Author: Jody Bright

March and April have long been hailed as “big fish months” in Kona, and indeed, there have been some very nice ones of late. We count 31 blue marlin over 500-pounds in March and April. Here is the catch report from the Kona charter fleet – at least the ones we know of. March In the first week of March, Capt. B.T. of “Melee Sport Fishing” reports that a skiff released a marlin “about 800-pounds after it burned up their electric reel!  600-pounders were reported on Huntress and Jun Ken Po.” The largest blue marlin weighed in early March was…

Hawaii Marlin Tournament The Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series is currently in it’s “Seventh Inning Stretch” after running five tournaments between June 23 and July 15. In 2017, California angler Rick Shedore earned headlines as Top Angler in The Series by turning in scorecards with points fishing from a number of boats – “J.R.’s Hooker”, “Lightspeed” and “Bwana”. So far this summer, defending Champ Shedore has been on a tear, but this time all his points have been tallied on one boat – “Lightspeed”.  Rick came in second at the 2018 Firecracker, weighing a 667 pound blue. He ratcheted up the…

With the Kona marlin tournament season coming up soon, lots of talk turns to where anglers have the best chance of catching the biggest blue marlin in the world. Although some years in Kona are better than others, it is never wise to bet against Kona marlin. However, this is one year where betting on Kona may be where the smart money goes. By now, everyone has heard about the eruption on the lower east flank of Kilauea volcano, on our Big Island of Hawaii. There is no lava or eruption action on the Kona side, so it’s life as…

Taj Mahal has paused his international tour with Keb Mo in support of their top Billboard Blues Chart CD “TAJMO” to do some marlin fishing on the legendary Kona Coast at the 31st Big Island Marlin Tournament, August 23 – 27, 2017. As part of his 75th birthday celebration, Taj has offered 100 tickets (only) to the public to attend the BIMT party where he will play with the Hula Blues Band and special guest Willie K. All ticket sales will benefit Wild Oceans   https://wildoceans.org/ Show date is August 27 at 8:00 PM at the Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club…

A lively conversation was recently held on social media where we asked everyone around the world to count up the grander marlin (marlin 1,000 pounds plus) caught from their fishing location. We wanted to see, statistically, where the best place to catch granders – in the world – is. Utilizing the Hawaii Fishing News Grander list, we counted up about 144 from Hawaii. With that in mind, the following may be inexact, but it will give you a pretty dang good idea where the grander marlin come from in Hawaii: Hawaiian Grander Marlin Big Island     87 Oahu        …

Kona Grander Big Island Marlin Tournament Nothing could tempt Molly Palmer and her team on board the Kona, Hawaii, charter boat Anxious to break the IGFA angling rules. Not a World Record. Not even a share of a $129,000 prize purse. It was the classic fishing story — the great, massive blue marlin fought hard and put up an epic battle, but with a modern twist. This was a young woman, not an old man — and the marlin on the end of the line would easily take first place in the 26th Big Island Marlin Tournament held in Kona,…