KAILUA-KONA — Day 1 of the 54th annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament was a memorable one for angler Rolf Czabayski of the Game Fishing Club of South Australia. He caught a 386-pound Pacific blue marlin — the biggest fish of the day, and it helped propel the Aussie club into first place after a long day fishing off the Kailua-Kona coast.
KAILUA-KONA — Day 1 of the 54th annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament was a memorable one for angler Rolf Czabayski of the Game Fishing Club of South Australia. He caught a 386-pound Pacific blue marlin — the biggest fish of the day, and it helped propel the Aussie club into first place after a long day fishing off the Kailua-Kona coast.
Four teams each posted 600 points in a four-way tie for second place: Laguna Nigel Billfish Club #2, Hilton Grand Vacations Fishing Club Ohana, Le Anglers Club and Old South Marlin Club East Coast 1.
A total of 120 seasoned anglers on 38 teams from around the world started off the prestigious tournament early Monday morning. There are six teams from New Zealand, five teams from Japan, four teams each from Australia and China, as well as teams from New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Africa and Vanuatu, plus 14 U.S. teams battling for top honors in the big game fishing tournament.
Fishing conditions were excellent and the Beijing Fishing Club was the first to radio in its hook up a mere 16 minutes into the tournament.
At 9:23 a.m., fishing aboard Maggie Joe, Game Fishing Club of South Australia hooked up, and just 12 minutes later angler Ralph Czabayski boated a 386-pound Pacific blue marlin. As the largest catch of the day, the marlin earned the team 615 valuable tournament points and placed them in the lead.
Fishing on the Game Fishing Club of South Australia are anglers Rolf and Ralph Czabayski, Steve Morris and Russell Bianco.
The five-day HIBT continues through Friday in the waters off the West Hawaii coastline.
HIBT notes: Angler Dicky DeVine of the Hilo Yacht Club caught a 146-pound ahi Monday to help his Big Island team. … Cheynielle Pacheco is this year’s Miss Billfish. … Recent HIBT champion teams participating in this year’s event include the 2012 Old South Marlin Club Team 4, North Carolina; 2011 Port Vila Game Fishing Club, Vanuatu; and 2010 Kona Game Fishing Club – Kusatsu, Japan.
For more tournament information, including IGFA world-records, rules, and entry information, log onto www.hibtfishing.com.
Editor’s note: Daily HIBT results are reported by Laura Aquino of Current Events.