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A December Trip for the Books

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A December for the books and the Dawson Family! Rob Dawson wanted to take his family out fishing here in Kona Hawaii. This is not a new phenomenon for Rob. Rob has been fishing in Kona for many years and actually has crewed aboard Fire Hatt in the past. Their hopes were to get his daughter and son on a fish. As it turns out all family members got a turn on the rod. Along with his daughter Christina Dawson and Jon Gill, His Son Cole Dawson and Alannah Chalmers, the family had no idea what was in store for them!

First thing out of the harbor mouth as the crew finished putting out lines, we are hooked up! Jon Gill, his Son in Law was battling a blue marlin. After a fierce five minute fight, the fish was off. the crew put the lines back out and within an hour we are bit again. This time Alannah Chalmers was in the chair. She fought her fish for a short 15 minutes and boated her first Shortbill Spearfish estimated at 50 pounds! Her largest fish ever!

Now with lines back in the water Captain Chuck heads off shore and down the coast to the tune of two more mystery bites and finally Wham! Hooked up again! A double Stripe Marlin bite! Both of Robs children, Christina and Cole are on the rods. Christina’s fish was brought in first and then Coles was successfully released. You can only imagine at this point how ecstatic everyone was.

Next up we spotted a porpoise school and marked several big Ahi. After working the school for about an hour and a half, no bites. We moved off. Then we turned back up the coast headed to the harbor…. BOOM! A big short corner bite! Rob is in the chair. Being no stranger to fighting big fish, Rob brought the Blue Marlin to the boat and we released an estimated 250 pound fish in just under 20 minutes!

Three Strikes

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Three Strikes, three releases aboard Fire Hatt for former Major League Baseball player Billy Beane featured in the movie Moneyball and his son Brayden along with future son in law Jake. One Blue Marlin release and two Shortbill Spearfish releases. All before noon! The fish are here! #fishinginkona #charterfishingkona #AFTCO

The Fire Hatt Difference

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Story Credit from Pacific Coast Sportfishing Magazine

The Fire Hatt Difference

Former Southern California Team Fire Hatt, husband and wife Chuck and Linda Wilson, have found their dream life, running their charter boat Fire Hatt in Kona, Hawaii. The two were well known for fishing both mako shark and marlin tournaments in Southern California and spent most of their summers in Avalon, fishing, snorkeling, diving and being with friends. For two seasons they were featured on the network series The Shark Hunters as well as winning the Zane Grey Marlin Tournament.

When Chuck retired from Manhattan Beach Fire Department, the couple decided to move and live in Kona, Hawaii. Making that move was not for the faint at heart. The logistics of moving their boat on a freighter and all of their belongings in an oceangoing container to unfamiliar ground was a real test.

The Fire Hatt has been an amazing business as well as such an amazing way to meet some really amazing people. The couple’s philosophy is “when folks show up on the boat as a guest, I want them to leave as a friend,” Chuck says.

Chuck and Linda have made some amazing headway and accomplished every top captain’s dream by catching their grander blue marlin off Kona. They have had many other large marlin, but that grander is about the most prestigious accomplishment any skipper can make.

Years into the business they have continued to provide a better program than the year before so they do not risk being left at the dock. Chuck’s belief is:”If you focus on your business, it does not matter what others are doing. Providing a better service model benefits everyone, especially future charter guests.”

Please give Chuck and Linda a shot to show you an angling good time while in Kona. They will show you both the similarities and differences with your own fishing experience and how they do it and why. Their 43ft Hatteras is immaculate, and they employ the finest in reels and equipment-all matched in size and manufacturer from light tackle to the 130 Shimano Tiara reels for the trophy fish.

Visit www.firehattsportfishing.com or call 808-987-0038 to book your adventure today.

Another Exciting Day on the Water

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Austin Toth releasing Peter Lamm’s 175+ pound Blue Marlin

The big boys are here! Spring continues to be a banner time for the Pacific Blue Marlin in Kona Hawaii. Today was no exception! Peter Lamm visiting the Island from New York landed this beauty fishing aboard Fire Hatt. A nice 175+ pound Blue Marlin was tagged and released by Captain Joe Shumaker and First Mate Austin Toth.  Peter has been fishing the Big Island for many years. Wonder what keeps him coming back?  Another exciting day on the water… 

Fire Hatt is a proud member of the AFTCO  Pro Fishing Team.  You can go to AFTCO.com and AFTCO Logo 2read their amazing story.

Five Star Day

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It was a Five Star Day aboard Fire Hatt for a family visiting from Los Angeles.  Our guest released his first Blue Marlin today. To add to the thrill, Captain Joe Schumaker and First Mate Austin Toth hooked another one on the way back to the harbor. Our guest released two trophies in one day!  Making this family fishing trip in Kona, Hawaii a memorable one for his two Sons on board too!

