GT Express take the trophy in the GT Catch & Release and Team Ngerikiil become Wahoo

champions early in the day!

Koror, Palau – On Sunday January 15th the Palau Sports Fishing Association (PSFA) hosted the

Evolution Tournament for a second year in a row. Ten teams entered the giant trevally catch and

release category and 31 entered the wahoo classic. The goal of tournament organizers is to raise

the profile of catch and release but also give traditional fisherman a chance to demonstrate their

talents.

[restrict]

International game fisherman around the world take pride in their ability to catch and release game

fish. This sector of tourism for Palau has seen a lot of growth – meaning opportunities for local

sport fishers to earn money and keep up their skills as fishermen. Because of the generosity of

featured sponsors catch and release is now at level with traditional sport fishing with prize money.

This year more off island sport fishers came to Palau just for the event and the momentum is

expected to grow when Palauan fishermen head to the Osaka Fishing Show in February to promote

Palau as the premier sport fishing destination.

Special thanks goes to our featured sponsors, who have each donated $2,500 to the event. The

featured sponsors include:

Palau Pacific Resort

HERTZ Rent A Car

NECO Yamaha

Budweiser

IP&E

Tremendous support from the community makes every event run without a hitch for a fun and safe

family event. Special thanks to:

Neco Marine staff

Neco Yamaha staff

Drop Off Bar & Grill staff

Belau Kanoe Klub

Palau Visitors Authority

Koror State Rangers

Volunteers:

Friend of the Marine Sanctuary

Airai State PAN and their all-star rangers,

Ebiil Society – reel fisherman measure up

For Media Inquiries Contact:

Board Director

Jennifer K. Gibbons +680-775-7398 or

Tournament Director

Chico Nakamura +680-775-5906

4th Wahoo Classic Prizes

$2000 first Team Ngerikiil 41.5lbs

$1000 second Team Moy 40.5

$700 third Team Ngerang 30.5

$500 fourth Team Omenged 30.0

$300 fifth Team 3 in 1 29.0

2nd GT Catch & Release Prizes

$2000 first GT Express 38.5inches

$1000 second Hemingway 33.0

$700 third Island Seed Limited 32.0

$500 fourth Quality 28.0 [/restrict]