PLAYA DEL CARMEN FISHING TOURNAMENT A SUCCESS!
This weekend, May 31st and June 1st, the 35th Annual Playa del Carmen International Fishing Tournament took place in the Caribbean, with meeting points at Parque Fundadores in Downtown Playa. Captains and fishermen came from as far as New Zealand to join in the excitement and try their luck at winning big. Prizes from a truck to motorcycles and cash prizes were given out to the first 12 lucky places. Seventy-seven boats entered the two-day tournament but only one came out with the grand prize: A 250lb Blue Marlin, and the most points of the weekend, placing Captain Jorge Daniel Martinez and his boat, "Sum Beach" from Puerto Aventuras, far above the competition and taking home the trophy.
The two-day tournament kicked off Thursday night at the Captain's dinner with special messages and rules and regulations led by Playa del Carmen Port Captain, Jose Florentino Gallardo.Sponsors such as Cristal, Sol, and the Solidaridad Government prepared and served a delicious spaghetti dinner and complimentary beverages to the Captains, their families, and tournament teams.
On day one of the tournament, 77 boats and teams from all over the Riviera Maya and countries near and far lined up for the 8am embarkation with hopes to snag the elusive Blue Marlin trophy fish. Each catch was scored by weight and size and given a certain amount of points depending on species of fish, with Blue and White Marlin being worth the most points.
Other top winners of the tournament included Captain Victor Santin with his boat, "Ya Ni Modo Que Remedio" out of Playa del Carmen and the 2nd Place Marlin of the tournament.
Captain Nahum Alberto Castillo of Pezcaribe Ocean Adventure Tours in Playa del Carmen hooked a huge Mahi Mahi on Day 1 and placed 7th overall in that category of the tournament. Third place overall went to Captain Javier Zetina Gonzalez of Cozumel after bringing in an extra large Wahoo on Day 2.
For more information on this tournament and others coming up in the Riviera Maya this year, please visit the Playa del Carmen fishing website. For video footage of the tournament events, please click here.