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200+ Pound Pacific Blue Marlin on 50 lb Test Line

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I Love Marlin Fishing in Kona Hawaii was the sentiment shared between Chris and Rebecca Aust from Orange County, CA and us.  We had an epic day of fishing in Kona today.  We started with a hookup on the long rigger.  The  Lucky Linda Lure of course. Chris fought this 200+ pound Pacific Blue Marlin for about 25 minutes on 50 lb test line.  The Ken Matsuura Reels we use made the catch and release effortless.  Once we got lines back in the water, it was Rebecca’s turn at a fish.  Sure enough, about an hour later we are bit again.  The marlin is jumping and screaming off  line.  After just a few moments, the fish is off.  That marlin was  estimated to be a bit larger than the first one.  Now with a temporary lull in the action we decide to have lunch.  I commented to Chris that typically when everyone has a sandwich in their hands, a line goes off.  Sure enough, we are bit again.  Rebecca is back in the chair, line screaming, the marlin jumping and it comes off.  Again!  Actually, I think she was relieved.  The dorsel fin on this fish was so big that we all gasp as it came into the pattern and took the short rigger lure.  We ended this day with one release, two strikes and a mystery bite.  Not a bad day of fishing here in Kona Hawaii.

Another Perfect Day of Fishing in Kona Hawaii

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Another Perfect Day Fishing in Kona Hawaii.  Pete Balon along with his wife Kelly Ann and cousin Derek Balon and Erica Capone boarded the Fire Hatt for a Birthday outing for Kelly.  Their hopes were to catch something for dinner and to release anything else.  Well, lets say I don’t know what they are having for dinner, but a couple of hours into the trip the stinger line is bit.  Pete is in the chair and fighting a nice Pacific Blue Marlin.  After about a 30 minute fight we had the fish to leader.  Pete is out of the chair and watches as we revive and release the beauty.  His fish was estimated to be around 180 lbs.  Guess which lure was bit?  The Lucky Linda Lure again.  Not sure what I am going to do if that lure “cools off”.  Happy Birthday Kelly, hope you have some great memories to take home with you.

Lucky Linda Lure and Lady Luck

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The Lucky Linda Lure and Lady Luck came together again for Team Fire Hatt last Saturday while fishing the 16th Annual Wahine Tournament in Kona Hawaii sponsored by Huggo’s Restaurant.  Linda Wilson, Kay Kolt, Kathy Nelson, Julia Leino and Dolly were an all girl team lead by our Captain Chuck Wilson.  We had a short corner bite early that screamed out line and then was off.  Followed by that, Linda Wilson successfully released the first Blue Marlin for our team after a 15 minute fight.  We are on the board!  Soon after that, the long rigger was bit.  Angler Kay Kolt brought another Blue Marlin to the boat quickly and just 20 feet from leader, it was off!  Two more bites later and the tournament is over.  We are One for Four today.  The winning fish was caught by Kari Teshima.  She reeled in a 733-pound Pacific blue marlin.  The fish earned the four-member team 733 points in the one-day, 64-team fishing tournament.  Kaimalino, where they fished with Capt. Manu Hind.   (The Lucky Linda Lure is made by Bomboy Lures.)

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament Days One and Two Update

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Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament Days One and Two Update of the teams that fished on the Fire Hatt shows Team Captain and Angler Masaharu Matsushita of the Kona Game Fishing Club Taiyo  from Japan with his release flag for day one.  Masaharu released a 150 pound Pacific Blue Marlin on Monday and later in the day had another chance to capture a flag and the fish did not stick.  We are One for Two on day one.  This team has been fishing the HIBT in Kona Hawaii for over 30 years.  On day two, Martin and Mitchell Firestein representing the Balboa Angling Club from California were Zero for Four.  We just could not get one to stick.  The Marlin are hitting the lures fast and furious!  Martin and Mitchell were hoping to deploy a Satellite Tag into a Pacific Blue Marlin that will track the travels and behaviors of the fish for 120 days.  The program is called the Great Marlin Race.  You can go to their website and get information on last years data at http://greatmarlinrace.org , Check it out.  Several tags will be deployed this year.

