem, followed by listening to a message from our mayor, Lic. Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor. He welcomed all participants with a great emotion. Immediately after that the start shot was heard, the excitement level rose while we were watching the more than hundred vessels leaving towards the bay in search of the catch that would represent the opportunity to become the winner of the tournament.

The arrival of the vessels for weighing was programmed since three o’clock in the afternoon. Nevertheless this first day Mr. Jose Alfonso Font from El Paso, Texas was the first fisherman to reach the arrival zone at two thirty in the afternoon in order to register his catch, leaving for exhibition a sailfish specimen of fifty-one kilos and six hundred grams which in the end was the winner of the first prize in its specie!

The second day started since three o’clock in the morning and many of the vessels left full speed towards the southern area of the bay close by Cabo Corrientes, where the largest sailfish and marlins were supposed to be found. The hours passed amidst expectation and tension, waiting for the fish to bite, however of an average of forty ships that had chosen this area for fishing only two or three caught specimen of a size worthy of the competition. Meanwhile on the northern side of the bay the larger number of specimen to compete that day for the first places were captured. This day a great friend and character of Puerto Vallarta Mr. Felipe Palacios Quintero returned and registered the catch of a sailfish weighing fifty kilos and eight hundred grams. This gained him second place in the category. It was a great pleasure to see Mr. Palacios walk along the weighing zone like a very happy child, taking advantage of the occasion to have all possible photos taken with his companions and of course with the beautiful hostesses of the sponsors. This day a marlin with one hundred and seventy-one kilos and three hundred grams was caught, too by Bob Pate, which resulted in the third place of the specie. Rafael Arechiga E. showed up at the weighing zone with a dorado of twenty kilos and one hundred grams, while Juan Fernando Calderon presented another one of sixteen kilos and seven hundred grams. These two respectively occupied the first and second place in the tournament.

It is important to mention that in the three days of weighing during the tournament the atmosphere was magnificent. There was entertainment with a music band motivating the public to dance with every interpretation. This year safe bleachers were set up for the comfort of the public allowing a very ample vision of everything that was happening upon the arrival of every vessel and during the weighing of every catch.

On the third day the fishing was even more exciting, especially because the first and second place for catching a marlin were registered. Clark Smith caught a marlin of one hundred seventy-three kilos and two hundred grams while Stefan Kneffel registered another one of one hundred seventy-two kilos and three hundred grams, which respectively were the first and second place. To increase the excitement this last day a tuna fish was also registered, weighing seventy-nine kilos and three hundred grams caught by Jeff Cortes who turned out to be the winner in this specie and another tuna fish of fifty-nine kilos and six hundred grams by Oscar Diaz who won the second and third place for tuna fish. During the afternoon a sailfish of forty-five kilos and six hundred grams was registered, too caught by the fisherman Oscar Arturo Lopez from Puerto Vallarta, finishing in third place. He is also a very well known character in the city. Hector Arriaga arrived at the weighing zone with a dorado of fifteen kilos and eight hundred grams, big enough to obtain the third place of this specie. 

For the first time weighing closed at 5:00 pm, an aspect which was the key for the fishermen to rest a little bit more during the first two days of the tournament and for everyone to be on time on the last day for the closing dinner and award ceremony which started at 8:00 pm.

The closing dinner dance and award ceremony, celebrated in the Hotel Sheraton Buganvilias Resort, the host of the tournament, turned out to be by itself another exceptional event. The municipal authorities were present led by the mayor Lic. Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor. With great emotion he congratulated all the participants and especially the organizing committee committing himself to continue with providing help and support for this tournament…. which in addition to generating a considerable economic income for the city is the event with the longest tradition and the one that, while it exists, represents keeping alive the essence of the people of this port.

It was a gala night and all the winners paraded happily to receive their trophies and prizes, awarded by the committee of the Fishing Club accompanied by the representatives of the different sponsors of the tournament. One of the most moving moments was when the whole audience - while applauding - gave a standing ovation to acknowledge the five of the founders of the Fishing Club that are still amongst us: Dr. Efrén Calderón Areas, Ignacio Zaragoza Curiel, Leocadio Curiel Montes, Ing. Luis Gutiérrez Ramírez and Anselmo Hernández Velazco, as well as to render tribute to all the other founders who had already died. This was the moment where everyone without distinction united in order to acknowledge the magnitude of the work of those who, fifty years ago, created a dream they believed in and which today is a strengthened reality. Another touching moment was when an acknowledgment was awarded to Mr. Cipriano “Pano” Quintero for his work as a judge during the last consecutive forty-seven years. After the award ceremony there was an overflowing joy while enjoying a spectacular firework display that nobody had expected.

The variety of prizes was the order of the day and the award of the first prize of the sailfish stood out. It consisted amongst other things of a Mercedes Benz car. An original painting carried out by the Vallarta painter Ada Colorina, who since last year’s tournament is the creator if the paintings representing the tournament world-wide, was awarded to the first places in every specie, too.

This is only a brief review of what was experienced in Puerto Vallarta during the 50th International Sailfish and Marlin Tournament. In future publications we will share some anecdotes and more information. In the meantime we sincerely express our congratulations and acknowledgement to the board of directors of the Fishing Club of Puerto Vallarta responsible for organizing and carrying out this tournament of the 50th anniversary led by its president Lic. and C.P. Francisco Avalos Munguia, its secretary Ing. Michel Diaz (who was also given an award as the best qualified member of the club), its treasurer Mr. Salvador Covarrubias and of course Lic Raul Serna Navarro, director of the tournament.

It is of vital importance to emphasize that without the help of all the sponsors nothing of this would have been possible. Thanks to all of them as well as to all the fishermen that participated this year, we hope to see them participating and helping again next year during the 51st International Sailfish and Marlin Tournament of Puerto Vallarta!
 
I say good-bye giving thanks to Mr. Alejandro Herrera Baena (Medico) who gave me the opportunity to embark on his yacht in order to experience the tournament and take pictures.

• Click here to visit the tournament photo gallery

Welcome to the new Club de Pesca bord of directors:

President: Arq. Oscar Montiel Cervantes
Secretary: Arq.  Jesus Ernesto Avelar Lopez
Treasurer: Lic. and C.P. Francisco Avalos Munguia

Let’s go fishing!....

The Editor
E-mail: editor@pvmirror.com

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