Pago Pago Game Fishing Association

Crew and Team of the Lady Fina posing with their Marlin. The Angler was Fogota of the Team Lady Fina. This was the only marlin landed during the three day tournament, however, there were quite a few catch and releases that earned quite a few points for some of the teams.

Jana Dwyer, fishing aboard the Keejana, poses with her sailfish, which weighed in at 78.2 lbs.

Sepp Steffany poses with his freshly caught Masi Masi (Dolphin Fish). Weighing in at 27.2 lbs., the fish - not Mr. Steffany, this Masi Masi went on to win Sepp the second place standing in the Masi Masi category.

The daily prize giving was held at the Yacht Club following the weigh-in at the docks. In this picture Sepp Steffany is accepting his prize for the largest fish caught the first day in the Masi Masi species category. The daily prizes include items donated by local businesses, cash, and gift certificates. On Saturday, May 16, 2009, the closing ceremonies and the tournament overall prizes will be awarded will be at Sadies by The Sea Hotel in Utulei.

Day 1 Results Species Categories

Sebastian Kolhase (right) with his teammates, Alfred (left) and Courtney (middle) from aboard the Lady Saele, out of Upolu, Samoa.

Visiting team members of the Southern Destiny getting ready to head back to their hotel to sleep before getting up early for breakfast, a strategery session (yes, strategery is a made up word), and the 7 AM shotgun start.

The visiting boat, the Molly G, flies down the harbor to join the pack of leaders who are all heading out of the harbor at a rapid clip.

The opening "toot" opened the tournament's official "lines wet" for the first day, although instead of trolling in the harbor, the boats revved their engines and rocketed out of the harbor. Traffic into and out of the harbor was put on hold by the Harbor Master and the boats rapidly settled into several groups defined merely as "fastest", "faster", and "not so fast". In under 10 minutes the fastest boats were out of the harbor and on their way to game fishing fame and glory, soon followed by their slower, more cautious competitors.

The Governor gave the opening remarks for the I'a Lapo'a 2009 tournament and he welcomed the visitors with good humor and well wishes, ending with the hope that the visitors enjoy their stay and the tournament. Congratulations to the Pago Pago Game Fishing Association were also given by the Governor for the organization and promotion of the tournament and the welcome addition of the growth of the tournament over past years.

Nine boats arriving in Pago Pago Harbor on May 12, 2009 to compete in the 10th Annual Steinlager I'a Lapo'a Game Fishing Tournament. The largest tournament ever hosted by the territory, over 20 boats, local and visiting, will be competing to catch the biggest fish in varous species classes.