The 13th Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament will reopen on April 20-24 in Pilar town of Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province, three years after it was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Welcome back to Siargao Island for the return of the Annual Siargao International Game Fishing at the game fishing capital of the Philippines in Pilar, Siargao Island,” said Surigao del Norte 1st district Representative Francisco Jose Matugas II in a statement Monday.

The 12th tournament was staged in April 2019 and was stalled in 2020 at the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. The event will also be staged nearly two years after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette that affected Siargao Island in December 2021.

Matugas said the tournament will feature various categories for the fishing enthusiasts, and is poised to bring together more anglers from around the world to compete for the championship.

Registration for the event is currently ongoing through an online link posted on the official Facebook account of the tournament.

Organizers of the tournament include the office of Rep. Matugas, the Department of Tourism, and the local government unit of Pilar.

Categories of the tournament include the Biggest Bill Fish Category, the Biggest Giant Trevally, Biggest Tanguige, Biggest Dorado, and the Biggest Others.

The organizers, meanwhile, emphasized that anglers are prohibited to fish and catch sharks, stingrays, puffer fish, dolphins, and turtles during the competition. (PNA)