 

Not only a First Marlin While Fishing In Kona Hawaii

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Not only a first Marlin while fishing in Kona Hawaii,  but also his first Shortbill Spearfish.  Dirk and Martina Untermann along with their two daughters Suenjn and Maike boarded the Fire Hatt for a day of fishing with the prize in mind being his first Pacific Blue Marlin.  After we had three bites and nothing sticking, finally a Blue aggressively took the bait.  Fight is on!  Dirk fought the estimated 180 pound Blue Marlin for 25 minutes as the fish charged the boat, tried to outrun the boat and then finally just went deep. Dirk released the Pacific Blue Marlin in hopes that one day he will return to catch it again.   Once the marlin was released we started our journey back up the line to the harbor.  After having about an hour to embrace the event that just occured, the same line is bit again, third time today and this time Dirk brings in a Trophy Shortbill Spearfish.  I’m just going to say, The Lucky Linda Lure by Bomboy Lures gets lucky again.  How good does it get?  Dirk and his family were still all smiles as they left us at the end of the day.  A fun time was had by all!

First Billfish for Tommy Wells While Fishing in Kona Hawaii

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While Fishing in Kona Hawaii this week, Clayton “Tommy” Wells boarded the Fire Hatt on a 3/4 day afternoon charter in hopes of  catching a prize Blue Marlin.  After am hour into the trip, the short corner is bit.  A Shortbill Spearfish.  Tommy gets to the chair and after a short 5 minute fight, we landed his catch.  An avid Cutting Horse Owner and Competitor from Houston Texas, Tommy used his calm demeanor and precise maneuvers to calmly bring the fish to the boat. What a delightful afternoon.  Tommy and his Wife will try tomorrow for their ultimate prize…a Pacific Blue Marlin.  The Marlin are showing in numbers now just in time for the Kona Kickoff Tournament this weekend.  We will be fishing the tournament and hopefully will have a great success story to share with you.

Kona Fishing Tournament Time!

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Its Kona fishing tournament time!.  With the first of the tournaments starting the 24th and 25th of this month.  Last year Russ and Debra Whitman from Redondo Beach, CA arrived excited and prepared to fish the Rock N Reel Marlin Tournament. On the second day of the tournament we hooked this 560 lb Blue Marlin to win the Largest Marlin Category.  Russ and Debra have a long history of winning fishing tournaments on the West Coast of California.  Having fished and owned boats for a lifetime, tournament fishing in Kailua Kona produced  the largest winning Marlin they’ve had.  The Whitman’s along with Rich and Pat Haley, another popular So CA Team will be arriving soon to try their luck at claiming another title later this month.

The Trials and Triumphs of Marlin Fishing in Kona Hawaii

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Lost Marlin, Marlin that strike and don’t stick, Marlin that come up in the pattern chasing a lure and doesn’t take it, Marlin that spit the hook at the boat and finally, a hook set breaking today.  Need I say more?  Five chances in four days.  This is not a sport for the emotionally weak!  With that off the table, the fish are here.  Big League Marlin Fishing in Kona has begun.  The thrill is here with the anticipation of the big one.  With our tournament season approaching, great detail to tackle and the condition of the boat is now top priority.

Captain Chuck Talks Kona Fishing (Video)

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It’s hard to describe the type of experience that you can expect with us when you are out on the water, so we created this short Kona fishing video to help show off what we’re all about.

Fishing in Kona Yields First Flag Fish for Max Hunt

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Fishing in Kona Yields First Flag Fish for Max Hunt.  While aboard the Fire Hatt, Max landed his first flag fish, a 10 lb Mahi Mahi!  Pictured with crewman Tobin Hudgens, Max waited patiently for his chance to reel one in.  Finally, a line was bit.  Max and his dad, Ken have fished with us before, that time Max caught his first Skipjack Tuna.    Oh, his Mom?  She was preparing for the Iron Man Competition starting tomorrow.  Good Luck! I feel the long awaited Blue Marlin for Ken will come soon…