KAILUA-KONA — Anglers, for the most part, were able to escape the rain that plagued Kona all day Thursday. The seas were calm and the skies clear in the waters just off the coast, supplying near perfect conditions for fishing during Day 4 of the 58th annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.
KAILUA-KONA — Anglers, for the most part, were able to escape the rain that plagued Kona all day Thursday. The seas were calm and the skies clear in the waters just off the coast, supplying near perfect conditions for fishing during Day 4 of the 58th annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.
Despite the conditions, with rain only affecting the crew drop off at Kailua pier, no fish was weighed, though several teams saw action in a tournament that seems to be rebounding from last year’s historically slow fishing.
So far 32 billfish have been tagged and released through the first four days, including seven on Thursday, and two ahi have been boated. A nearly 500-pound Pacific blue marlin was also weighed on the scales on Wednesday.
Several anglers have claimed multiple fish so far. Old South Marlin Club-International’s Jason Boger tagged and released his second marlin of the tournament on Thursday, an estimated 130-pounder in 11 minutes.
For Boger, a quick strike caught him off guard after just waking up from a nap.
“I was asleep and I was woken up when it was my turn,” Boger said. “I was in the cooler looking for a Red Bull and at about that time a fish hit the line. About five minutes into the fight my teammates were pouring Red Bull down my throat because I needed a little energy to finish it off. It was a blast.”
The tag and release helped Old South Marlin Club move up the leaderboard into a tie for second place with previous leader, Japan’s Core Marlin Club. Both have 900 points.
Surfside Marina – Team Miss Behavin, the leaders on Day 2, jumped back on top on Day 4 with 1,000 points after David Finkelstein, fishing aboard the 47-foot Northern Lights II, tagged and released an estimated 140-pound marlin with less than an hour to go before the stop fishing call.
Newport Game Fish Club, out of Australia, was also a big mover on the fourth day of the HIBT. The father-son duo of David and Bryce Trask tagged and released a pair of fish to move the team into contention with 850 points.
Fishing aboard the the Humdinger, Newport’s first fish came a mere eight minutes after the start fishing call, an estimated 150-pound blue marlin
“We had a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and motored for about five minutes before we put the spread out. We were just putting the final lures out when my rod went off just before it was put in the clip,” said Newport team captain David Trask. “It was a little fish and only took about 10 minutes to knock him over. It was cool to get a strike so quickly.”
A few hours later, Bryce Trask was in the chair for the team’s second marlin. The fight was just as quick on a 75-pounder.
Newport was the only team to tag two fish on Thursday. The team is now in fourth place overall and expect a hard day of fishing today.
“We will give it our best shot,” Bryce Trask said.
Also having a good day on the water Thursday, and a great tournament overall, is Tony Campos, of the Pajaro Valley Gamefish Club. Campos hooked his third fish of the tourney, an estimated 17-pound spearfish.
“It was a small fish,” Campos said. “Other than taking some razzing from my teammates on the size, I lucked out and put a few valuable points on the board.”
Campos is also one of only two anglers to weigh an ahi and one of three to weigh a fish in the tournament.
Chasing the Henry Chee Award
A familiar face sits atop the leaderboard for the Henry Chee Award, which is given to the charter boat captain who has the most billfish points by the end of the HIBT.
The front-runner for the 2017 honor is currently Capt. Jeff Fay, who skippers the 37-foot Humdinger.
Fay currently has a solid lead on the competition with 1,400 points and is a four-time Henry Chee winner, having claimed the title in 1971, 1977, 1993 and 2006.
Fishing with his son, Brett Fay, Humdinger has a 350 point lead on Kila Kila’s Brian Wargo heading into the final day of the tournament.