We were two-for-two with blue marlin releases today! Welcome back Captain Joe Shoemaker. We had two releases before noon for our guests from Ontario, Canada. The group are vacationing aboard the Pride of America Cruise Ship and spent the day fishing aboard Fire Hatt.
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.
To those of you that are interested in fishing some of the Kona Fishing Tournaments in 2019, we are wide open for bookings this year and we have availability. With an El Nino developing we expect an awesome year. We have seen some big fish at the scales and the big ahi tuna are starting early.
Below is the Tournament Schedule for 2019. Contact us to discuss and we can go from there.
Kona Kick Off
June 22nd & June 23rd, 2019
Firecracker Open
June 29th & June 30th, 2019
The Kona Throw Down
July 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 2019
Skins Marlin Derby
July 5th, 6th & 7th, 2019
The Hawaii Lure Makers Challenge
July 12th, 13th & 14th, 2019
Big Island Marlin Tournament
August 16th, 17th & 18th, 2019
Please feel free to contact us about availability and information about these events.
Awesome Spring Break for Corbin Kinder and his Dad, David from Houston, Texas. I start the story with Corbin and his Dad because it was an all Corbin day. As we headed straight out of the harbor to the 1000 fathom line things got busy right away. Just after the chair talk, the short rigger line came down screaming off line. We are Hooked Up! Corbin gets into the chair and the fight begins. Corbin brings in what turns out to be his first fish of the day. A nice 45 pound Shortbill Spearfish! While the deck is being cleared and lines go back out, we are still taking photos of the Spearfish when another line comes down. Hooked Up again! This time it’s a nice blue bullet on the stinger and line is screaming off as Corbin is back in the chair fighting what turns out to be an impressive 30+ pound Mahi Mahi! The stamina this young angler has is phenomenal. An hour goes by and things have settled down. The crew today, Captain Joe Schumaker and First Mate Brett Lazenby are feeling quite proud of the activity so far when they get another strike, the stinger is bit again. Assuming that his Dad, David would bring this fish in was so wrong! Corbin jumped in and brought the fish to the boat, another Shortbill Spearfish! These are the days you dream of especially when you have young ones with you. We love having children on board and try our best to get something for them to pull on. This day will not be forgotten by Corbin and his Dad any time soon.
Corbin has enjoyed fishing since he was 4 years old. Each year his Dad tries to take him to a different spot to fish. From offshore trips in Louisiana and Texas to the Caribbean and Central America he has caught Red Fish, Flounder, Barracuda and others. His Mahi Mahi he caught in Kona Hawaii aboard Fire Hatt was the biggest he has ever caught. He also enjoys fresh water bass fishing on our farm. Corbin has great patience in fishing and gets the “fishing bug” from his grandfather and great grandfather.
We hope to see you guys again.
Featured in the top photo is First Mate Brett Lazenby with David and Corbin Kinder
Featured in the lower photo is David and Corbin Kinder from Houston, Texas
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.
The Barks Family have a Trophy Shortbill Spearfish, compliments of Kona Hawaii. Fifteen year old Dillon Barks along with his parents Gary and Susan Barks and his sister Reagan fish aboard Fire Hatt for two days with lots of action. Day one started with Susan and Reagan both landing a couple of Mahi Mahi followed by the very nice Shortbill Spearfish being boated by Dillon. The Spearfish weighed in at 45 pounds. Not bad for this young man! Day two was a little slower in action but Dad did release a small Spearfish. The weather was not picture perfect for Kona during their visit, there was some light rain, swells and some clouds….but the fish didn’t seem to mind at all. This Fort Worth family proved to be troopers! A perfect Family Fishing Trip!
Featured in the top photo is Fire Hatt Crewman, Brett Lazenby along with Dillon and Gary Barks.
Featured in the lower photo is the Barks Family; Gary, Dillon, Susan and Reagan from Fort Worth, TX.
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.
KONA – The Anglers Paradise
The forecast for March and April typically is slightly warmer water arriving, an uptick in the numbers of Blue Marlin and strong numbers of Striped Marlin, Shortbilled Spearfish and big Ahi (Yellow Fin Tuna) under the porpoise schools. Mahi are in peak season and some of the larger Bulls will be caught now.
One way to look at how water goes by the Islands is to imagine a bathtub of water over 1500 miles across between 77 and 79 degrees. That is the one here now and is a little cooler and Mahi, Spearfish and Striped Marlin love our coolest water. Coming next in the 79 to 81 degree “Bathtub” will be big numbers of Ono (Wahoo) usually starting in late March and April, and some Black Marlin. One thing for sure, the Black Marlin here are small, a 300 pound one is big in Hawaii, compared to Australia and the Southern Hemisphere where they go to 1500 pounds.
Bait fishing will also improve and the offshore FAD’S (Fish Aggravating Device also known as Fish Attracting Device) will start collecting bait and their predators’ which is great news for anglers. When you a book a Charter boat in Kona, most of the Captain’s will have fresh information on what happened and where it happened over the last few days.
