A diminutive woman from Japan made the biggest splash on an otherwise quiet day at the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.
A diminutive woman from Japan made the biggest splash on an otherwise quiet day at the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.
Mari Arakawa of Olympian Dream Fishing Club hauled in a 622.6-pound blue marlin, the largest a female has ever caught on 50-pound test line in the 55-year history of the tournament.
Fishing aboard Illusions captained by Tim Hicks, Arakawa got a bite just after 10 a.m. – about 2 ½ hours after the tournament resumed. It was a long and drawn-out battle, with Arakawa fighting it for four hours, eight minutes before she was able to bring it aboard.
“She was so strong,” Arakawa said of the marlin. “Strong enough for me!”
The catch topped the 584-pound marlin that Vicki Smith of Bay Islands Swordfish Club caught two years ago and it was the largest since Pat Peacock caught a 721.5-pounder in 1962, when the tournament allowed anglers to use 130-pound test line.
It also was by far the largest of the day. Arakawa’s was the only marlin brought to the pier, as the others were tagged and released. A handful of ahi were caught and a number of anglers had fish bite but were unable to bring them aboard.
Arakawa’s catch also vaulted her team into the lead after the second day of fishing. Olympian Dream Fishing Club picked up 1,030 points for her efforts to pull ahead of China Sea Wolf Club, the leader after the first day with 600 points.
Wednesday’s action will start a half-hour earlier, beginning at 7 a.m. at Kailua Pier, and end at 4 p.m. The tournament runs through Friday.