Camacho, Pangelinan cast widest nets at Talaya Throwing Contest

07/21/2025 - Joshua Camacho and Cole Pangelinan won the Talaya Throwing Contest held on Day 2 of the 41st Saipan International Fishing Tournament at the American Memorial Park.

With the grassy area near the Circle of Honor at the AMP serving as the sea to cast the net, Camacho beat all comers in the adult division. At the same time, Pangelinan was the lone participant in the youth division after several participants backed out at the last minute. 

The 30-year-old Camacho, who admitted doing talaya for a little over half a year, won with a 3-by-3-foot cast, while organizers didn’t even record Pangelinan’s throw, seeing he had no competition. 

Catherine Perry came in second in the adult division after beating Heavenly Pangelinan in a sudden-death throw. Both finished with a throw of 3-by-2 feet. Other participants were Ayden Yumul and Ethan Quichocho.

“I guess it’s the first competition I ever won,” said Camacho.

As for the prize money, the stay-at-home dad said he will use the $70 to get his talaya permit.

For his part, Pangelinan said that winning the youth talaya throwing competition was good since he just learned it a few minutes before.

“It feels good and I'm happy to win,” said the Mt. Carmel School student, who added that he will give his $30 winnings to his family. 

Talaya Club intern Chelsey Reyes congratulated the winners and thanked all the participants of the Talaya Throwing Contest.

“It doesn't matter what age, but we want to teach them this very important skill that our ancestors have been doing for years. We wanted to hold this Talaja 

Throwing Competition because we wanted to allow the youth to try it and gain interest, so they know that this is a way of living, and we want them to continue this tradition and keep it alive,” she said.

Talaya Club is a non-profit organization that strives to teach and to continue to invite communities all over the CNMI to continue and reinvigorate the islands’ traditional fishing customs and cultivate ​informed ocean stewards of all ​ages.

Report by Mark Rabago