KAILUA-KONA — Fish beware — the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is back in town and some anxious anglers are looking for some big bites.
The 57th edition of the event gets going Sunday at Kailua Pier with the Opening Ceremony from 5-6 p.m.
Fishing begins Monday and runs through Friday. The teams will head out at 8 a.m. and return to the harbor for weigh-ins at 4 p.m. (Wednesday the action is pushed up one hour). The public is invited to watch the weigh-ins and daily roundups will be available at the pier at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.
The tournament uses a point system to calculate the winner, with Billfish points being awarded for legally caught catches weighing more than 300 pounds of the following species: Pacific blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin and broadbill swordfish. There are also points available for ahi catches more than 100 pounds, as well as tag and released fish. Points vary depending on what pound-test line it was caught on.
The tournament is unique in that anglers are not fishing for prize money. Instead, the fishermen and women are hoping to sink their hooks into one of the HIBT’s prestigious trophies.
The Governor’s Trophy is the most storied of all the hardware and goes to the team with the highest number of billfish points in the tourney.
Last year, United States squad Team Likeke captured the top honors with 2,296 points. Australia’s Sunshine Coast Game Fishing Club took second and Kona Game Fishing Club — out of Japan — rounded out the top three.
Team Likeke will not be back to defend its title, but there’s a host of other teams looking to get their hands on some hardware at the “Grandfather of All Big Game Fishing Tournaments.”
As usual, the field boasts quite a bit of international flair. Six teams are from Japan, five from Australia, three each from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and one each from China and South Africa. The other nine teams are made up from various spots across the United States.
While the anglers get a lot of the glory, the fleet of boats — along with their crews and captains — have made the tournament what it is today. Tim Hicks, who captains the boat Illusions and has been involved with the tournament since 1993, took home the Henry Chee Award last year, which is given to the captain and crewmembers of the charter boat upon which anglers in the tournament have scored the highest number of billfish points.
“It was a great win,” Hicks said of receiving the award. “I know a lot of captains that have won it and it’s special to them.”
With more than 20 years of fishing in the HIBT, Hicks has more than a few memories from the event – in 2014, when a lady angler from Japan reeled in a 622.6-pound blue marlin on 50-pound test line.
“That would have to be the standout for me,” Hicks said. “It was a four-hour fight and, to date, the largest blue marlin caught by a woman (on 50-pound test) in the history of the tournament.”
As for his favorite part of the tournament?
“Sunday night, meeting the teams. Great time and good food,” the Illusions skipper said. “But the best part about it is all the friends that I have made across the world.”
Miss Billfish
Awaiting the anglers on the pier for weigh-ins to pose for photos of their catches will be this year’s Miss Billfish, Tina Fear.
Fear, born and raised in Kailua-Kona, enjoys fishing, surfing and swimming, and was on a surfboard before she could even swim, according to her bio.
The 2016 Miss Billfish graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Travel Industry Management from the University of Hawaii.
HIBT hardware
The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament hands out quite a bit of hardware. Here is a look at just a few of the awards:
GOVERNOR’S TROPHY
Awarded to the Team scoring the highest number of billfish points in the tournament.
HENRY CHEE MEMORIAL AWARD
Awarded to the captain and crewmembers of the charter boat upon which anglers in the tournament have scored the highest number of billfish points.
DUDLEY C. LEWIS AWARD
To be awarded to the wahine angler, not on a team placing first, second or third, scoring the highest number of billfish points in the tournament.
JIM HARVEY MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to the Angler boating the heaviest qualifying Tuna in the tournament. This trophy honors the eminent early day sportsman from Hawaii who for 25 years held the All-Tackle record for Tuna.
DUKE KAHANAMOKU MEMORIAL AWARD
To be awarded to the Angler boating the heaviest qualifying billfish in the tournament. This trophy honor’s Hawaii’s famed sportsman who participated in this tournament for many years.
RICHARD BOONE AWARD
To be awarded to the captain and crewmember of the charter boat receiving the highest scores rated by the teams during the week.
HAWAII COUNTY MAYOR’S TROPHY
To be awarded to the Team that traveled the farthest distance to fish the HIBT.
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HIBT World Records
DATE ANGLER SPECIES WEIGHT TEST BOAT SKIPPER
Aug. 29, 1959 George Wooller Pacific blue marlin 444 80 Kamalii Kai Murray Heminger, Jr.
Sept. 13, 1960 Pat Peacock Pacific blue marlin 540 130 Adelante Charlie Spinney
Aug. 2, 1962 Pat Peacock Silver marlin (black) 721.5 130 Kakina John Peacock
July 20, 1966 Rufus Spalding, Jr. Yellowfin tuna 240 50 Kealia VI Rufus Spalding, Jr
July 22, 1971 Michelle Spalding Yellowfin tuna 204.25 50 Kealia VI Rufus Spalding, Jr
Aug. 28, 1973 Eric Tixier Pacific blue marlin 916 80 Big Bad John Willy Erickson
Aug. 27, 1973 Welby Taylor Pacific blue marlin 663 50 Malia Kai Henry Bush
Aug 27, 1973 Doris Jones Pacific blue marlin 669 130 Malia Butch Chee
July 17, 1974 Haku Baldwin Yellowfin tuna 224 80 Waiopai Manduke Baldwin
July 19, 1974 Neil Nishikawa Pacific blue marlin 762 50 Kiko Kiko Olney Roy
Aug. 4, 1975 Judith Nakamaru Yellowfin tuna 231 80 Image II Jerry Egami
Aug. 4, 1975 Mardi Jensen Yellowfin tuna 229 50 Mardi J2 Edward Jensen
July 26, 1976 Judith Nakamaru Yellowfin tuna 250.5 80 Image II Jerry Egami
Aug. 8, 1986 Gil Kraemer Pacific blue marlin 1062.5 50 Ihu Nui Freddy Rice
*Aug. 19, 1993 Ray Hawkes Pacific blue marlin 1166 50 Sea Strike Dale Leverone
* Pro-Am record
