Posts

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!

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

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

Nine Years of Exellence

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FIRE HATT SPORTFISHING Earns TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 9 Consecutive Years in a Row.

FIRE HATT SPORTFISHING EARNS 2019 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE 9 CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN A ROW

Kailua Kona, Hawaii  May 28, 2019  FIRE HATT SPORTFISHING announced today that it has received the TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence. Now in its ninth year, the achievement celebrates businesses that are consistently excellent – having earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. Certificate of Excellence recipients include restaurants, accommodations and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a quality customer experience. 

Our Motto: “We welcome you as our guest and want you leave us as a friend.”

“TripAdvisor is excited to announce the recipients of the 2019 Certificate of Excellence, which for nearly a decade has celebrated businesses that have consistently received positive ratings from travelers and diners on the world’s largest travel platform,” said Neela Pal, Vice President of Brand, TripAdvisor. “This recognition allows us to publicly recognize businesses that are actively taking into account customer feedback to help travelers confidently experience the most highly reviewed places to eat, stay, and explore.”

The Certificate of Excellence accounts for the quality, quantity and recency of reviews submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.

About TripAdvisor TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site*, enables travelers to unleash the full potential of every trip. With 760 million reviews and opinions covering the world’s largest selection of travel listings worldwide – covering approximately 8.3 million accommodations, airlines, experiences, and restaurants — TripAdvisor provides travelers with the wisdom of the crowds to help them decide where to stay, how to fly, what to do and where to eat.

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

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.

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.

 

Mahi Mahi Makes Memories for Six Year Old Gavin Kelln

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Beautiful Morning Sunrise aboard Fire Hatt with the Kelln and Dwyer Families, Waiting for the Mahi Mahi bite!

Mahi Mahi Makes Memories for Six Year Old Gavin Kelln.

Serena and Steven Kelln, Steven’s dad, Elton, and their (soon to be 6 year old) son, Gavin along with  brother in law, David Dwyer and his daughter, Sarah spent the day on a family fishing trip here in Kona Hawaii and had the privilege and wonderful experience of heading out on the water with Captain Joe Shumaker and Captain Brian Shumaker on a gorgeous morning in March.  Sightings of dolphins on the way out of the harbor were amazing and the beautiful blue sky and calm water made for a relaxing and wonderful experience.  The first couple hours of their trip passed uneventfully without a nibble but the newness of being on a boat kept 5 year old Gavin entertained and excited to be out.  They all just enjoyed the beauty of the water and the friendly company of the Captains.  This was an extended family fishing trip but also the unique opportunity to fulfill the exceptionally special birthday request of Gavin’s, to be able to fish for the very first time for his upcoming 6th birthday.  Then, within the last half hour of their trip, we had two strikes! We are Hooked Up!  Gavin and his Dad had the thrill of a lifetime hauling in a beautiful Mahi Mahi together.  Gavin had a bout of shyness and didn’t get a picture with the Mahi Mahi but Steven happily stepped in and took his place.  Although there was little action on the first part of the trip it was absolutely chalked full of firsts and amazing memories that they will all look back on with such incredible fondness.  Thank you Kelln’s and Dwyer’s for your great spirit and friendliness, we are looking forward to seeing you folks again in the future!    #familyfishinginkonahawaii 

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.

From Two Pound Bass to 200 Pound Blue Marlin

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From Two Pound Bass to 200 Pound Blue Marlin.  Today on Fire Hatt, Daniel Perez broke his personal all time record for the largest fish he has ever caught, (a two pound Bass). This estimated 200 pound Pacific Blue Marlin will give him bragging rights for a very long time. Daniel brought the beauty to the boat in just under 20 minutes. The Marlin was tagged and released, tired but unharmed by Captain Joe Shumaker. Nice!  Daniel is from the Bay Area of Northern California.  Fire Hatt was in about 1200 fathoms just outside the Honokohau Harbor Marina when the fish exploded on the short bait.  Captain Joe Shumaker likes to run the well known “Smash Bait” in tight close to the boat…for this reason!  The Big Blue jumped at least fifty times and tired itself out giving Daniel the upper hand.

 Tagging and Releasing of Pacific Blue Marlin

Scientific name: Makaira nigricans.  The blue marlin is the largest of the marlins, common to 11 feet, and known to exceed 2,000 pounds. It is cobalt blue on top shading to silvery white on bottom, although colors can vary by region.   In common with striped marlin, they are rarely encountered in shallow nearshore waters, preferring blue, oceanic waters.  

Tag and recapture data show that blue marlin travel long distances and routinely make trans-Pacific or trans-Atlantic crossings.  One recent tag return indicates the first inter-ocean for a blue marlin  that earlier data on genetics suggested occurred). In the Pacific, blue marlin tagged in Kona, Hawaii have been recaptured in the South China Sea, in the Marquesas, and off the western coast of South America Some of these movements have occurred in relatively short time scales.

In August of 1997 a pilot project was undertaken on blue marlin in Pacific waters off the coast of Kona, Hawaii.   In this project the first generation pop-up satellite tags were set for durations of 60-90 days and fish ranged in body size between 130 and 300 lbs.   Three of the tags successfully surfaced and transmitted data, and one fish was caught within a week after release within a mile of the initial tag and release event. Remarkably, one blue marlin traveled from Hawaii to an area west of the Galapagos (a distance of approximately 3000 nm) in 90 days. At the time people doubted a marlin from Hawaii could travel this far. The remaining five tagged blue marlin did not report back for unknown reasons, possibly tag failure due to antenna interaction with the fish or mortality. The tagging data provided a short term view that was consistent with the acoustic tagging data- marlin were primarily fish of the surface 50m but occasionally dove to deeper depths.

                   

 

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.

Big Blue Marlin Tournament Time In Kona

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Captain Chuck Wilson releasing a nice Pacific Blue Marlin

Big Blue Marlin Tournament Time In Kona.   LOOKING FOR TOURNAMENT TEAMS AND ANGLERS 2017

It’s that time of year when our Charter boat FIRE HATT has booked some Tournaments here in Kona Hawaii, and we still have some tournament openings.  A couple of high stakes tournaments are completely open and we are looking for one angler to team up with another angler for the Big Island Marlin Tournament, August  24-25-26, a three fishing day tournament and typically large payout.

We are also wide open for the first tournament of the season, The Rock ‘n Reel Tournament on June 10 and 11.

World Cup Blue Marlin Championship … The one day Tournament on July 4th is the biggest payout of the year

If you are interested, just give me a call at 808-987-0038 or email at firehatt@gmail.com

These high stakes and high adventure events can instantly change your fortune.  Check out our website firehattsportfishing.com to see who we are and also Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series to see details of all events.

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.