Jennifer Ching, Lisa Barbas and Gail Judd have been competing in the Huggo’s Wahine Fishing Tournament for 19 years, missing only the first year of the competition in 1996. For the first 18 of those years the trio competed on the family boat, Komohana.
However, with the Komohana in the shop, the trio was forced to take a charter boat for the first time as the ladies hopped aboard the Medusa and rode the boat all the way to the team’s first tournament victory.
Big billfish were hard to find during the single day tournament held Saturday. With a minimum 300-pound limit, no billfish were weighed, but the “Pointless Sisters” team aboard Medusa managed to reel in two marlin that were tagged and released. The wahine aboard the Raptor were the only others who managed to reel in two marlin, but the team of Ching, Barbas and Judd managed to edge them out for the win based on time.
The win caught the three teammates off-guard as they came into the dock ready to chalk up the day as a win just on the shear fact that no one got seasick. After being told of their victory, the crew of the Medusa celebrated their unexpected victory.
“We are shocked,” Ching said. “We didn’t really keep track, and thought we were in the money, but we were not expecting this and it is awesome.”
The tournament started in a highly unusual fashion for the trio because of the new boat.
“We were at the front of the line on the start which is not normal for us because we usually hang back and wait for the high seas to flatten out,” Ching said. “That was very exciting to start our day full speed ahead.”
While out at sea, Barbas had the first crack at bringing in the first marlin, and her nervousness was apparent.
“We got our first strike and I got into the seat but I could not stop shaking and basically forgot everything I was told to do,” Barbas said. “The fish was going crazy, jumping and flopping all over the place for minutes and it was pretty much the most amazing thing I have ever seen.”
Barbas managed to settle her nerves despite having doubts that she could reel in the estimated 175-pound marlin. However she kept cranking the line and 18 minutes later managed reel the fish in.
“It was calm and came up the the boat and turned sideways and just looked at us,” Barbas said. “We snapped our photos, unhooked it and let it go.”
After the first catch of the day, the adrenaline was going for the crew, but they still needed at least one more catch to have a chance for the win. Ching was next up for the chair and she would bring in the crew’s second marlin of the tourney. Surprisingly, it was also the first fish she had ever caught.
“It wasn’t a big fish but it was a strong fish,” Ching said. “I had good coaching on how to bring it in and a good crew. The whole thing went smoothly and it only took 10 minutes.”
While the win was nice for the three women, the tournament is really just about being together as a family and having a good time.
“This is something we look forward too,” Judd said. “We like to talk about what we are going to bring to drink and eat, and if we catch a fish, that’s fine.”
Judd added that it was a little sad that they were not able to compete in the family boat.
“It has been traditional, but this year we decided not to fight it. We paid a little more, but look how it paid off. I have a hunch we might do this again.”
Filling out the second place team on the Raptor where Lahela Lau, Olivia Beauchamp, Carol Herren and Lilly Toney.
By the numbers
The 20th edition of the Huggo’s Wahine Fishing Tournament drew 438 participants in 70 boats, which scattered in all directions from Kailua Bay Saturday morning. This year’s winning teams competed for over $30,000 in cash and prizes.
There were a total of 20 marlin released. Six ahi were boated, as well as 10 ono and six mahimahi.
After fighting a tuna for 20 minutes, Angela Green on Intrepid brought in a 160-pound ahi to win the division. The largest mahimahi of the tournament was a 27-pound fish caught by angler Nicolette Palacol on the boat Foxy Lady. Angler Jennifer Nobrega, on board Night Runner, caught the biggest ono, which tipped the scales at 23 pounds.
$10,000 will be donated to Family Support Hawaii this year. Nearly $150,000 has been donated to local charities over the past 20 years.