When a marlin strikes a lure, it doesn’t look first at the captain, crew, or angler. Last Thursday, a 451-pound blue marlin was waiting outside Honokohau Harbor for the boat Bite Me 6. If it had taken the time to see who was aboard, it might have thought better of grabbing the lure. That day, the team on the 41-foot Hatteras was loaded with girl power. Capt. Deneen Wargo was at the helm, Capt. Molly Palmer was on deck, and visitor Beth Kapuscinski was assigned the angling duties. The three-gal team may have been uniquely qualified to handle this fish despite all of the odd tricks it tried.
Big-Fish List for 2015. 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 2015 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 2015 by Jim Rizzuto). If we have overlooked you, give us a call (885-4208) or send an e-mail ([email protected]).
- Blue marlin, 1,226.5, Dean Lemman, Capt. Chip Van Mols, Luna. May 27.
(1,368*, Guy Kitaoka, Darrell Omori, Rayna. July 28, *electric reel).
* Black marlin, (vacant)
- Ahi, 233, Ken Smith, Capt. Bobby Cherry. Cherry Pit II, May 1.
- Bigeye tuna, 189, Meg Stern, Capt. Tracy Epstein, Last Chance. Feb. 19.
- Striped marlin (tie), 141.5, Capt. Rocky Guaron, Hooked Up, March 26 and 142, Jody Pintar, Capt Jeff Heintz, Linda Sue IV. April 8.
- Spearfish, (tie) 52.9, Floyd Pansano, Capt. Dale Leverone, Sea Strike, March 10; and 52.7, Kasey Buising, Capt. Mark Schubert, Captain Jack, March 6.
* Sailfish, 101, Craig Cugnit, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Jan. 31
* Mahimahi, 53, Ray Mohammed, Capt. Jim Wigzell, Go Get Em. March 15.
* Ono, 58.5, Asa Sugitan, Crazy Ann. Jan. 31
* Kaku, 19, Bruce Lentz, Shoreline. Apr 27.
* Kahala, 44.5, Todd Shiraki, Treeny 2. July 8.
- Ulua (giant trevally), 104.5, Adam Hodgson, Kayak. March 31.
* Omilu (bluefin trevally), 13.5, Bruce Lentz, caught from shore. April 2.
* Otaru (skipjack tuna), 29, Unknown, Capt. Chad Contessa, Bite Me. June 2.
* Broadbill swordfish, 50.5, Tony Clark, Capt. McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui. June 6.
* Ahipalaha (albacore), (vacant)
* Kawakawa, 17.5, Todd Shiraki, Treeny 2, June 20.
* Kamanu (rainbow runner), 21, Adam Hodgson, kayak. May 28.
* Opakapaka (pink snapper), (vacant)
- Onaga (ulaula ko`aie), (vacant)
- Uku (gray snapper), 16, Todd Shiraki, Treeny 2, June 20.
- O`io (bonefish), 5.4, James Cintas (6 years old), Shoreline.
Beasts of the week (marlin weighing 500 pounds or more):
July 28: Blue marlin (1,368) Guy Kitaoka, Darrell Omori, Dayna
July 30: Blue marlin (606) Andrew Blair, Capt. Rob Ellyn, Lightspeed
Tag and Release
July 27: Blue marlin (225) Andy Blue, Capt. Tony Clark, Ihu Nui II
July 27: Blue marlin (350) Risa Scott, Capt. Steve Epstein, Huntress
July 27: Blue marlin (125 and 175) Fred Jr./Karen Wedley, Capt. Tim Hicks, Illusions
July 27: Blue marlin (165 and 175) Chris/ Andrew Poore, Capt. James Dean, Blue Hawaii
July 28: Blue marlin (250 and 325) Alex/Ryan Helgans, Capt. Steve Tarbill, Kona Concept
July 28: Blue marlin (175) Alan White, Capt. Tony Clark, Ihu Nui II
July 28: Blue marlin (200) James Hunt, Capt. McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui
July 28: Blue marlin (140) Gabrielle Holguin, Capt. Tim Hicks, Illusions
July 28: Blue marlin (150) Austin Tucker, Capt. Marlin Parker, Marlin Magic II
July 28: Blue marlin (150) Kevin Wright, Capt. Al Gustavson, Topshape
July 28: Blue marlin (300) Mike Mutzler, Capt. Russ Nitta, Lepika
July 29: Blue marlin (400) Ciro Urijk, Capt.John Bagwell, Silky
July 29: Blue marlin (375) Ed Peters, Capt. Marlin Parker, Marlin Magic II
July 29: Blue marlin (130) Hunter Hughes, Capt. Guy Terwilliger, High Flier
July 29: Blue marlin (180) Mike Muschtler, Capt. Russ Nitta, Lepika
July 30: Blue marlin (235) Nathan H., Capt. David Crawford, Kona Blue
July 30: Blue marlin (200) Ben Dullard, Capt. Boyd DeCoito, Foxy Lady
July 31: Blue marlin (120) Noah Worley, Capt. Kent Mongreig, Sea Wife II
July 31: Blue marlin (200) Sally Kurz, Capt. McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui
July 31: Striped marlin (60 and 80) Bob Kurz, Capt. McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui
July 31: Blue marlin (300) Sean Geary, Capt. Boyd DeCoito, Foxy Lady
August 1: Blue marlin (160 and 180) Neil Williamson, (180) Peter Abrams, Capt. Kenny Fogarty, Hula Girl
August 1: Blue marlin (200) Carol Herren, Capt. Bruce Herren, Raptor
August 1: Blue marlin (180) Jorge Nasrallah, (175 and 300) Carlos Bortom, (200) Julio Fernandez, Capt. Marlin Parker, Marlin Magic II
Notable
July 27: Blue marlin (420) Joe Zarate, Capt. Chris Cawthon, Ohana
July 28: Sailfish (73) Ty Widhalm, Capt. Cyrus Widhalm, Ahi Lani
July 28: Mahimahi (49) Jeremy Selg, Speared
July 29: Ulua (84) Matt Ferino, Shoreline
July 29: Ahi (151) James Hunt, Capt. McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui
July 30: Ahi (215.5) Kenton Geer, Viscious Cycle
July 30: Big-eye tuna(128) Richard Norwood, Capt. Bomboy Llanes, Lana Kila
August 1: Ahi (158) Jorge Nasrallah, Capt. Marlin Parker, Marlin Magic II