Anglers from across the region gathered at Paradise Village Marina in Riviera Nayarit from July 2-4 for the 18th Annual Marlin and Tuna Fishing Tournament, where two days of exciting competition ended with a dramatic finish and a festive awards celebration.
Hosted by the Bahía de Banderas Sport Fishing Club AC, the tournament officially began Friday morning with a 7:00 a.m. flag ceremony and inauguration before the fleet departed the marina at 7:15 am. Fishing continued through Saturday, with the final weigh-in concluding at 6:00 pm.
The Marlin division delivered the tournament’s most memorable moments as the leaderboard changed several times during the final hour of competition.
The “Rancho Relaxo” team captured the championship after landing an impressive marlin weighing 132.6 kilograms. Measuring 2.8 meters in length with a 1.5-meter girth, the catch secured first place and the tournament’s top prize of 250,000 pesos.
The victory came in dramatic fashion, overtaking the “Aferrather” team aboard the “Reel Energy” boat, whose 128-kilogram marlin briefly held the lead before finishing in second place. Earlier, the “La Cindy” team had also occupied the top spot before ultimately claiming third place with a 120.4-kilogram marlin.
Competition in the Tuna category was equally impressive. The “Sea Wolf” team earned first place with a 47-kilogram tuna, followed by “Hooked” in second with a 38.4-kilogram catch. “Charro Fishing Tours” placed third with a 34-kilogram tuna, while “Catch and Refill” finished fourth.
The Tuna champion received a 100,000-peso cash prize, while second place earned 25,000 pesos. Third- and fourth-place teams were recognized with fishing equipment prizes.
As in last year’s event, no qualifying catches met the minimum size requirements in the Dorado category, leaving that division without a winner.
The tournament concluded with an awards ceremony at Paradise Village, where participants, families, and spectators celebrated another successful year of sport fishing in Bahía de Banderas.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, Mariachi Alegría de Puerto Vallarta entertained the crowd while wearing jerseys inspired by Mexico’s national soccer team in celebration of the FIFA World Cup spirit. Hundreds of attendees also enjoyed a meal prepared by the team from Señor Fuego, providing a fitting close to a weekend that highlighted friendly competition, outstanding catches, and the region’s enduring passion for sport fishing.
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