Fire Hatt is a proud member of the AFTCO  Pro Fishing Team.  You can go to AFTCO.com and AFTCO Logo 2read their amazing story.

Reality Check for East Coast Family

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John Bolton and his son, Kyle, both from Northern Virginia, and John’s nephews Kevin and Alex Harrison from Beaumont, Texas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, respectively…

Well, they’re back on the snowy East Coast and regretting every minute of it.  It’s 28 degrees and they have 10 inches of white on the ground. a reality check for this East Coast Family, and fellow Texans as well!  The Bolton family has fished aboard Fire Hatt with Captain Chuck Wilson for several years, nothing compares to the day they had this time…Christmas Magic?

John Bolton and his son, Kyle, both from Northern Virginia, and John’s nephews Kevin and Alex Harrison from Beaumont, Texas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, respectively, booked a half-day of family fishing in Kona Hawaii aboard Fire Hatt for the day after Christmas.

We took off from Honokohau Harbor around 7:00 AM with Captain Joe Shumaker at the controls and first mate Anthony De La Cruz setting the lines.  About 10 minutes out, we’re hooked up on two lines!  Kyle is in the chair reeling in the larger fish, while John tries to bring in his fish from the starboard aft.  Kyle’s fish makes a couple of long runs, so Anthony first helps John bring in a nice striped marlin, which we estimated at about 80 pounds.  Anthony successfully tags and releases the striped marlin, then goes to help Kyle bring in and then release a blue marlin, estimated at 175 pounds. Also tagged and released.

Captain Joe brings Fire Hatt to a spot where we see at least four humpback whales frolicking. One of the whales puts on a spectacular breaching display

A great start to the morning only gets better.  After trolling near an offshore buoy, Kevin and Alex spot whale spouts closer to shore, and Captain Joe brings Fire Hatt to a spot where we see at least four humpback whales frolicking.  One of the whales puts on a spectacular breaching display.  After about 30 minutes whale-watching, we’re off to do more fishing, and not long after we’re hooked up again!

This time, Kevin is the chair, and after 15 minutes of hard reeling, he brings another blue marlin — this one estimated at 225 pounds — to the boat.  Beautiful fish, as you can see from the pics.

Unfortunately, we could not get a fourth fish for Alex to bring in, but Fire Hatt entered the harbor flying flags for three marlin.

Fire Hatt is a proud member of the AFTCO  Pro Fishing Team.  You can go to AFTCO.com and AFTCO Logo 2read their amazing story.

Reality Check for East Coast Family

Fleeting Marlin Moment

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Michael and Kia Worth aboard Fire Hatt celebrating their Honeymoon.

A Fleeting Marlin Moment for Michael and Kia Worth while aboard Fire Hatt this week.  The Worth’s booked a 3/4 day Charter Fishing trip in Kona Hawaii  with the hopes of catching a Pacific Blue Marlin.  The Worth’s are celebrating their honeymoon after just getting married in Maui.  Kia is from Minnesota and Michael from Australia.  With busy careers, the two have enjoyed some down time in the Islands.

After a quiet morning with Captain Joe Shumaker and first Mate Anthony De la Cruz,  an estimated 350 pound Pacific Blue Marlin exploded on the long rigger line.  While Michael jumped into to the fighting chair, the marlin jumped and ripped out line the whole time.  A minute into the fight…the marlin threw the hook.  Ouch!  While getting out of the chair Michael made a spontaneous comment that I’m sure he will be reminded of for years to come… “That was the most exciting minute of my life!”  Kia will surely grin every time this story is told.

Fire Hatt is a proud member of the AFTCO  Pro Fishing Team.  You can go to AFTCO.com and AFTCO Logo 2read their amazing story.

Fleeting Marlin Moment

Six Species in Two Days for Joe Gunja aboard Fire Hatt

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https://www.dropbox.com/preview/Joe%20Gunja%20Marlin%20Nov%202017/Video%20Nov%2020%2C%2011%2000%2024%20AM.mov

Six Species in Two Days for Joe Gunja aboard Fire Hatt.  Now and then a person enters your life and it is almost as if they were sent for a reason.  Joe Gunja called me and we discussed a two day fishing Charter on FIRE HATT, fishing for Blue Marlin in Kona Hawaii in November 2017.  A little history on our adventure, Joe is from Springfield Missouri.  I was born in Harrisonville about 90 miles away about the same time.  Joe is a retired high ranking Federal Bureau of Prisons Regional Supervisor, effectively making him the second in Command, supervising over 20 Wardens. Myself as a retired Chief Officer in the Fire Department we both had a lot of stories to share on our Public Service times and experiences.

