The Oasis International Fishing Tournament concluded in Bluefields on Saturday evening with Atlantic Coast residents taking first place in the three top categories. Victor Lau held on to take first place with his 107 pound tarpon after a strong challenge from Jaime Alejandro Lopez from Managua who boated a 70 pound tarpon on the final day of the competition and a last minute chalenge by Bluefields resident and former champion Blaine Kendler who placed third with a sixty five pound entry. This year virtually every boat hooked a tarpon but as they say at the docks, there was a a lot of crying about the one that got away. Over five thousand dollars in cash and prizes were awarded this year to participants, including five hundred dollars to the best Sportsman to Mario Garcia Castillo who is battling health problems and still came out to fish.
Garry Lassesne who works on Corn Island with La Isla Group won the Open category with his 28 pound barracuda, the prize he won is a free weeks lodging at Casa Canada. This is Garry's second year in the tournament and he claims that his win was all about strategy. Enough fish tales for one weekend Garry! Jim Boyle from Corn Island, Gary's fishing partner won a new Suzuki motor scooter at the raffle, which he also claims was a tactical win.
Rosa Poteet who operates along with her husband Randy, Casa Rosa fishing Lodge took first place in the Ladies division with nice jack just ahead of Jacqueline Ibarra of Managua. A tip for those who are fishing next year, Rosa is one of the best fishing guides in Nicaragua and she has been in the money every year. Our bet is that she or her husband Randy take first place next year.
First place for the snook category was taken by Ronald Allen who came from the U.S. to fish with the Casa Rosa teams and second place honors were won by Wiliam Zack also with Casa Rosa.
The Jack Crevalle division was won by Ronald Chang, one of the transplanted Bluefields residents who returned from Miami to fish the tournament and has promised to come back next year and help organize sponsorship in the states.
This was by far the best tournament in the history of the event. The big difference was the community participation with the Kayuko sailboat races and art show sponsored by Dr. Henry Bacon. Plus there were several hundred people out on the Municipal dock for the weigh in on both fishing days.
We want to thank every participant and the city of Bluefields for their generous support of the tournament. At the closing ceremony Auto Nica and Suzuki Marine represented by Alvaro and Rudy Sandino donated a high pressure portable water pump to the Bluefields Fire Department and the Oasis Hotel is donating the proceeds of the entry fees to the Bluefields Red Cross for this years Plan Playa for Semana Santa.
There is a lot of interest in a new tournament in Sepember of this year on Corn Island and serious organizing plans are under way.
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