In February, the Mahi and Spearfish bite had been excellent and FIRE HATT boated a 45 pound Short Billed Spearfish in early February as well as an almost daily Mahi Mahi. Blue Marlin are still around in the 77 degree water we have off the Kona Coast now and their numbers will only continue to grow as we head to our peak summer season.
Speaking of our peak season, it is just around the corner, so if you plan to fish a Tournament, NOW is the time to book if you want a particular boat before the good boats are gone. Our economy is picking up, and there is improving interest in sport fishing on all the Islands and many top boats are booking the summer now. If you want specific information or we can help in any way, do not hesitate to call us at: 808.987.0038
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.
Fellow Fire Fighter Releases His First Striped Marlin. Rod Bieller and Lisa Yellowlees from Victoria BC has been fishing in Kona, Hawaii on Fire Hatt for the last Six Years. He and Lisa have been troopers when it comes to fishing. Over the years our adventures with Rod and Lisa include many attempts at catching the elusive trophy blue Marlin. We have not checked that one off his bucket list ….yet! We left the harbor around 8:00 AM and headed north to where bait had been reported. We were about about 1400 fa off “Pine Trees” when the stinger line started screaming off line. We are Hooked Up! Once lines were cleared, Angler Rod Bieller had the striped Marlin to the boat in just over five minutes. Crewman Brett Lazenby had a tag in the fish and made a quick release. Rod’s Stripey was caught on a “Silver Fox Bullet Lure” made by longtime luremaker Al Bento from Honolulu. Rod and Lisa have caught several food fish here in Kona including Mahi Mahi, Ono and a nice dinner size Big Eye Tuna they took home for shashimi last night. His real target yesterday was to land a Shortbill Spearfish. The Spearfish and Striped Marlin are here in numbers now. We did have a Spearfish come into the pattern and poke the stinger several times but did not take the lure. this is quite comon with this species. Sometimes you can tease them into taking the lure… however, not this time. We look forward to continuing the adventure next year.
Featured in the photo is Lisa Yellowlees and Rod Bieller with their release flags. Rod is a retired Fire Battalion Chief from Victoria,
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.
Wintertime fishing in Kona Hawaii, no gloves, no scarves, no boots, only sunscreen needed! There are few months out of the year when something is not biting in Kona Hawaii. In December however, there are still several species hanging around. This December there was a Grander Blue Marlin caught, another 900+ pound Blue Marlin caught along with several nice size Bull Mahi Mahi and Shortbilled Spearfish showing. These guests aboard Fire Hatt had a great day landing these nice Mahi Mahi.
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.
Betti’s first billfish. Betti DeRoy long time resident of Kona Hawaii, and an activist in the community working on projects such as the trails at the Old Airport allowing hikers to explore the ocean areas where they did not have access before. Everyone knows Betti. Betti was not feeling wwll and went down below into the salon area when the lines went off. We are Hooked Up! One fish escaped while the other one gave Betti an exciting fight. She was quickly in the chair and captured her first ever billfish, a Shortbilled Spearfish weighing an estimated 35 pounds. Everyone was beaming when she landed it. Lots of meals for her and the other guests of hers that accompanied her . You will see the fish listed in local resturants as “Hebe”. It is a delicious white meat fish.
Featured in the photo is First Mate Brett Lazenby along with angler Betti DeRoy and her 35 pound Shortbilled Spearfish.
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.
Capt. Bomboy Llanes on Lana Kila weighed a 1,041 lbs. Blue Marlin. This is Capt. Llanes 2nd Grander in Kona. The fish took over 8-Hours to get to the boat.
Bomboy Llanes, a native of Kona Hawaii and a world-renowned fisherman and fishing lure maker. Bomboy has over 37 years of experience in hawaiian waters,and sports a reputation of winning over 36 tournaments,including Worlds Largest blue marlin ever caught in a tournament at the weight of 1258.5 pounds. over the years Bomboy has been featured in numerous top magazine and 3 tv shows. Owner of the legendary “Bomboy Lures” he is sponsored by numerous tackle companies around the world.
Nice going Bomboy!
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.
Fishing “floaters” in Hawaii is our version of fishing the prized kelp paddy in Southern CA. This time of year there are still some Pacific Blue Marlin around. There are still some Ono too. But honestly, if we can spot a floater this time of year, stand back because we will be in for a great episode of catching. Heading offshore with a watchful eye, and really good binoculars, we encourage our guests to report anything that is NOT water. We are looking for birds, trash and current lines. Our guests really get into it. This floater pictured to the left consisting of old nets and line was spotted about 10 miles offshore and proved to be loaded. Our guests spent a couple of hours pulling in nice Mahi Mahi and a few Ono. After several passes the fish tend to get wary. Now we get the ballyhoo out and enjoy some light tackle fun! Of course there is always the possibility that a predator is nearby. These floaters are considered “refrigerators” for Marlin and other Prey fish. We always make several passes just outside the area before we leave. Bigger fish tend to hang just outside and know a meal is there when they are ready to eat.
Featured in the photo is the “Lucky Linda” Lure made by Bomboy Lures
Fire Hatt is a member of the AFTCO Pro Fishing Team. You can go to AFTCO.com and read their amazing story.