2012 Maui Roi Round-up Tournament Results

Free divers on Maui captured 221 roi, 40 to’au, and 2
ta’ape, giving relief to native juvenile fish that are subject to
depredation and competition for habitat by these invasive species. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

The 2012 Maui Roi Round-up reeled in a moment for the record books when tournament participant, Marc Riglos, was bit by what was described as a 15-foot tiger shark.

Riglos was about 500 yards off-shore with his dive partner, Kaulana Kaaa, when the incident occurred at around 8:09 a.m. on Sunday, November 4, 2012, friends said.

“They just got out to the drop-off, which is like a 20-30 minute paddle out… and they didn’t event shoot any fish yet,” said Jarrett Nanod who was also a participant in the tournament.

***Interviews and details of the attack are posted at the following direct LINK.

Today’s Roi Round-up was held in Wailuku Maui and drew 50
free divers who targeted invasive roi, to’au, and ta’ape.

Riglos is a repeat participant in the annual tournament and remained hospitalized at last report with severe lacerations to his ankle, officials said.

Tournament officials say they plan to donate funds from merchandise sales at today’s event to the victim’s family to help pay for medical bills.

The purpose of the tournament is to remove invasive fish from Maui’s reefs, including roi (or peacock grouper), to‘au (or blacktail snapper), and ta‘ape (or blue-line snapper).

There were a total of 50 divers competing in pairs today.  Contest organizers say 225 Roi, 40 To’au and 2 Ta’ape were caught in this years’ event.  According to officials, the removal of the invasive roi in this year’s tournament alone, will save 32,306 reef fish next year.

Below are the results from today’s event:

MOST POINTS (TEAM AWARD)
1st Place – Rob Fujimoto and Demetrius Xenos, 4,088 points, 28 roi
2nd Place – John Mason and Whitney Carden, 3,650 points, 25 roi
3rd Place – Grant Nakamura and Trent Kyono, 3,066 points, 21 roi

LARGEST ROI (INDIVIDUAL AWARD)
Adam Cabalo, 4.97 pounds – Biggest roi caught in a tournament

SMALLEST ROI (INDIVIDUAL AWARD)
Whitney Carden, .134 lbs

MOST TA’APE (TEAM AWARD)
John Panela and Leilani Bagoyo – 2

MOST TO’AU (TEAM AWARD)
Don Saito and Brandon Shim – 16

This marks the fifth year and eighth tournament since the inception of the Maui Roi Round-up in 2008.

During the weigh-in, personnel from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources were on hand to take measurements of roi.  They also selected specimens to be used in ciguatera research at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

All other fish are being donated to the Maui Ocean Center to be used for shark food or donated to an organic farmer for use as fertilizer.