52nd Riviera Nayarit Fishing Tournament Breaks Records CVB of Riviera Nayarit
October 15, 2012

The Fishing Club of Tepic is proud to announce a record-breaking 52nd Riviera Nayarit Fishing Tournament, which was held for the first time in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit.

"The Best Fishing Tournament on the Mexican Pacific" was an angler's delight with 89 entries competing in the four categories of marlin, sailfish, tuna and dorado (mahi mahi).

129 qualifying catches were registered during the tournament, breaking another record.

The tournament finished yesterday with Jorge Amarillas (from Guadalajara) on board the Giallo, landing the prize black marlin weighing in at 325 kg (about 716.5 lbs), breaking the record of six years for the black marlin of 322.7 kg (about 711.4 lbs).

The prize marlin was caught around 10:30 on Sunday morning, the last day of the tournament, in the area known as La Piedra (The Rock). The boat was surrounded by a school of dolphins playing with the bait. They were down to their last bait, which had been chewed by the dolphins, so it was a surprise when the marlin hit the line with an amazing amount of strength and they realized what they had.

"The first 35 minutes, we could only keep it at a half turn spool," said the captain. "However, after 45 minutes of the fight, the marlin ceded and before an hour we had the marlin on board."

"I think it is very important for people that love this sport to get into these tournaments," said Jorge Amarillas. "They are clean tournaments, without problems, among friends, and it is really cool that everyone you meet is so nice. It’s very encouraging to get here for the first time and discover soon that everybody knows you and has made friends with you, rather than a competition, this is a big party in a wonderful place for sport fishing fans."

In the sailfish category, Miguel Sierra on the Acayapan, took first place with his catch on Saturday of 52.2 kg (about 115 lbs), which also holds the record catch for the Fishing Club of Tepic.

The largest tuna was brought in by Pankuka at 88 kg (about 194 lbs) and the dorado (mahi mahi) prize went to the Calypso with 18.1 kg (about 40 lbs). There was a controversy in the dorado category with the catch of Pacific Scuba weighing in at 18.6 kg, but it was disqualified when determined that it was full of bait.

"This first tournament in La Cruz has been a success," states Carlos Menchaca Díaz del Guante, President of the Fishing Club of Tepic. "We were very happy for the support of the Government, the OVC in Riviera Nayarit and all of our sponsors. Join us here in La Cruz, in the Marina Riviera Nayarit, in October of 2013."

And the winners are...

Marlin
1. Giallo - 325.000 kg
2. Animal House    - 188.400 kg
3. Milonga - 180.700 kg
4. Anita - 167.00 kg

Pez Vela (Sailfish)
1. Acayapan - 52.200 kg
2. Club de Pesca Vallarta - 40.700 kg
3. Milonga III - 38.900 kg
4. Dos Amigos - 35.400 kg

Tuna  
1.  Pankuka - 88.000 kg

Dorado
1. Calypso - 18.100 kg
2. Matador - 14.000 kg
3. Fish On - 13.200 kg
4. Pacific Scuba - 11.200 kg

Translated & Edited by Team Angels