Kona Update/World Cup Results

PBM983
Blue Makaira with the World Cup winning 983 pound Atlantic blue marlin.

MADEIRA WINS WORLD CUP WITH NEAR GRANDER

By the time the 54-team Kona fleet took to the seas to compete in the World Cup Blue Marlin Championship, the worldwide, one-day event was over. Before the Kona starting time on Independence Day, the Madeira boat Blue Makaira had boated a 983-pound blue, which proved to be unbeatable.  Until the fish was actually weighed, Kona skippers held out the slim hope that the big fish being towed back to port half a world away was not as big as estimated.  Instead, it proved even bigger. It would take one of Kona’s historic granders to beat it, but no Kona boat has yet weighed a grander in 2016, and no Kona team was able to catch a qualifying blue (500-pound minimum) on July 4.

 

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WHAT’S A TUNA WORTH?

On Saturday, the first day of the two-day Firecracker Open, Team Bwana boated a 208.5-pound ahi and tagged a blue marlin.  Taken together, their two fish scored the highest number of points for boats entered in the five first-day “dailies” (the $100-, $300-, $500-, and $1,000-entry levels).  So even before the second day of the competition, their first-day payout totalled $49,050.

 

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TWO NEW “SKIPJACK” LEADERS

On Friday, angler Tom Schachet fished on Night Runner with Capt. Shawn Rotella and boated a 23-pound kawakawa.  It takes over the Big-Fish List lead for the species, which also goes by the name “wavy back skipjack,” according to the International Game Fish Association.  Night Runner had already filled the kawakawa slot with a smaller fish but the 23-pounder definitely gives Capt. Shawn a much firmer grip on the lead.  It’s the biggest KK we’ve seen in six years  (2015, 18.5 pounds; 2014, 21; 2013, 13.5; 2012, 17.5; 2011, 21; 2010, 24.5).

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ODDEST CATCH OF THE WEEK.

On Tuesday, Bite Me 1 weighed a 584.5-pound blue marlin.  Two days later, Hookela II brought in a blue of exactly the same weight.  Not a scale malfunction.  Lots of other fish tested the Fuel Dock scale between those two weighings.

 

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OTHER NOTABLES OF THE WEEK

On Wednesday, Carol and Bruce Herren boated an ono big enough to challenge the 62-pounder at the top of our list.  They kept fishing and tagged two blues for their efforts.  But even if you count pounds lost from the delay in weighing, the ono wouldn’t have toppled Night Runner’s leader.  It came in at 59 pounds.

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Big-Fish List for 2016. The list recognizes the biggest fish caught on rod and reel (except opakapaka and onaga, for which we’ll accept hand line catches) in West Hawaii waters for 2016 in each of 22 categories. They are listed by species, weight, angler, skipper, boat, and date. The list is updated every Sunday throughout the year (copyright 2016 by Jim Rizzuto). If we have overlooked you, give us a call (885-4208) or send an e-mail ([email protected]).

  • Blue marlin, 865, Louis Paulo and grandson Kalamaokalani Kelekolio-Crivello, Anela okaikea. April 16.
  • Black marlin, 310, Tim Flint, Capt. Butch Chee, Duck Soup, June 21
  • Ahi, 233, David Diaz, Capt. Bobby Cherry, Cherry Pit II, June 5
  • Bigeye tuna, 173, Dave Remillard, Miles Nakahara, Puamana II. Jan. 11.
  • Striped marlin, 136.5, Mitchell Romero, Capt. Guy Terwilliger, High Flier. Jan 22.
  • Spearfish, 54, Nick Humpries, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner, Feb. 26
  • Sailfish, 91, Mike Foster, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Mar. 24.
  • Mahimahi, 53, Nainoa Murtagh, Aulani. Feb. 10.
  • Ono, 62, Charlie Ford, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Mar. 18.
  • Kaku, (barracuda), 49.5, Koi Lorance and Tyson Fukuyama, Miki.  May 7.
  • Kahala, 70, Jessica Yell, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Jan 22.
  • Ulua (giant trevally), 74, Bochan Johnson, from shore. Apr 3.
  • Omilu (bluefin trevally), 18.5, Mikey McCrum, Shoreline. May 13
  • Otaru (skipjack tuna), 28. 5, Ray Mohammond, Capt. Jim Wigzell, Go Get Em
  • Broadbill swordfish, 224, Matthew Bolton, Kahele, June 14
  • Ahipalaha (albacore), (vacant)
  • Kawakawa, 23, Tom Schachet, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. July 1
  • Kamanu (rainbow runner), 12.5. Tom Britton, kayak. Apr. 13
  • Opakapaka (pink snapper), 9.5. Butch Chee, Sueto Matsumoto, Sandee. Mar. 12.
  • Onaga (ulaula ko`aie), 19.5, Greg Hong, Kevin Shiraki, Erin Kai.  Feb 25.
  • Uku (gray snapper), 17.5, Devin Hallingstad, kayak. Mar. 24.
  • O`io (bonefish), (vacant)

Beasts of the week (marlin weighing 500 pounds or more).

