Goa's Red Snapper wins hearts at the All Goa annual fishing contest. The 14th All Goa Fishing Competition organised by United Friends, Panjim at the Captain of Ports Jetty, Panjim on Sunday Oct 24th, recontinued after a Covid 19 break in 2020, was held with much fanfare and a carnavalsque setup along the picturesque River Mandovi promenade near the old secretariat at Adil Shah Palace, Panjim.
The cloudy and humid Sunday weather did not deter 165 angling enthusiasts from all parts of Goa and neighbouring Kholapur and Ratnagiri to come in and try their luck and take a shot at the mega prizes. "Not many will go home emptyhanded", said Mc Cedric da Costa as most participants took home gifts and prizes. The event was dedicated to late Valerio D'Silva from Alto Guimaraes who was an avid angling enthusiast and member of United Friends who was one of the inspirations behind the contest in the earlier years. This year also saw a large number of child participants as also lady entrants. Some of the children and women also won individual prizes for fishing out fish. Many families too came along, while some participated in the contest, others tried to give a first hand glimpse to their children and themselves applauded as participants netted the fishes. Mc Cedric da Costa, Margao, hosted the event and moderated the humourous fishing debate among the participants, chief guests and prize distribution. Most of the guests spoke of being passionate about fishing since childhood and Chief Guest Sandeep Bharney, said that the thought behind the fishing contest was to have a healthy competition among the various anglers who would try their luck along the Mandovi promenade in Panjim, it later became an all Goa affair and now promises to be All India and beyond in future. Fr Roque, Tony Dias, Satish Rajmame and Sanjeev Sardessai participated in a short input session on fishing in Goa and the contest. Most speakers remembered with nostalgia the days when Goa's youth would rush to fish during their spare time, specially during the monsoons. Chief Guest Sandeep Bharney, a staunch supporter of the fishing contest from it's inception, Satish Rajmane of Multiple Taask Holidays Goa, Tony Dias, Jennifer D'Silva, Widow of late Valerio D'Silva, Sanjeev Sardessai, noted historian & Fr Roque Costa, Chaplain of St Sebastian Chapel, Fontainhas, Panjim, gave away the prizes to the participants and winners. The event was held following Covid 19 protocol and SOPS. In his address, Francis thanked the CCP Mayor Rohit Monsoratt and CCP Commissioner Agnelo AJ Fernandes, for his support to the contest along with PI Panjim Town Police and North Goa Collector Ajit Roy. The following is the list of prize winners: 1st place Vishant Vaigankar from Assnora Rs.7000 Red Snapper 2.08kgs 2nd place Priyesh Murkar from Ratnagiri Rs.5000 77t gms Kerr 3rd place Edison Fernandes Saligao Rs.3000 375gms Kerr Maximum number of fishes Rupesh Naik Mapusa 14 Fishes Theb youngest Angler Jason Dais from Merces 5yrs old The event was co coordinated by Francis Jorge, Samy D'Silva, Peter D'Silva and others of United Friends Panjim. Ends -