DOUBLE BIRTHDAY BILLFISH WHAMMY
Birthdays are to good fishing what bananas are to bad luck. Good friends Regina Farish and Cheryl Cagampang share the same birthday and celebrated it together on Saturday 
with a fishing trip on Kona Blue. By doubling the birthday luck, something special was bound to happen.
Through their company, Farish Media, Regina and her husband Mason Farish produce popular fishing shows like the Pacific Blue series. In other words, they know Kona fishing well enough to plan for surprises, so the Farishes invited their friends aboard with a warning. More.
BIGGEST APRIL AHI IN MEMORY
Hawaii’s spring run of big ahi usually begins about three weeks after tax day. Send in your 1040s, file copies for reference, and then prep your tuna gear to be ready when the big “yellows” get here.
How good will the 2017 run be? We got a clue on Thursday when Shawn Takaki and Clarence Minamishin Jr brought in a 242-pound yellowfin tuna. The surprise catch is not only early but it’s the biggest April ahi in memory. More
BLACK BY THE BACK
Sometimes you have to hook ‘em twice to catch ‘em once. When Night Runner hooked a black marlin on Thursday, skipper Shawn Rotella was especially eager to get it to the boat because it was only the second black marlin he had ever seen in a lifetime of fishing here. More
ODDEST CATCH OF THE WEEK
While fishing from his boat Kiakahi, bottom fisherman Billy Wakefield pulled up an uku weighing 37.8 pounds. At first, the big gray snapper looked like it might be a new Hawaii state record. But no, the record stands as a 39.5-pound uku caught in Molokai waters 10 years ago. Billy caught his fish on a hook baited with a chunk of opelu. More
Big-Fish List for 2017. The list recognizes the biggest fish caught on rod and reel (except opakapaka and onaga, for which we’ll accept handline catches) in West Hawaii waters for 2017 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 2017 by Jim Rizzuto). If we have overlooked you, give us a call (885-4208) or send an e-mail ([email protected]).
Blue marlin, 925, Guy Terwilliger, Capt. Cindy Cary, Cindy Lu. Apr. 2
Black marlin, 357, Todd Nakatani, Keola Toriano, Breezin. Apr 6.
Ahi, 242, Shawn Takaki, Clarence Minamishin Jr., Malama Lama. Apr 13.
Bigeye tuna, 121.5, Kelsey Bestall, Capt. Jah Nogues, High Noon. Jan 14
Striped marlin, 107, David Benson, Capt. Kevin Hiney, Kuuipo. Mar 31
Spearfish, 56, Mac Jorgensen, Capt. Kenny Fogarty, Hula Girl. Mar 13.
Sailfish, 93, Justin Kaber, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner, Mar. 25.
Mahimahi, 46.5, Brita Campbell, Capt. Bob Beach, Reel Screamer. Mar 2.
Ono, 75.5, Jason Wong, Donny Kobayashi, No Name. Mar. 22.
Kaku, (barracuda), 39, Chad Culbertson, Capt. Jeff Rogers, Aloha Kai. Jan 23
Kahala, vacant
Ulua (giant trevally), vacant
Omilu (bluefin trevally), vacant
Otaru (skipjack tuna), 24, Marie Hulletel, Capt Kevin Hiney, Ku`uipo. Feb 10.
Broadbill swordfish, vacant
Ahipalaha (albacore), vacant
Kawakawa, 22.5, Britt McCurdy, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Jan 31
Kamanu (rainbow runner), 20.5, Britt McCurdy, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Jan 31
Opakapaka (pink snapper), 14.5, Greg Hong, Kevin Shiraki, Erin Kai. Jan 12.
Onaga (ulaula ko`aie), 21, Greg Hong and Kevin Shiraki, Erin Kai. Mar 6.
Uku (gray snapper), 37.8, Billy Wakefield, Kiakahi. Apr 4
O`io (bonefish), 10.5, Hansen Gardling, shoreline. Mar 30.
Beasts of the week (marlin weighing 500 pounds or more, including R for releases).
April 15: Blue marlin (541) Mason Farish, Capt. Dave Crawford, Kona Blue
Released
April 10: Blue marlin (100) Brian Tietz, Capt. Joe Schumaker, Fire Hatt
April 11: Spearfish (30) Joe Yellig, Capt. Al Gustavson, Topshape
April 12: Blue marlin (300) Richard Hunze, Capt. Kent Mongreig, Sea Wife II
April 13: Spearfish (35) Gerardo Tamayo, Capt. Marlin Parker, Marlin Magic II
April 14: Spearfish (35) Paul Harris, Capt.Guy Terwilliger, High Flier
April 14: Spearfish (25) Keirnes Young, Capt. Al Gustavson, Topshape
Notable
April 12: Ahi (151) Stu Marks, blue marlin (285) Evan Marks, Capt. Russ Nitta, Lepika
April 13: Ahi (242) Shawn Takaki, Capt. Clarence Minamishin Jr., Malama Lama