Jun 28: Blue marlin (584.5), Vaughn Mordecai, Capt. Chad Contessa, Bite Me 1

Jun 30: Blue marlin (584.5), Shawn, Allan Liftee, Hookela II

Released

Jun 26: Blue marlin (140 and 170), striped marlin (30), Paulette Pama, Capt. Steve Fassbender Teresa

Jun 26: Blue marlin (120), Blake Walker, Capt. Kevin Nakamaru, Northern Lights

Jun 26: Blue marlin (175), Dennis, Capt. Kerwin Masunaga, Rod Bender

Jun 26: Blue marlin (135), Craig, Capt. Jim Wigzell, Go Get Em

Jun 27: Blue marlin (110), Mitch Buckingham, Capt. Kenny Fogarty, Hula Girl

Jun 27: Spearfish (35), Joe Porter, mako shark (250), Emily Ferguson, Capt. Chuck Wilson, Fire Hatt

Jun 27: Blue marlin, (80 and 100), Dave Anderson, Capt. McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui

Jun 27: Blue marlin, (600), Mike Cipolla, Capt. Chris Choy, Sapo

Jun 27: Spearfish (35), Unknown, Capt. Neal Isaacs, Anxious

Jun 27: Blue marlin (200), Derek Knott, Capt. Jason Holtz, Pursuit

Jun 28: Blue marlin (350), Lance Young, Capt. Jason Holtz, Pursuit

Jun 28: Blue marlin (120), Jeff Johnson, Capt. Trevor Child , Maverick

Jun 28: Blue marlin (225), Don Dixon, Capt. McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui

Jun 28: Blue marlin (125), Brody Waters, Capt. Don Stutheit, Kona Spirit

Jun 29: Blue marlin (120), Mike Stewart, Capt. Gene Vanderhoek, Sea Genie II

Jun 29: Blue marlin (200 and 150), Carol Herren, Capt. Bruce Herren, Raptor

Jun 29: Blue marlin (125 and 140), Warren Keinath, (140), Tom Griffin, Five Star

Jun 29: Blue marlin (180), Suzanne Gustavson, Capt. Al Gustavson, Topshape

Jun 29: Blue marlin (140), Jack Sampson, Capt. David Unger, Nasty Habit

Jun 29: Blue marlin (600), Unknown, Capt. Chad Contessa, Bite Me 1

Jun 30: Blue marlin (150), Tim McBride, Capt. Ruben Rubio, Sundowner

Jun 30: Blue marlin (60), Craig Lindner, Capt. Teddy Hoogs , Bwana

Jun 30: Blue marlin (175), Carol Herren, Capt.Bruce Herren, Raptor

Jun 30: Blue marlin (200), Joe Orepeza, Capt. James Dean, Blue Hawaii

Jul 1:  Blue marlin (150), Kurt Van Burkleo, Capt. Shawn Palmer, Camelot

Jul 1:  Blue marlin (500), John Robinson, Capt. McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui

Jul 1:  Blue marlin (125), spearfish (20), Crystal Thompson, Capt. Kenny Fogarty, Hula Girl

Jul 1:  Blue marlin (200) Craig Lindner, Capt. Teddy Hoogs, Bwana

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (225), Scott LaBeau, Capt Jeff Heintz, Linda Sue IV

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (150), Craig Lindner, Capt. Teddy Hoogs, Bwana

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (125), Scott Stables, Capt. Rob Ellyn, Lightspeed

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (150), Brad Picking, Capt. Chuck Wigzell, EZ Pickens

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (130), Daron Castoro, Capt. Kevin Hiney, Kuuipo

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (250), Trey Ruschaupt, Capt. Neal Isaacs, Anxious

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (175), Dan Christie, Bite Me 2

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (175), Tim Lemman, Capt. Jeff Kahl, Piper

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (150), Pat Tuell, Capt. Dale Leverone, Sea Strike

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (150), John Leonard, Capt. Steve Fassbender Teresa

