Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico - The Bahía de Banderas Sport Fishing Club's 7th International Tuna and Marlin Fishing Tournament, held August 8-10, 2013, demonstrated once again why Banderas Bay is a preferred destination for sport fishing enthusiasts.

Using only non-electronic rod and reels, 130-pound test lines, and simple bait, anglers from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada spent two days trying to 'reel in' the biggest fish in four categories - Tuna, Marlin, Dorado, and Sailfish catch-and-release - in their quest to win fame, fortune, prizes, and trophies.

Ana Maria owner Mark Martin and his crew took first prize at the 7th Int'l Tuna and Marlin Fishing Tournament with a 262.50 kg blue marlin.

When all was said and done, no one could top the 262.50 kg (579 lb) blue marlin caught near Corbeteña by Team Ana Maria on the first day of fishing. It took the Ana Maria crew, led by Mark Martin and Capitan Esteban Torres, nearly an hour to land the monstrous fish.

"If we stay in first place, this will be the tenth time we've won a first prize in tournaments in the region," Martin said after catching the winning marlin on August 9th.

The second place marlin was also caught on the first day of fishing by Jorge Amarillas who, along with 'Giallo' Captain Aurelio Chavarín and crew, reeled in a 184.7 kg (407 lb.) whopper after a 4-hour battle. Captain Juan Moll aboard the 'Maverick' brought in the day's third largest marlin, weighing in at 112.2 kg (247.35 lb.)

The second day of fishing was alive with action, with Juan Moll and the 'Maverick' team beating their previous day's catch by 5.2 kg with a 117.4 kg marlin that took third place, and Luis Manuel Ocaranza and the 'Matador' team hooking into a 115.6 kg (253.5 lb) marlin, that put them in fourth place. The 112.2 kg marlin Moll caught on Friday took fifth place, and Bahía de Banderas Fishing Club, who sponsored the event, came in sixth with a 105.9 kg (233.4 lb) catch.

There were no qualifying catches of dorado (mahi mahi), tuna or sailfish over the two days of competition, so no prizes were awarded in those categories.

"This tournament proved that sportfishing is not only a great hobby but also an exciting experience that presents great challenges such as breaking records and reeling in giant fish," said Banderas Bay Fishing Club Treasurer Andrés Famanía Ortega, who, along with Captain Trinidad and the 'El Amo' team, hooked into two non-qualifying sailfish on both days of the competition.