Lydia beats Naomi at Gran Tarajal’s 30th International Offshore Fishing Open

Gran Tarajal harbour hosted a particularly significant edition of the International Offshore Fishing, Tag and Release Open on 10, 11 and 12 September. This year marked the event’s 30th anniversary, with 35 boats taking part from Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Gomera.

Organised by Club Deportivo Faro de La Entallada, the Open once again brought together crews, fishing enthusiasts, families and visitors over three days. It has become one of Fuerteventura’s major sporting fishing events, combining sport, tourism, community spirit and a commitment to conserving the marine environment.

The competition had an exciting finish, with the two boats at the top of the standings level on points. Lydia and Naomi each caught two blue marlin and scored 600 points, so the tie-break criteria set by the organisers had to be applied.

Lydia was ultimately declared the winner of this 30th edition, having tagged both fish before Naomi. The two boats therefore finished with the same score and number of blue marlin, but the order in which the fish were tagged gave Lydia first place overall. Naomi came second, with Alexara completing the podium in third place.

Lydia also received the Blue Marlin Award, with Naomi in second place, while Mortifico was recognised with the Biggest Wahoo Award. The Best Boat in the Municipality Award went to Alexara.

Commitment to protecting the marine environment was once again a key feature of the Open. The award for the boat showing the greatest environmental awareness went to Egolet, in recognition of its commitment to respect, care for and conserve the marine environment.

The organisers also highlighted the involvement of younger generations in sport fishing by presenting the Special Youth Award to Sherin Marcuño, from the boat Libertad VIP.

This edition was particularly significant as it marked 30 years of the Gran Tarajal International Offshore Fishing, Tag and Release Open. For three decades, Club Deportivo Faro de La Entallada has organised and sustained an event that has become a fixture in Fuerteventura’s sport fishing calendar and a meeting point for participants from different islands.

The anniversary also provided an opportunity to recognise the contribution of skippers, crews, businesses, supporters and organisations that have helped keep the competition going over the years and establish its place among Gran Tarajal’s events.

The tag-and-release format remains one of the Open’s defining features, promoting a sporting activity that respects the marine environment and conserves its resources. This approach allows the competition to retain its sporting character while raising awareness of the need to protect marine species and ecosystems.

The participation of 35 boats from four islands—Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Gomera—strengthened the event’s inter-island character. Alongside its sporting dimension, the competition generates activity and supports the local economy in Gran Tarajal and the municipality of Tuineje.

With its 30th edition now complete, the International Offshore Fishing, Tag and Release Open closes another chapter in its history and looks to the future, holding on to its core values: sport, tradition, community spirit, inter-island participation and commitment to the sea.

The event is supported by the Fuerteventura Island Council, the Canary Islands Government, the Fuerteventura Tourism Board, Tuineje Town Council and Puertos Canarios.