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Torneo Tropic Star 2004 Results
NOVEMBER 26 TO 29, 2004.
This year our annual Tropic Star Tournament was so popular, we had to host two tournaments for international anglers. We ran the IV TROPIC STAR TOURNAMENT which was three days of fishing and we are just ending the MINI TROPIC STAR TOURNAMENT, a four day fishing tournament.
The IV ANNUAL TROPIC STAR TOURNAMENT (TORNEO TROPIC STAR) had two divisions, a National and International division. It also included a top angler and top team representing the overall champions from each division. We had 12 local teams and 7 international teams, which gave the tournament an international flavor and there were lots of trophies presented.
The local boys started with all the action, Grupo Friolin released 6 Sails, team Warrior hooked a Striped Marlin and released 4 Sails. Team Pescalo was hot on their heals with 5 Sailfish releases. In the International division, team La Ola Azul released 7 Sailfish that put them in the lead for the International division.
Day one ended with 35 Sails and two Marlin released.
We had a car Sponsored by Skoda to give away to the first angler that released a Marlin a day and who captured it on a POLAROID CAMERA. Polaroid is the sponsor that helps us keep our fish stories accurate. Howard Mitchell and Ivan St Malo each released a Marlin the first day which put them in the running for the grand prize of a $25,000 Skoda car sponsored by TESA.
Day two ended with 47 sails and 1 Marlin released.
Team La Ola Azul kept their good form with Phyllis Crimmins releasing her first Black Marlin and her team mates John Crimmins and Mark Hayo, each releasing 2 Sailfish totaling another 700 points, they were now well in the lead and it was going to be tough to catch up to them.
In the National division, Grupo Friolin with anglers Moises Emiliani, Monchi Emiliani and Zane Andrews kept their lead as well with another 700 points.
Day three 2 Marlin released and 24 sailfish.
Moises Emiliani of Team Grupo Friolin released 1 Striped Marlin, his junior angler teammates, released 3 Sails as well and they ended up winning the National division with 1800 points. Zane Andrews won Top Angler in the National division followed by team member Moises Emilliani, and Monchi Emilliani and their Grupo Friolin Team won top team in the National Division, followed by Team Pescalo and Team Warrior. We are very proud of Zane Andrews and Monchi Emiliani of Grupo Friolin, they are both junior anglers and did so well winning the National Division. Mike and Terri are particularly proud of Zane who won second place Overall Angler of both International and National Divisions and with his team mates, Top Team Overall which let's them represent Panama in the IGFA Rolex Tournament of Champions in Cabo San Lucas next May. Zane was invited as a substitute team member when Grupo Friolin came down one angler short.
Biggest Dolphin 53.5 lb - Guillermo De Roux, Team Chica Pica
Biggest Tuna 13.5 lb. - Ricardo Motta ,Jr., Team Monali
Biggest estimated Marlin 450 lb. - Phyllis Crimmins, Team La Ola Azul
Ricardo Motta from Team Monali won the new "Tato" Release Award. Ricardo is only six years old and after fighting a Marlin for 35 minutes, had an unconventional release when he let go of the fish and his rod and reel as well. There was a new Division added, a "Tato"Release where he received a bicycle just his size sponsored by Motor Sport. All Junior anglers fishing and non-fishing won a signed Guy Harvey prize and all junior anglers that fished the tournament, did so according to IGFA rules.
International division -
Team La Ola Azul took top honors with 1500 points, followed by Piņas Envy and Asian Sensation. Top Angler John Crimmins had 800 points and was followed by Howard Mitchell from team Pinas Envy with 600 points and Phyllis Crimmins in 3rd place. John Crimmins also won Overall First Place Angler from both divisions. Each top angler in both divisions took home a nice Rod and Reel sponsored by our favorite tackle store, ABERNATHY, S.A.
The Tournament's last day began with a Bimini Start in honor of John "Jack" Fennell". Jack was last year's top angler in the 3rd Annual Torneo Tropic Star's International Division and passed away just a few weeks before this year's tournament. He was a wonderful man and think he would have approved that our moment of silence ended with a Bimini Start in his honor.
We were honored to have the Vice President of Panama, Sammy Lewis, fish our tournament along with his brothers, Jose Guillermo and Bibi Lewis, and friends, Cholin Sarasqueta, and Roberto Pascual.
We would like to say a special thank you to Dr. Guy Harvey for being another Star of our Tournament, his great sponsorship and his time autographing his artwork, t-shirts and books and just chatting with all of us, as well as fishing the tournament with his Team Cool Runnings was a real treat! Our tournament team prizes never looked so good, framed Guy Harvey artwork!
Also thanks to Dr. Mike Domeier who is doing research on Black Marlin and fished as a member of the Cool Runnings Team with Guy Harvey and Alec Henderson. Mike gave a very interesting talk on SAT tagging and how it can help us learn about billfish and their movements. We hope to have a flyer on how everyone can become involved in SAT tagging in Piņas by the first of the year.
A check was issued from the one of our sponsors, Caesar Park Hotel to the Conamar Foundation in the amount of $500.00 which was presented in the name of Top Overall Angler, John Crimmins. Conamar has been very busy on conservation issues here in Panama also received a pledge of an additional $1000 each year from the Gabriel Lewis Foundation as well as pledges from some of our teams. Our new sponsor, Caesar Park Hotel along with ASSA were the hosts for the wonderful Press Conference/ Sponsor-Angler Cocktail party held the evening before the anglers and press departed for the tournament. All sponsors were presented with some type of Guy Harvey artwork as an appreciation for their support.
We would especially like to thank all of our participants and all our sponsors and we all look forward to next year. We got great press coverage and on Sunday's Tiempo Extra Television show, we were featured for almost 20 minutes. Stay tuned for the results of our Mini Tropic Star Tournament.
Tight lines,
Hennie
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