September 26, 2026
Pohnpei—Kalani Torres had a particularly successful day on the water during the 19th Annual Alexander Panuelo Fishing Tournament, landing the biggest fish of the tournament and taking first place in the Ladies category as well. Meanwhile, Buzz and Lizzy Moffet had a pretty profitable day of their own, hauling in a combined $1,500 in prize money.
Fishing aboard Marlin, Torres brought in a 52.2-pound yellowfin tuna, earning the $800 first-place prize for the heaviest fish of the day. She also landed a 10.6-pound barracuda, which earned her first place in the Ladies category.
Buzz Moffet, fishing aboard Dear Diane, had a good day as well, bringing in the second- and third-heaviest fish of the tournament. His 45.4-pound yellowfin earned him $700 for second place, while another yellowfin weighing 34 pounds brought him the $600 third-place prize.
Not to be outdone entirely by her husband, Lizzy Moffet landed a 27.6-pound yellowfin, earning the $200 sixth-place prize. Between them, the couple took home three of the six Big Fish prizes, making Dear Diane a particularly successful boat in the tournament.
Two anglers tied on fish weight for fourth and fifth place. Bernard Ifamlik, aboard Dolphin, landed a 29.6-pound yellowfin for the $500 fourth-place prize. Richson Soswe, fishing aboard CMFI, also landed a 29.6-pound yellowfin, earning the $300 fifth-place prize.
All six of the tournament’s Big Fish prizes went to yellowfin tuna, with the winning fish ranging from 27.6 to 52.2 pounds.
Prizes were also awarded for the largest fish in several species categories.
JayRayden Kapiriel landed the top tuna in the species competition at 25.4 pounds. O’niel Optaia took first place in the skipjack category with a 10.2-pound fish.
Saimon Mix brought in the largest barracuda at 21 pounds, while Nile Panuelo landed a 26.2-pound giant trevally (GT) to take first place in that category.
In the Ladies competition, Torres’s 10.6-pound barracuda earned first place, followed by Marcia Palasko, who landed a seven-pound GT for second place.
Junior angler MJC Soswe, fishing aboard CMFI, also made it into the prize winners with a 9.6-pound skipjack, good enough for second place in the skipjack category.
The Pohnpei Fishing Club thanked the tournament’s sponsors, Blue Nile, Ocean View Plaza Westwing, One World/Para Nui, Panuelo Gas Station, Rain Water, Arnolds Restaurant, and David W. Panuelo, for helping make the annual competition possible.
The club also thanked the participating anglers, boat crews, volunteers, and those who assisted with registration and weigh-in.
The next Pohnpei Fishing Club competition will be the Budweiser Derby, scheduled for October 24.
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