The 'Cavalier' wins the fourth Gran Canaria International Deep Sea Fishing Open

 

Hafid Ouality's 'Cavalier', with the Dutchman Klaas Westerhos and in the debut of Hafid's son, Javier, turned into an effective lucky charm, signed a comeback to remember with the capture and release of two blue marlins, which together with the mark of the first day, not only makes the 'Cavalier' team the winner of the competition with 1.200 points, Medina the owner of the blue jacket of champion of the fourth edition of the Gran Canaria Open International Deep Sea Fishing, but, in addition, this boat obtained a prize, valued at 20.000 euros, courtesy of the Pasito Blanco Yacht Club, reserved for the elite capable of carrying three blue marlin specimens on its stern, something that has rarely been seen in this competition. 

 

 

This edition, organised by the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Turismo de Gran Canaria, has been defined by the abundance of fish. In quantities rarely experienced in competition, as confirmed by the organisers. And if on Friday there were 13 Blue Marlin specimens that took centre stage, in the second and final event in the waters of southern Gran Canaria there were another eight blue marlins, as they are known in the Archipelago, which gave colour and excitement to an edition that totals 21 successful catch and release processes and a total of 51 bites, in which on 30 occasions the fish managed to free itself. No specimen was harmed, as reported, as this sporting event is based on the philosophy of fishing without victims. All this makes the 2024 Open one of the best in recent decades in which 30% of the participating fleet signed at least one completed catch and release.

 

The 'Cavalier' made three catches and releases, the 'White Marlin I', the 'Rod Father II' and the 'Blue Marlin' made the two catches of the first day. The 'Big Eye' and the 'Ali Sea' completed the list with two catches. And finally, the 'Soly', 'May Nieves', 'Show Time', 'Eva Team' and 'Arrantzale Bat' finished with one. 

 

 

The winners explained that, “It has been two very good days. It has been a while since we have seen so much fishing. Yesterday we caught one and lost two others and today we managed to catch and release it very quickly and this has given us peace of mind. Then we caught the third and we nailed it, to be honest. We are very happy.”

 

The 37 registered boats set sail punctually at 9:15 a.m. on the second day of the Open from the ports of Pasito Blanco, Puerto Rico and Mogán. Many repeated the strategy to head to the successful areas of the previous day. Both the area near the cement factory in Arguineguín, and in Mogán. Meanwhile, regular skippers of the competition, such as Alberto Iriarte, from Arantzale Bat, explained that Marlin fishing depends on many variables and tends to change from one day to the next. “There are streaks. We have been going out for the last few weeks and one day you don’t see any and the next day you get four bites. They are intelligent, they move and react according to the fleet,” explained this fisherman from the Basque Country and resident in Malaga, who has been a faithful visitor to the event in the south of Gran Canaria for decades.  

 

The 'White Marlin Primero', owned by Adolfo Zan Martín, started the day as the provisional leader, having been the first to open the race the day before, with its first 'bite' at 10:40 am, the first successful one of the day. Behind this boat, with a dock in Puerto Rico, was 'The Rod Father II', from Puerto Colón (Tenerife) and the 'Blue Marlin', also from Puerto Rico. With a confirmed mark and release were: the 'Ali Sea', formerly 'Opa Locka'; the 'Blue Marlin Tres'; 'Eva Team', the 'Arrantxale Bat', owned by Alberto Iriarte, the 'Cavalier'; the 'Hedonist': the 'Naomi' and the 'Hemingway'. All in all, excitement and fun, with a large number of skippers with chances of winning, were the main ingredients of the final day on Saturday. 

 

The list of three favourites for the final victory was soon joined by the 'Cavalier', which managed to complete its second catch and release at 10:54, allowing it to join the leading trio. After a pause of false calm, the competition resumed at 13:04 with a bite by the 'Soly' which spurred the rest on. After this, the festival began: the 'Big Eye' at 13:10, the second by the 'Cavalier' at 14:15. 'May Nieves' got her prize at 14:18, the 'Ali Sea' at 14:26. ​​The carousel was that of the best scoring afternoon. 'Show Time' lived up to its name at 14:51 and the 'Big Eye' completed the day at 15:35. 

 

“It was a very exciting and fun day due to the large number of Blue Marlin specimens, which ultimately translated into joy, happiness and great memories for each of the participants,” explained Francisco Torres, director of the Pasito Blanco Yacht Club and director of the event. 

 

As is tradition, both in the International Open and in its predecessor, the Pasito Blanco Fishing Competition, the competition ended with a great atmosphere, with a cocktail, awards ceremony and a concert by Los Lolas, which took place at La Punta Yacht Club with a large attendance, among the participating fishermen, their families and friends.