Biggest catch makes Causing day

PILAR, Siargao, Philippines – When Elmer Causing marked his 57th birthday last Saturday on a tiny wooden boat in the San Roque river with boatman Rico Elimanco, he wished nothing but a big catch.

He got what he wanted one day later.

Causing and Elimanco caught a seven-foot, 31.950-kg sailfish (locally called “lip-lipan”) before noon Sunday to emerge with the biggest catch in the 10th Siargao International Game Fishing tournament in this quaint seaport town here.

The duo checked in just one-hour before the 4 p.m. deadline for all 70-plus participants who came from various countries, including South Africa, Norway, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Canada, United States and Singapore.

When the final weight was announced, Causing clinched his right fist and celebrated with his Angola-based Hakuna Matata team and fellow anglers knowing he had landed the biggest catch.

“I’m just happy because I wished for it when I turned 57 Saturday. It was a nice birthday gift for myself,” said Causing, a first time participant here on a brief vacation from his work in Angola.

Causing, who also caught a pair of seven-kilo wahoo, said he would have caught a bigger one had his nylon line held.

“At 8:45 a.m., I caught something bigger. I saw it and I was just slowly pulling it in but I sensed something wrong with the line before it eventually snapped,” said Causing. “Thankfully, at 11:30 a.m., I caught this,” he added.