It was anyone’s game entering the final day of the Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series Firecracker Open, and Pursuit took the bait.
Pursuit walked away with $183,000, the biggest haul from the tournament, which offered up a total purse of more than $340,000. A 616.5-pound marlin caught by angler James Coston early in the day was the difference maker. It was the biggest marlin of the tourney. Pursuit also tagged and released two fish, for a tournament-best 1016.5 points.
Following in second was Piper with 782 points and $63,900 in prize money. Piper angler Peierre Mulacek brought in the only other qualifying marlin on Sunday, which tipped the scale at 582 pounds.
There were also two ahi brought in Sunday. Miss Mojo’s Mike Jones reeled in one that weighed 116 pounds, and the other was a 108.5-pounder by Michelle Amader aboard the Ihi Nui II.
The biggest ahi of the tournament was brought in Saturday by Vixen angler Kemp Murakani. It weighed 221 pounds and earned Vixen $24,600.
Day 1 base purse competition leader High Noon didn’t have as much luck on Sunday. After three tag and releases on Saturday, the boat didn’t record any points on the final day of competition.
The Firecracker Open qualified marlin and ahi. In all, two marlin were weighed and 40 tagged and released that didn’t meet the 400-pound minimum. Four ahi were weighed, as well.
Next week, Kona will host six days of tournament fishing with the Kona Throw Down and Skins Marlin Derby.
The Throw Down will fish first, from July 7-9.
The Skins — one of the most unique big marlin competitions in the world — will fish July 10-12. Patterned after the golf format, the base purse is available each fishing day to the largest marlin weighing 500 pounds or more. If no one catches a marlin of that size, the day’s purse rolls over and is added to the next day’s purse.
All tournaments in the Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series are open to the public and anyone can enter, regardless of their fishing experience. For more information on the Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series, visit konatournaments.com.