KAILUA-KONA — Heading into the final day of fishing at the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, one bite could change everything.
Laguna Niguel Billfish Club-Firestein raced out to a big lead on the first day of fishing, with four tags worth 1,200 points, but the father-son duo of Martin and Mitchel Firestein have seen their lead dwindle to just 50 points with one day on the water remaining.
The Firesteins have 1,500 points, but after another Pacific blue marlin tag on Thursday, Japan’s Olympian Dream Fishing Club is nipping at their heels in second place with 1,450 points. Kona Gamefish Club-Blue Fin, another team from Japan, is also within striking distance in third place with 1,400 points.
“This year’s tournament is coming down to being one fish away from any of our top teams capturing the prestigious Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament Governor’s trophy,” tournament director Robbie Engelhard said.
But it’s not just the top three in contention. Even a team further down the leaderboard could make a big splash if they bring a marlin weighing over 300 pounds to the scales at Kailua Pier — it could change everything. There are also bonuses in place for fish over 500 pounds, and if it’s the heaviest of the day and tournament. The current weight to beat is a 431-pound blue marlin caught by Alain Destours with New Caledonia’s Cagous CNC-Espadon on Wednesday.
Female anglers set the tone on Day 4. Angler Mari Arakawa tagged and released an estimated 110-pound blue marlin in an impressive six minutes for Olympian Dream Fishing Club aboard the Bite Me 2.
Another big catch from a female angler came aboard the Kila Kila, when Pam Basco from Houston Big Game Fishing Club –Team Hilo tagged and released a blue marlin estimated at 295 pounds. She brought it to the boat in less than a minute.
Pajaro Valley Gamefish Club-Team 1 saw the largest boost up the leaderboard with a haul of catches during Day 4 of fishing, bringing in a spearfish and four blue marlin.
“We had an awesome day. It started a little slow but by 11 a.m. we were in the action,” team captain Rocky Franich said. “Tomorrow our strategy is to fish on all 50-lb test line and try to go back to the same hole. But we can’t tell you where that is.”
The captains are also competing for some hardware. Each year, the HIBT awards the coveted Henry Chee Award to the captain and crew with the largest number of billfish points scored. After four days of fishing, Capt. Kevin Hibbard and his crew sit in first place with 1,800 points, followed by Capt. Chris Donato with 1,500 points.