Hii Sii Sing, at Marina Bay with his winning catch of a 70.8kg grouper yesterday, to break the old record of 61.8kg.
MIRI: Local angler Hii Sii Sing was made RM18,000 richer when the Mirian was named champion in the just-concluded Miri 9th International Deep Sea Fishing competition yesterday.
Sii Sing also broke the old record with his haul of a 70.8kg grouper. As champion for having the heaviest catch, he received RM15,000 and scooped another RM3,000 for the new record when he beat over 100 anglers at the rich fishing ground of Luconia Shoal in the South China Sea.
The old record was 61.8kg which was recorded in 2013.
Second and third place went to two anglers from China who hauled a 39.2kg Dogtooth tuna (RM6,000 cash prize) and an Escalator weighing 36.4kg (RM3,000 cash).
In the team category, China emerged champion with a total haul of 50.2kg to snag the RM5,000 cash prize.
Second place went to a Malaysia-China team with 41.9kg (for RM3,000) while a team from Brunei finished third with 31.75kg (RM2,000).
All three winning teams also received certificates and Shimano fishing tackles.
The competition, which kicked off on April 23, saw a field of over 141 participants from 12 countries taking part in the annual event to promote Miri as a world-class fishing destination.
It was organised by Miri Anglers Club, under the auspices of state tourism in conjunction with Miri Mayfest.
Present to witness the weighing of the catch to adjudge winners yesterday were Assistant Minister of Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin and Miri mayor Lawrence Lai.