Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The first day of competition in the 23rd Annual Steinlager I‘a Lapo‘a Fishing Tournament got underway yesterday, launching a fleet of 15 boats into the open waters. This year’s lineup includes nine local teams, two crews from Samoa, and four visiting teams from New Zealand, all vying for top honors in one of the region’s most anticipated annual fishing events.

Organized each year by the Pago Pago Game Fishing Association (PPGFA), the tournament officially welcomed all teams on Saturday with a Captain's meeting at the Malaloa Marina. The event brought together local anglers and off‑island competitors, setting a warm and festive tone as teams prepared for the weeklong challenge ahead.

The I‘a Lapo‘a Fishing Tournament has long been recognized as one of the region’s premier sport‑fishing events, drawing international attention year after year. For 2026, anglers are targeting a range of prized species such as marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and dolphinfish. Tournament scoring will follow traditional rules, with judges evaluating catches based on overall quality across multiple species rather than sheer weight alone.

Four boats landed fish on the opening day of the I‘a Lapo‘a Fishing Tournament, including the day’s standout catch — a marlin weighing 224.8 pounds, the largest recorded so far in the competition.

Among the anglers celebrating early success was New Zealander Paul Mellsop of Tauranga, who is competing in the tournament for the first time. Speaking after returning to shore, Mellsop said he was thrilled to have caught a marlin on his very first outing in American Samoa’s waters although it wasn't the biggest one caught.

Mellsop shared that he joined the crew of the Grandee at the invitation of skipper Mike Randrup, a long‑time participant in the event. Randrup, who has competed in the I‘a Lapo‘a for the past 16 years, welcomed Mellsop aboard for this year’s tournament, and the newcomer said he was grateful for the opportunity and proud to contribute to the team’s strong start.

Other prizes presented yesterday included one for the biggest giant trevally weighing 29.3 pounds reeled in by the Devorah crew, and a 24.8 pound yellowfin caught by Ian Moroney of Reel Cat.

PPGFA President Chris Banse said he was pleased with the strong turnout for this year’s tournament, noting that the participation reflects the growing popularity of the sport across the region. He added that he hopes to see even more anglers from Samoa take part in next year’s event, strengthening the friendly rivalry and regional camaraderie that the I‘a Lapo‘a Tournament is known for.

Banse also extended his appreciation to the tournament’s major sponsor, Steinlager, distributed locally by Sunshine Inc., as well as Neptune Pacific Direct Line (NPDL) and the many local and off‑island businesses whose support helps sustain the event each year.

He currently leads the Pago Pago Game Fishing Association’s newly elected executive board, which includes Vice President Sally Asafo, Treasurer Tumua‘i Snow, and Secretary Tepore Timu.

The tournament continues today, with all competing boats required to report to the Malaloa Marina by 5 a.m. sharp as the second day of fishing gets underway.