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The Lazy Marlin Hunt

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The first tournament of the season was so much fun and rewarding. Tournament fishing in Kona, Hawaii is not for the faint at heart! The highs and lows every day are challenging at best. The Lazy Marlin Hunt Marlin Tournament April 9th , 10th , and 11th started with a shotgun start in front of the Honokohau Harbor, in Kona Hawai’i. After a slight delay, Fire Hatt was on the hunt with Captain Chuck Wilson at the helm. 18 boats competed. On day one Fire Hatt had a tagged Blue Marlin at about 3:30 pm. Buzz Colton brought the Blue Marlin to the boat in 9 minutes estimated at 275 pounds. On day two, Fire Hatt had a hookup just three minutes into the day after the start fishing announcement was made. This time Mark Kirchen had a tag in his Blue Marlin in 5 minutes estimated at 120 pounds. We took prize money for the first hookup of the day. Day three was a long day with a hookup again at around 3:30PM. Linda Wilson fought that one with the fish coming off just 10 minutes into the fight…ouch! Team Sweet Sadie landed the Blue Marlin that won the big purse weighing in at 625 pounds!

Mark Kirchen, a Contractor and Operations Manager for SunAmericaSolar in Petaluma, CA and Buzz Colton, retired Golf Course General Manager from Indian Wells, CA featured with their release flags along with the Fire Hatt crew, Backup Captain Joe Schumaker and first mate Daron Castoro.

Fire Hatt Sportfishing is a proud member of AFTCO Pro Fishing Team.
Captain Chuck Wilson is an IGFA Certified Captain.

The Lazy Marlin Hunt

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.

The Shortbill Spearfish

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Peter Baio's Shortbill Spearfish May 2011

The Shortbill Spearfish, Tetrapturus angustirostris, is a species of marlin native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with occasional records from the Atlantic Ocean. This species occurs in open waters not far from the surface. This species can reach a length of 230 cm (91 in), though most do not exceed 190 cm (75 in). The maximum recorded weight for this species is 52 kg (115 lb). It is of minor importance to commercial fisheries and is also a game fish.

Although spearfish live in many oceans, they are not abundant anywhere, and rarely caught anywhere except Hawaii and the Mediterranean. Shortbill spearfish live in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Mediterranean spearfish live only in the Mediterranean. Roundscale spearfish live in the eastern Atlantic and the western Mediterranean, around Portugal and Spain, and closely resemble white marlin. Longbill spearfish live in the northwest, central and south Atlantic.

Spearfish are surface feeders, eating other small or medium fish and squid. They mature at two years old, and rarely live past three years old. The maximum age may be up to five years. Spearfish are not caught as gamefish in most parts of the world as their numbers are too low and being reduced by accidental bycatch. Most spearfish kill is incidental. They are caught by “sport” fisherman targeting other billfish, by commercial longliners fishing for tuna, and by troll fishers.

Featured in the top photo is Elaine and Johnny Vaughn from Huntington Beach, CA with Elaine’s Shortbill Spearfish caught here in Kona Hawaii

Featured in Lower photo is a prime species Shortbill Spearfish sucessfully released here in Kona Hawaii by First Mate Brett Lazenby aboard Fire Hatt.

The Shortbill Spearfish