Wednesday, October 18, 2006 Anglers take part in fishing tournament in Guimaras
SPORTSFISHERMEN proved here on Sunday that the recent oil spill in Guimaras has had little effect on its marine life, bringing in an assorted catch of bottom dwelling fish including a scary 23-lb. manta ray.
The fishermen, members of the 200-strong Iloilo Anglers Association (ISA), prowled their favorite fishing grounds around Guimaras island the whole day Sunday to participate in a fishing tournament as it did every month for the past 17 years of its existence.
This month's event was dubbed the Petron Invitational Fishing Tournament. Petron sponsored the tournament on invitation of ISA, through local Petron products dealer Johnny Young who is also an angler and director of ISA.
Of the nine teams that sailed in separate boats, Team Bluefin proved to be the luckiest sweeping the top three individual contests for biggest catch and the Team Championship for the largest haul. The day's champion fisherman was businessman Joel Camacho who hauled in a 13.14- pound Diamond Jack (Bukan). Camacho said he used a 12-lb. fishing line to reel in the fish, which put up a 20-minute fight.
Camacho's teammates, Bing Custodio and Boy Jucaban, came in second and third with an 8.4-lb bukan and a 6.3-lb kilawan, respectively.
ISA president Jose Luis Echarri, co-owner of a successful chain of restaurants here, said the oil spill last August 11 off Guimaras island, has had little effect on the surrounding marine life as shown by the fisher's catch.
He said they are going to cook the fish afterwards to further dispel ridiculous reports that the fish in Guimaras have become toxic.
Echarri's group, Team Red Snapper came in only third even though it was teammate Edwin Villacruz who bagged the manta ray. The manta didn't count, according to rod and reel fishing rules. Second place went to Team Apahap, which brought in some middling catch of groupers (lapu-lapu).
Weekend angler Michael Maquiran, manager of Globelines in Iloilo, said the oil spill has had no effect on the volume of fish they regularly catch during their monthly tournaments.
During the awards program, Noel Gonzales, Petron Visayas, and Mindanao Regional Reseller Trade Manager thanked the anglers for showing that fish remains abundant in Guimaras. He reiterated the firm's commitment to continue helping restore Guimaras and Iloilo.
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