Drop Off, Koror, Palau – The Palau Sports Fishing Association (PSFA) is excited to announce the return of the biggest derby on the island, the 31st Annual Fishing Derby! The call is out for fishers in Palau and all over the world to bring their best fin forward for a chance to win big! The tournament will be held at Drop Off on May 4-5, 2024, with prizes up to $25000. A marlin pot will be added if 10 or more participants enter with the $100 registration fee.
Part of the work of the Palau Sports Fishing Association, established in 1991, includes deploying fishing aggregating devices, or FADs. In late March, PSFA went out to replace the skirt of its fifth deployed FAD. FADs attract ocean going pelagic fish such as marlin, tuna and mahi-mahi, and deployment costs can amount up to $17,500 per FAD. For over 10 years PSFA has been deploying offshore FADs with significant support from Taiwan. Typically consisting of buoys or floats tethered to the ocean floor with concrete blocks, FADs can attract over 300 species of fish to aggregate around them in the open ocean.
PSFA would like to thank its generous sponsors: Bank of Hawaii, Palau Pacific Resort, NECO Yamaha, IP&E, and Budweiser for their generous donations to this year’s annual derby.
Registration is open to any and all interested fishers. Registration forms can be obtained at Drop Off or at the BUL office in Malakal. Contact 488-6887 if you have any questions or inquiries about the tournament.
ABOUT the Palau Sports Fishing Association
For 30 years PSFA has been the official organization for sport fishing in the Republic of Palau. Each year PSFA organizes the largest sport fishing event on Palau, The Annual Fishing Derby featuring the Etpison Cup, to promote game fishing, the growth in the sector through the Junior Angler program and community engagement through its network of offshore Fish Aggregating Devices. In partnerships with FRIENDS of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary NGO and with corporations such as Palau Pacific Resort, IP&E, Budweiser, NECO Yamaha and Bank of Hawaii along with the local community PSFA has been able to realize increasing numbers of participants in sport fishing competition and spectatorship. As the official organization for sport fishing in Palau, PSFA is associated with tradition, integrity and, most importantly, responsibility as stewards of Palau’s fishery. PSFA is also a member of the International Game Fishing Association.