Miri City International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament attracts 134 anglers

MIRI: The famed Miri City International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament which enters its 11th year this year has attracted 134 anglers from four countries including Malaysia.

The anglers comprise 35 from Singapore, 28 from China, 15 from Brunei Darussalam and 56 from Malaysia are vying for the total prize money of RM59,000.

“We have received overwhelming response, more than our 120 target for this year. We cannot actually take in too many because of limited vessels to transport them for the four- day threenight tournament which starts tomorrow morning ( May 10),” said Vincent Lo, the tournament’s organising secretary and also Miri Anglers Club secretary.

The tournament is organised by the club in collaboration with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency ( MMEA), Fisheries Department, Miri City Council ( MCC), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Lo said the MMEA Sarawak, enforcement chief Rear Admiral Ismaili Bujang Pit and Fisheries Department director Belayong Nyuak will jointly flag off for the event, at 10am today, at the Marina Bay wharf here.

“Besides promoting Miri as deepsea fishing destination to international anglers it is hoped that through this tournament it could attract more tourists coming to Miri including exploring its prestine diving haven within the Miri- Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park,” said Lo.

On the prizes, Lo said three categories will be contested – namely individual, team and fish species ( biggest fish in each of the six species)

The champion to fifth place in the individual category will receive a cash prize of RM20,000; RM6,000; RM3,000; RM1,500 and RM1,000 respectively in addition to Shimano fishing tackles and certificates.

The sixth to 15th place winners in the same category will each receive RM800 plus fishing tackles and certificate.

In the team category, the champion to fifth place will receive RM5,000; RM3,000; RM2,000; RM1,000 respectively in addition to fishing tackles and certificate.

In the fish species category, anglers who caught the biggest fish in each of the six species will take home cash prize of RM700 plus fishing tackles and certificate.

Additionally, the organiser also provided a special prize of RM3,000 to the champion fish in the individual category who lands the heaviest fish to break the existing record of 69.7 kilogrammes recorded several years ago.

Meanwhile fishing enthusiasts can look forward to the sales of catch during the tournament when the participants return to the Marina Bay Wharf between 8am and 10am on May 13. On the same day, there will also be exhibition of fishing gears at the 7th floor of Meritz Hotel.