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (140), Joe Marshall, (175), Chet Metcalf,  Capt. David Unger, Nasty Habit

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (140), Scott Kincade, Capt. Tim Hicks, Illusions

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (175), Charles Dibona, Capt. Chuck WIlson, Fire Hatt

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (275), John Dixon, Capt. McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui

Jul 2:  Blue marlin (175), Brian Davidson, Capt. Jah Nogues, High Noon

Boated

Jun 26: Ahi (172.5), Eric Sydell, Capt. Kevin Hiney, Ku’uipo

Jun 26: Ahi (160), Barrot Smith, Capt. Bobby Cherry, Cherry Pit II

Jun 26: Blue marlin (202.5), Eddie Mercer, Capt. Andy, Bite Me 3

Jun 26: Ahi (171.5), Monte Leewen, Capt. Mike, Bite Me 6

Jun 26: Ono (34), Christopher Howaz, Capt. Brian Toney, Marlin Magic

Jun 26: Ahi (111), spearfish (3), Brad Picking, Capt. Chuck Wigzell, EZ Pickens

Jun 26: Ahi (171.5), Walter Umali, Scott Hawkins, Lukila

Jun 26: Spearfish (35), Unknown, Capt. Trevor Child, Maverick

Jun 27: Ahi (163, 100, and 100), Paul Orseth, Capt. Guy Terwilliger, High Flier

Jun 27: Ono (25) Tom Stilley, Capt. Kenny Fogarty, Hula Girl

Jun 27: Ahi (199), Tanner Caputo, Capt. Dave Bertuleit, Kona Seafari

Jun 27: Spearfish (30) Dave Anderson, Capt. McGrew Rice , Ihu Nui

Jun 27: Ahi (165) Paul Dolinoy, Capt. Chris Choy, Sapo

Jun 27: Ahi (195), Sean Birdle, Capt. Bomboy Llanes, Bomboy’s Toy

Jun 27: Ahi (100 and 110), Robert Ebert, Capt. Bobby Cherry, Cherry Pit II

Jun 28: Ono (42) Andy McGregor, Capt. Bill Casey, Marlin Grando

Jun 28: Ahi (130) Brody Waters, Capt. Don Stutheit, Kona Spirit

Jun 29: Aku (21), Ryan and Buddy, My Buddy’s Boat

Jun 30: Blue marlin (315.5), Robert Hean, (145), Mike Hibbard, Capt. Howard Whitcomb Intrepid

Jun 30: Ahi (119), Tod Jackson, Capt. Bobby Cherry, Cherry Pit II

Jul 1:   Ahi (118), Lokepa and Jeremy Moniz, Kawena

Jul 1:   Ahi (132), Jim Adams , Capt. Jah Nogues, High Noon

Jul 1:   Mahimahi (36), Rob Hasty, Capt. Jeff Heintz, Linda Sue IV

Jul 1:  Ahi (173) Eloy Escobedo, Capt. Kent Mongreig, Sea Wife II

Jul 1:  Spearfish (30), Craig Lindner, Capt. Teddy Hoogs, Bwana

Jul 2:  Ahi (107), Jon Gangano, Todd Zane, Pookela

 

Jul 2:   Ahi (105.5), Hunter Rodrick, (106.5), Jeff Rodrick, Capt. Will Lazenby, Linda Sue III

Jul 2:  Ahi (96), Unknown, Capt. Jeff Heintz, Linda Sue IV

Jul 2:   Ahi (92), Unknown, Capt. Chip Van Mols, Luna

Jul 2:  Ahi (83), Unknown, Capt. Chip Fisher, Hanamana

Jul 2:   Ahi (151), Jordan Gorloff, Kaiola Akiona, Kailea

Jul 2:  Ahi (208.5), Craig Lindner, Capt. Teddy Hoogs, Bwana

Jul 2:   Ahi (145), Jason Long, Capt. Rob Ellyn, Lightspeed

Jul 2:  Ahi (142.5), Nick Cala, Capt. Al Gustavson, Topshape

Jul 2:  Ahi (157.5), Zac Wigzell, Capt. Chuck Wigzell, EZ Pickens

Jul 2:  Ahi (117.5), Warren Keinath, Capt. Carlton Taniyama, Five Star

Notable catches

Jun 29: Ono (59), Carol Herren, Capt. Bruce Herren, Raptor

Jun 29: Ahi (215), Stephen Chun, Kalena M

Jun 30: Aku (28.5), Ray Mohammond, Capt. Jim Wigzell, Go Get Em

Jul 1:  Kawakawa (23), Tom Schachet, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner