Pagampao captures Larry Libres title with 3-pound, 1-ounce tako
Fernando Pagampao of Wailuku won the Larry Libres Fishing and Diving Tournament on Saturday and did something that’s never been done in the 31-year history of the tako diving event at Kanaha Beach Park.
Pagampao’s 3-pound, 1-ounce octopus was the first to hit the scale, weighing in at 9 a.m., one hour after the shotgun start. Over the next 90 minutes, 52 more tako were weighed, but none could pass Pagampao’s catch.
Jason Kuanoni actually tied Pagampao with a 3-pound, 1-ounce catch 33 minutes later. Since Pagampao weighed before Kuanoni, he was declared the winner.
Never before had the winning tako been the first to be brought to the scale.
“It was kind of shocking that it held up,” Pagampao said. “I figured it would place but not for first place.”
The 52-year-old Department of Land and Natural Resources employee said he’s been competing in the Libres for 20 years and his best finish a sixth place.
“When you win, it feels good,” he said. “Now I get my name on the trophy.”
At the start of the competition, Pagampao walked down Kanaha Beach.
“I swam down to the frame house,” he said. “Found (the tako) when I was coming back, down by the lifeguard shack, right outside, pretty close, maybe 75 yards offshore.”
Kuanoni, a 32-year-old Wailuku resident, was competing for the first time.
“I got (the tako) about 30 yards straight out here,” Kuanoni said, pointing to the water in front of the contest site. “I just dive there, seen the color was changing to the rock and I dove down and, ‘Oh, right on, must be one big one.’ ”
Randy Hillen, the defending champion, placed third with a 2-pound, 15-ounce tako. The contest was in Hillen’s backyard as he is a full-time lifeguard at Kanaha.
“Close but no cigar,” the 50-year-old Wailuku resident said. “It was super dirty. I just got lucky crossing over the holes.
Miles Watanabe, a 69-year-old retiree, was the oldest place winner, finishing 10th with a 2-pound, 8-ounce catch.
“Larry was my good friend,” Watanabe said. “We used to do business together. I’m glad I got 10th place, first time I placed.”
The Libres event drew 205 tako divers and 222 oama fishermen.
Kurt Nemoto, who won the oama 13-and-over division, was only one of two competitors to catch oama. The other oama-catching competitor was 12-and-under winner Zella Rellez of Wailuku.
Nemoto, a 30-year-old Wailuku resident, had previously won in 2011 and 2014. He fishes with his family every weekend during oama season. He actually caught three oama, more than the other 221 fishermen combined.
“It was hard to catch just one,” Nemoto said. “I was lucky to catch more than one, but just happened to see them and just got lucky. It’s been kind of slow (oama) season been kind of late, school doesn’t want to stay in one place, keeps moving back and forth.”
Since only two people hooked oama, contest officials gave out the other awards to the longest fish caught during the tournament.
The free contest was sponsored by the Maui Boardsailing Association.
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LARRY LIBRES FISHING AND DIVING TOURNAMENT
Saturday’s Results • At Kanaha Beach Park
Tako–1. Fernando Pagampao, Wailuku, 3 lbs. 1 oz.; 2. Jason Kuanoni, Wailuku, 3 lbs. 1 oz.; 3. Randy Hillen, Wailuku, 2 lbs. 15 oz.; 4. Kevin Fujimoto, Pukalani, 2 lbs. 15 oz.; 5. Jermer Arenas, Kahului, 2 lbs. 141/2 oz.; 6. Corey Wilson, Paia, 2 lbs. 12 oz.; 7. Kaimana Bush, Kihei, 2 lbs. 111/2 oz.; 8. Kawika Cazimero, Kahului, 2 lbs. 10 oz.; 9. Michael Farias, Kahului, 2 lbs. 10 oz.; 10. Miles Watanabe, Kahului, 2 lbs. 8 1/2 oz.
Oama 12 and under–1. Zella Rellez, Wailuku, 10.1 cm.; 2. Nui Boisey, Wailuku, (oio) 17.1 cm.; 3. Marsojoul Sojot, Pukalani, (hinalea) 15.4 cm; 4. Azaela Pimentel, Kahului, (hinalea) 15.1 cm.; 5. Kunae Pimentel, Kahului, (kupipi) 14.4 cm.
Oama 13 and over–1. Kurt Nemoto, Wailuku, 10.2 cm.; 2. Bryan Guzman, Kahului, (weke) 23.2 cm.; 3. Marc Esprabens, Wailuku, (oio), 18.7 cm.; 4. Leeana Kanemitsu, Wailuku, (kupipi), 14.6 cm.; 5. Clinton Rebo, Makawao, (kupipi) 14.1 cm.
- Fernando Pagampao holds up his winning tako caught during the Larry Libres Fishing and Diving Tournament on Saturday at Kanaha Beach Park. — KIM BALL photo
- Participants line the shore of Kanaha Beach Park fishing for oama. — HARRY WIEWEL photo
- Kurt Nemoto of Wailuku has his oama measured. — HARRY WIEWEL photo
- Jason Kuanoni of Wailuku prepares to weigh his tako. — HARRY WIEWEL photo
- Miles Watanabe of Kahului displays his catch. — HARRY WIEWEL photo











