KAILUA-KONA Tight lines have led to an even tighter leaderboard at the 60th annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.
KAILUA-KONA — Tight lines have led to an even tighter leaderboard at the 60th annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.
Cagous CNC-Espadon, a three-angler team from New Caledonia, boated a 429-pound Pacific blue marlin and also tagged and released an estimated 125-pound blue marlin on the third day of fishing. However, it wasn’t enough to catch Laguna Niguel Billfish Club-Firestein, which raced out to a hefty lead after a four-tag first day and still hang on by a narrow margin.
The father-son squad continues to lead the pack with 1,500 points and padded their lead a little with a tag from angler Mitchel Firestein fishing aboard “Top Shape.” The Pacific blue marlin was estimated at 140 pounds. This team also boated an ahi that tipped the scales at 129.9 pounds.
Japan’s Olympian Dream Fishing Club is in second place with 1,150 points and Kona Gamefish Club–Blue Fin is close behind with 1,000 points. With today’s first boated blue, New Caledonia’s Cagous CNC-Espadon sits in the number four spot on the leaderboard with 974 points.
The third day of tournament fishing also produced seven spearfish, a stripped marlin and 17 other Pacific blue marlin were tagged and released. Fortunately for sashimi lovers, there were two ahi weighed in at the Kailua Pier.
With two days of Kona Coast tournament fishing left and lots of fish in the sea, anglers are hoping to land a big marlin to propel their team to victory and capture the prestigious HIBT Governor’s Trophy. The tournament continues through Friday.
