The Port Villa Sport Fishing Club of Vanuatu reeled in a 428-pound Pacific blue marlin to move into second place after Wednesday’s third day of the 54th annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.
The Vanuatu squad finished the day with 871 points — trailing Laguna Niguel Billfish Club No. 2 of California, which has 900 points despite being shut out Wednesday. Fishing aboard Kona Seafari in fishing area Juliet — between Keahole Point and Kailua Bay — both Port Villa and skipper David Bertuleit are former HIBT champs. Hailing from the island nation of Vanuatu, located between Fiji and New Caledonia, Port Villa won the tournament in 2011 and Bertuleit was the top scoring charter boat captain in 2009. Angler Murray Parsons boated the fish on 50-pound test line, a smart move in scoreboard strategy because lighter lines earn more points.
Angler Jim Ramsey of the Pajaro Valley Gamefish Club California boated today’s second, slightly larger blue marlin in fishing area Tango — between Kealakekua and Hookena. It tipped the scales on Kailua Pier at 457 pounds.
Pajaro Valley team is another past champion — it won the tourney in 1997, 2001 and 2003.
Another eight blue marlin were tagged and released Wednesday by HIBT teams. “I’m delighted that HIBT is able to showcase all that Kona fishing has to offer,” HIBT founder Peter Fithian said. “Its excellent ocean conditions, perfect weather and a highly skilled fleet — to people from places all around the world.” The five-day Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament continues through Friday.