Joe had fished many of the Lakes and rivers I had as a youth and he updated me on the new (40 year old) Harry S. Truman Dam and Reservoir that is in the middle of the Southern Missouri Fishing and Hunting Region.   Joe’s wife passed away suddenly this past year with no previous illnesses and he himself had suffered Leukemia and is now in remission.  Joe is a former Army Military Policemen and then rose through the ranks of the Federal Prison System including being the Warden at three prisons.  While a disciplined and structured Man, Joe has a love for adventure and fishing.

Joe, my backup Captain Joe Schumaker and I set out and started combing the waters off Kona Hawaii and shortly later caught a 40 pound Shortbilled Spearfish, a rare species World Wide and only found in the waters of the Central Pacific.  Many Anglers throughout the World come to Kona to try to capture this rarest of Billfish as they had caught most of the other Billfish Species that lived in their Ocean waters.  This turned out to be just openers as over the next two days Joe caught six different species of Gamefish that reside here in Kona Hawaii.  Finishing off our first day adventure was a 20 pound Skip Jack and later a 15 pound Barracuda.

Day two began with an early morning bite with the first species being an Ono, also called “Wahoo”, followed by a small Mahi Mahi and then came the Big Pacific Blue Marlin.  Estimated at 300 pounds while being released, it was by far Joe’s biggest fish of his life, so far.   Attached are some glimpses of the Blue Marlin as we hooked up brought it to the FIRE HATT.

Joe Gunja and I have become solid friends and we will share many more of these adventures as time goes by.  Thanks Joe for coming out to fish FIRE HATT in Kona Hawaii!

Fire Hatt is a proud member of the AFTCO  Pro Fishing Team.  You can go to AFTCO.com and AFTCO Logo 2read their amazing story.

Hawaiian Style Fishing at its Finest!

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Hawaiian style fishing at its finest!

The 30th Firecracker Open Big Game Tournament kicked off the 2017 Tournament Season.  It was an intense two days of Tournament Fishing aboard Fire Hatt!  There were many hook ups both days and three boated Blue Marlin.

Jody Bright, the tournament director”s comment today: “Krista O” with Capt. Mike O’Shiro, Darren Hayashi and David Magallanes have won the 30th Firecracker Open Big Game Fishing Tournament – in a 17 foot boat – with a 533 pound blue marlin. It’s “OFFICIAL”.

Some of the finest, funniest, local characters competing against some of the biggest names and war wagons in the game. In true Kona Style, we all celebrate your win – a hui hou!

Fire Hatt had a Spearfish release on day one by Charles DiBona, and a Blue Marlin release estimated at 175 pounds in just under 15 minutes on day two by Jeff Curry. We had two other awesome marlin strikes that did not stick.  Last year during this tournament, Charles DiBona tagged and released his first Marlin, this year, Jeff Curry tagged and released his first Marlin.   Our crew, Captains Chuck Wilson, Joe Schumaker and Jack Leverone are awesome! Chuck and I are looking forward to the next event.  Check out the Kona Tournament Schedule here at konatournaments.com

#FireHattSportfishing #CharterFishingInKonaHawaii #HawaiianStyle

Fire Hatt is a proud member of the AFTCO  Pro Fishing Team.  You can go to AFTCO.com and AFTCO Logo 2read their amazing story.

Holy Cow! Big Tuna!

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Holy Cow! This was the term used by Monte Priest after landing this big cow tuna! Our Son Monte and his family are visiting us from Killeen, Texas.  Monte is a 20 year Firefighter/Paramedic in the Central Texas area.  Along with his wife Nicole and Son Miles they have been to the Big Island several times and spent many hours aboard Fire Hatt trying for the trophy Marlin….or anything.  In all his years of fishing in Kona Hawaii and in Southern California we had not been able to get him his Marlin.  Until today!  With Captain Chuck Wilson at the helm, we left Honokohau Harbor at about 6:30 AM and around seven o’clock we had a grand explosion on the short rigger….we are Hooked Up!  Monte fought the Ahi for about 18 minutes and had the beauty in the box!  We had just finished putting the lines back out and were still hosing the blood off the deck when the short corner line started screaming. We are Hooked Up again!  Monte was back in the chair, still worn out from fighting the first fish.  Captain Joe Shumaker leadered the Blue Marlin after another impressive short fight.  Monte was out of the chair and Tagged his first Marlin.  Captain Chuck commented “When you want a fish so badly for someone, that is the hardest fish to catch.”  Congratulations Monte! #FireHattSportfishing #BestCharterFishingInKonaHawaii #MarlinFishingInKonaHawaii #AFTCOProTeam

Fire Hatt is a proud member of the AFTCO  Pro Fishing Team.  You can go to AFTCO.com and AFTCO Logo 2read their amazing story.