MYSTERY MARLIN
Our oddest catches of this week are two mystery fish. No, the mystery isn’t what they are. They are blue marlin, but we 
don’t have the details necessary to give them full recognition. With the proper credentials, either might be the top blue on our Big-Fish List.
After a few weeks of slow trolling, Kona fishermen are greatly anticipating “the return of the herd,” in the words of angler Richard Jeffery. Richard and his wife Aulani fish out of their boat Malukai II, and for them, the “herd” is the annual spring run of ono. Encouraging reports from the Hilo side have showed that the Hilo fleet has already started hitting ono in good numbers. Rich and Aulani headed south Friday with high hopes of intercepting schools of ono that might have turned the South Point corner on their way up the coast. No such luck for Malukai II but sea temps are already warming up to the very high 70s and the ono must soon be feeling the burn.
RICHARD BOONE MEMORIES
Richard Boone was a legendary actor of worldwide fame to those who saw his craggy features and tough demeanor on stage, screen and TV. To Kona residents of the 1960s and 1970s, Boone was a familiar figure at the docks as a dedicated fisherman who owned a charterboat here and helped publicize Kona’s great fishing potential. Among other Kona promotions, Boone starred in the 1968 movie “Kona Coast,” which still shows up on TV occasionally. In the film, Boone was a charter captain, of course. And if you look closely at the “actors” in the cast, you’d see many local folks from around town.
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, 802, Lou Groebner, Capt. Rocky Gauron, Go Get Em. Mar. 1.
- Black marlin, 160.5, Jim Ives, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Mar. 30.
- Ahi, 227, Capt. Russ Nitta, Lepika. Jan 6.
- 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), (vacant)
- Kahala, 70, Jessica Yell, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Jan 22.
- Ulua (giant trevally), 74, Bochan Johnson, from shore. Apr 3.
- Omilu (bluefin trevally), 15, J. J. Balucan, from shore. Apr. 10.
- Otaru (skipjack tuna), 26, Randolph Fort, Capt. James Dean, Blue Hawaii. Marc 7.
- Broadbill swordfish, (vacant)
- Ahipalaha (albacore), (vacant)
- Kawakawa, 18, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Apr. 2.
- 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).
Releases
April 19: Spearfish (30) Mark Hawker, Capt. Kenny Fogarty, Makana Lani
April 20: Blue marlin (130) John Jacobs, Capt. Bobby Cherry, Cherry Pit II
April 21: Spearfish (30) Randy Kane, Capt. Kent Mongreig, Sea Wife II
April 21: Spearfish (30) Stephanie Bias, Capt. Al Gustavson, Topshape
April 21: Spearfish (30 and 30), striped marlin (50) Mike Jacobsen, Capt. James Dean, Blue Hawaii
April 21: Striped marlin (25 and 60), blue marlin (150), Capt. Marlin Parker, Marlin Magic 2
April 22: Spearfish (30) Mike Dehlbom, Capt. Al Gustavson, Topshape
Notables:
April 21: Ono (22, 26, and 38) Lawrence LaBounty, Capt. Jeff Heintz, Linda Sue IV
April 21: Ahi (100 and 120) Steve Prince, Capt. Bobby Cherry, Cherry Pit II
April 21: Ahi (95), Pete Webber, Capt. Al Gustavson, Top Shape
April 21: Spearfish (40), Capt. Bruce Herren, Raptor.
April 22: Spearfish (35), J. R’s Hooker.
April 22: Spearfish (30), Capt. Bruce Herren, Raptor
April 22: Striped marlin (46), spearfish (36), Kuuipo.
April 23: Spearfish (20 and 35), Kuuipo
April 23: Spearfish (34), Sundowner.