Team Troppo - 2010 SIGFA international champions

During the second week of May, the Samoa International Game Fishing Association “SIGFA” held their annual international tournament.

Thirty three boats holding 140 anglers from 5 countries competed for a brilliant array of trophies, cash and prizes. For the third year in a row, 10 boats and their crews were shipped up from New Zealand to compete.

The tournament was blessed with sunny days, light winds, with low swells.

The fishing wasn't as “hot” as the previous year, but still some tremendous catches were recorded.

Bull mahi mahi to 20kg, solid yellowfin to 50kg and plenty of big wahoo to 20kg dominated the daily weighin in front of large crowds gathered by the gantry.

The marlin bite was also slower than last year, with only a dozen or so boats managing to tag fish. Only two marlin were weighed. The largest was a blue of 120kgs landed by local angler Shelly Burich.

This year, top honours went to the local Samoan teams.

“Team Troppo” fishing aboard local charter boat “Pure Indulgence” skippered by Capt Ian Moroney took out the Tag & Release category as well as 1st Place Overall.

Second place went to Capt Alfred Schwalger and his team aboard Kingfisher II and third place to Capt Vaughn Simpson and his team aboard Fua II.

Once again the tournament was a tremendous success.

As always, the SIGFA committee put on a terrific show. The fishing was good, and there were quite a few onshore festivities which helped to ensure all anglers and their supporters had a fantastic time.

Next years tournament will be held over five days in the first week of May.

It would be great to see even more international anglers participating.

For further info visit www.sigfa.ws or drop me an email greg@troppofishing.com and I'll fill you in on all the details.

Tight Lines

Capt Greg "Hoppo" Hopping