Lucky Linda Lure Lights up Another Marlin

/in /by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Williams brought his family back for a second fishing adventure aboard FIRE HATT.  Zachery Williams, Jim’s son,  caught and released a Striped Marlin after a short battle that he caught on the new weapon in the arsenal, the Lucky Linda Lure, that was made for her by Bomboy.  Jim also brought along Marty Raphael and his wife Susan.  Marty is a career U.S. Forest service man who is involved protecting endangered species in the state of Washington.  Marty  caught dinner for them all with a nice Mahi that was brought home.  It was one of those early spring days in Kona with 84 degree air temp and the water was 79.

Instant Mahi Mahi for Gandhi

/in /by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gandhi Balakrishnan and his family anxiously boarded Fire Hatt with the anticipation of getting something larger than the family record Salmon caught by Gandhi in WA where they live.  We had just finished setting the lines and the long corner was bit!  We had not even given the “Chair Talk”  to Gandhi yet.  Gandhi jumped in the chair and had the Mahi to the boat in a matter of seconds.  After putting the lines back in the water we joked with Gandhi about the fish patterns on his shirt,  Mahi, Tuna, Marlin and Sailfish.  We joked about getting the Mahi and now we can concentrate on the others, when the line went off again.  This time a nice Blue Marlin about 300 pounds was screaming across the water.  Again Gandhi jumps in the chair to begin his fight for the trophy he really wanted only to have the fish come undone!  What a thrill it was for him and his family.  At the end of the day, one Mahi and one Marlin strike.  We encouraged him to keep the shirt and we will work on the rest of the species next time.

British Columbia Family Covets Japanese Glass Float

/in /by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bev, Bryan and Dana Mills along with Eric Cooper-Smith from Campbell River, BC spent the day with us hoping for the “Big One”.   While following a nice current line with a lot of debris, we spotted the treasure, a Japanese Glass Float.  Bev was very excited.  She stated that she used to live in the Queen Charlotte Islands and walked the beaches for years hoping to find one.  We ended up not getting a fish but we gave her the Glass Ball.  She proudly announced that she would take it home with her and keep it safe forever.

Fish of a lifetime for Twin Canadian Brothers

/in /by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larry and Greg Hosegood from Winnipeg, Canada along with their families boarded the Fire Hatt early to get first crack at a fish.  They are fishing guides in Canada and realize the old saying “The early bird gets the worm”.  After giving the chair rundown to Greg, Linda had Larry’s son Skyler in the chair demonstrating what he could expect if a smaller fish bites.  Then the big fish hit the long corner bait.  A favorite lure of Linda’s that Bomboy Llanes (Bomboy Lures) crafted  especially for her.  It is appropriately named the “Lucky Linda” and had consistently been bit all week.   Three hours and five minutes later we had the Marlin to the boat.  It was tail wrapped and died during the fight.  I only wish everyone could have witnessed the brotherhood between these two men.  They coached and encouraged each other and kept remarkably cool during the entire fight!  They were saddened by the death of the fish and really wanted it to be released.  As did we.

Three Fish Day for Chet Chiara and The Hemler’s

/in /by
Three Fish Day for the Fire Hatt

Doug Hemler's 40+lb Shortbill Spearfish

The fish are here, they are biting and the fun has just begun!  Doug Hemler and his son Eric from Golden, CO.  enjoyed a morning of fishing along with Chet Chiara from Ankorage, AK.  The morning started with a nice rip on the long corner, a Joe Yee Super Plunger was devoured by a 20+lb Mahi Mahi.  Eric fought the fish to the boat in a matter of minutes.  Shortly after getting the lines back in the water, the long rigger zipped.  This time a nice Shortbill Spearfish for Doug.  The father and son duo did tell us they were lucky when it came to fishing…the proof was demonstrated today.   Then It was Chet’s turn in the chair.  First the long rigger bounced a couple of times with the rubber band not breaking.  Knowing there was a fish back there, we brought the stinger in a little closer.  Captain Chuck made a turn to stall the lines and Bam, it took it!  Then it came off, then it took it again.  Chet had teased the fish back by letting out the line then giving it several cranks.  Success!  Just another wonderful morning on the water in Kona Hawaii!

Nobody Injured in Kona Tsunami

/in /by

Kona Tsunami

Photo Courtesy of Big Island Video News - www.bigislandvideonews.com


We took FIRE HATT out of the Harbor at midnight Friday night and hung out offshore in 5000 feet of water to avoid the the Kona Tsunami. As you know, nothing would be felt or noticed there. Below is a video of what happened in Downtown Kona, as most of you who have been or lived here know, this may take quite a while to repair.

As dawn broke, when the video was taken, Honokohau Harbor in Kona, looked like the Mississippi River with running surging water for hours. Those of us who own our own boats stayed out most of the day as when boats tied up early they bucked and bashed. Only one sailboat sank as it was left inside unattended.

With all of that going on, Miss Linda said, “Since tomorrow is my birthday, I want the two of us to go fishing!” We did and caught two Ono (Wahoo) 30+ pounds and two Mahi (Dorado) 20+ pounds. She caught them all and was a very happy woman so Happy Birthday Linda!

We are fine and wanted to thank all of you for the calls, emails and texts.

Chuck

Kona Tsunami (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Wh0_yNJhc

Iron Man, Doug Mackenzie’s First Blue Marlin

/in /by

Doug Mackenzie, a 17 year participant in the Iron Man Competition caught his first Blue Marlin while fishing aboard the Fire Hatt with Captain Chuck Wilson in Kona, Hawaii. He effortlessly fought the fish for about six minutes before we released the beauty. Doug was aboard with friends Brian and Bonnie Barber and John and Eva Jones all from Canada.

Three Billfish Species in One Day

/in /by

Rick and Chris Mercer with their 47 pound Shortbill Spearfish caught while fishing aboard the FIRE HATT in Kona, Hawaii.  Rick released a Striped Marlin, a Blue Marlin and boated this Spearfish.  While certainly not a rare occurance, but absolutely a banner day when you catch three billfish species in one four hour fishing day! This was their first time fishing in Kona and his first Billfish.

Tyler K Releases his first Striped Marlin

/in /by
Tyler Kraemer in Kona aboard the FIRE HATT

Tyler K in Kona aboard the FIRE HATT

On February 21, 2011 Tyler K, along with his wife Tammy here on vacation celebrating his 40th birthday with longtime friends Geof and Leslie from Colorado.  After a morning of fishing our way down to Captain Cook Monument for a few hours of snorkeling, we headed back up the line towards the harbor.   We encountered a fantastic show of Humpback Whales and then several hundred Porpoise performing for us!  All of a sudden, we are bit.  It did not stick the first time and after turning and going back, it hit again.  After a 4 minute fight, Tyler had his first Striped Marlin to the boat.  Congratulations Tyler.

Great December Fishing in Kona

Blue Marlin Fishing in Kona wins family honors for Jeff Flores’s 502 Pounder

/in /by

The best Marlin Fishing in Kona!  Jeff and Bernadette Flores are the new family champions now that Jeff has a 502lb Pacific Blue Marlin under his belt.  While Bernadette’s family are avid Marlin fishermen, they have also fished around the world for tuna and other billfish species.  The men in her family have always had the family record for big fish.  When they saw photos of Jeff’s fish, they thought it was a prop.  They could not believe the size of his trophy.  A proud day in the Flores household!