RM23,000 cash awaits fishing tourney champs
Kota Kinabalu: Over RM23,000 in cash prizes awaits anglers in the Sabah International Fishing Tournament 2014 which will flag off at Sutera Harbour Marina and Country Club, here, on April 3-6.
The four-day tournament will see some 200 anglers from all over the State and neighbouring regions competing in individual format compared to past years where the tournament was observing a team format.
According to Sabah Anglers Association President, Datuk Wilfred Lingham, this year the organisers (Sabah Anglers Association) decided to hold the tournament in individual format to make for a fairer competition for the participants.
“In previous years, we organised this competition in team format and we found that it will be more fair for the anglers if we change the format to individual.
“Out of the total participation, we are also expecting several participants from Penang and also some from neighbouring countries however the final participants list has yet to be confirmed,” he said.
Lingham said this during a press conference which was held at Sutera Harbour Marina and Country Club on Thursday, adding that the tournament will also feature a special Heaviest Billfish prize of RM2,000.
“First place will be taking home RM6,000, second place will take home RM5,000 and third place will take home RM4,000,” said Lingham, adding that fourth place will take home RM3,000, fifth place will take RM2,000 and sixth place will take home RM1,000.
There will also be other cash prizes including RM500 for seventh place and RM300 for eighth to 12th place winners.
“The tournament will flag off at 9am on April 3 and all participants must return to Sutera Harbour Marina on April 6 at 3pm, followed by the prize presentation ceremony at 5pm,” Lingham added.
The Sabah International Fishing Tournament 2014 is being co-sponsored by TCE Tackles which provides over RM10,000 worth of angling goods and lucky draw prizes, Sutera Harbour Marina and Country Club as venue host as well as the Department of Fisheries.
“We will be observing local rules together with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) rules and the tournament practices ‘catch and release’ for all billfish caught while catching of rays and sharks are banned,” said Lingham.
Meanwhile, two weeks after the Sabah International Fishing Tournament, Sabah Anglers association will be heading to Labuan to co-organise the Labuan International Fishing Tournament (LIFT) which will be held on April 23-27.
LIFT 2014 is being co-organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia Labuan and Sabah Anglers Association in conjunction with the Malaysia Water Festival and Visit Malaysia Year 2014.
For more information on both tournaments, please contact Sabah Anglers Association members Richard (019 8818015), Chris (019 8929254) or Zachary (013 8504007) while registration forms are available at the Sabah Tourism Board, Sri Pelancongan Sabah as well as most fishing and tackle shops in Kota Kinabalu and Sutera Harbour Marina and Country Club.
Source: Daily Express
