78th Annual TIFT draws anglers, volunteers from around the world

By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com

It’s no surprise that the Texas International Fishing Tournament (TIFT) draws anglers not just from all over Texas, but from all over the United States, and beyond. What may come as a surprise to some, though, is that it’s not just the anglers who come from far off locales.

The 78^th Annual TIFT was a first for one dock worker in particular who made quite the journey just for TIFT. Ryan Nahhas, 21, came all the way from Lebanon for an opportunity to volunteer with the rest of the gaggle of high school and college students at Southpoint Marina.

With fishermen family in the Rio Grande Valley, Nahhas had seen what TIFT was like before, but only as a spectator. “I’ve been coming here for six years and I watch them,” the recent business school graduate said of the dock workers. One of his uncles has previously fished the tournament, and Nahhas himself likes offshore fishing, too. He goes after blackfin tuna, he said.

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