|
ARUBA TEAM RUNS AWAY
WITH VICTORY ABOARD ALINA AT THE 13TH ANNUAL LA GUAIRA SHOOTOUT
ARUBA ‘TEAM ALINA’ RUNS
AWAY WITH VICTORY AT THE 13TH ANNUAL LA GUAIRA SHOOTOUT IN VENEZUELA
In a tournament marked by
excellent blue marlin fishing, where the average catch ended up at 5 blues
per boat, things started out slow for the winning team. At the end of day
one Team Alina was in 11th place with only 900 points. Team Mojito of Puerto
Rico finished the day with 2,000 points for the four blues they’d released
taking home the daily and placing them atop the leader board, closely
followed by U.S. teams aboard Vintage and Sniper.
Not until the afternoon of day two did Team Alina make their move when the
Mansur brothers, Christian and Eric Jr, released a total of 4 blues and two
sails not only giving them top boat for the day but allowing them to
‘leap-frog’ over half of the tournament fleet to take the first place spot
on the leader board with Vintage and Sniper respectively hot on their heels
and setting the stage for an exciting finish on the third and final day.
The last day started out slow with few releases registered in the morning
hours. But in classic La Guaira fashion the bite went off in the afternoon.
Vintage released two blues and a sail while Sniper released two blues, both
adding points to their scores, but Alina widened their lead by releasing two
blues and two sails and sealing their victory with a total of 4,700 points
for the three days and taking home trophies, a bundle of cash and very nice
prizes from Solera Beer, Hook & Tackle, Pescador Brand and Gameface Gear.
In the individual angler standings it was, Leur Lomanto, Jr, of Salvador-Bahia,
Brazil, fishing aboard local charter boat Not For Rent, who took home the
Mustad Hooks Silver Hook Trophy as the Shootout’s top angler. He was
followed by Bernardo Bastardo of Caracas, Venezuela, aboard Catch 22 and
Larry I’anson of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who took Third Place High Point
Angler for the second year in a row fishing aboard Guarimba, another local
charter boat with famed Captain Wilmer Alvarado.
Eighty five blue marlin, twenty four sailfish and a lone white marlin were
released in 3 days of fishing at the “Lucky 13th” edition of the prestigious
International La Guaira Billfish Shootout, held in Venezuela March 21st thru
26th. This year’s Shootout was also the first leg of the new SPANISH MAIN
CARIBBEAN SERIES in which 5 boats participated with Vintage Team Affinity in
the lead with 4,100 points, Guarimba in second with 3,500 points and
Bandolera in third with 3,000 points. Next leg will be held in Punta Cana,
Dominican Republic at the end of June. Also coming up from October 4th thru
8th will be the 4th Annual Venezuelan International Super Slam. For complete
scoreboard, photos and details about these events visit
www.intlbillfishtourns.com or call 305 213 5521.
|
