HUGE blue marlin tops the report this month. Several marlin over 500 lbs. (beast status) were caught in June with a few hitting the 900+ mark and many in the 500 to 800+ lb. range. It was almost a surprise that another Kona grander wasn’t caught. There very well could have been a 1000 pounder hooked and fought but many of the “beast” status marlins win the fight. One of the biggest marlin brought in this month @ 982 lbs. was previously lost by another boat and was towing the lure along with several hundred yards of line. The famous World Cup tournament will be happening soon on July 4th with the prize going to the biggest blue marlin caught that day anywhere around the globe. Kona really needs another win this year. Several years ago Madeira tried to take the title away from Kona as “The Blue Marlin capital of the world” when both Kona and Madeira were tied at 3 wins each. Kona has since taken the tournament 3 more times and Madeira none but now Bermuda has a shot at the title. The current standing is 6 wins each for Bermuda and Kona. The suspense is high but the tie might not be broken this year or even for several more as several other areas around the globe have also won the tournament. While the marlins caught here lately have been big, the numbers of marlin catches haven’t been. The big ones are all females and it’s the beginning of the summer breeding season so the smaller males will be showing up soon.
The spearfish bite has been sporadic but during a recent tournament, spearfish was the hottest bite. The yellowfin tuna bite has been pretty good for the 100+ ones and the smaller ones have been easy to catch on C buoy, OT buoy and even on some of the ledges. It’s ono season but the bite has been sporadic too.
The bottom bite hasn’t been all that hot but like the marlin bite, there’s some big fish down there. Just like 1000+ lbs. is the ultimate goal for the marlin fisherman, 100+ lbs. is the goal for giant trevally. These fish have amazing strength and pull like a fish that is 3 to 4 times its size. Last month we caught one that was just under the 100 lb. mark (about 85) but this month we got one that was over 100 lbs. I don’t know what happened to the amberjacks, they’ve been a rare catch lately. The shark bite is still good on the bottom and at OT buoy. Again this month, tiger sharks have made the news but I personally haven’t had any encounters lately and it hasn’t been for a lack of trying. Just like any other fish, its right place – right time but there’s one thing I can say with certainty …. There are a lot more 1000+ tigers swimming off the Kona coast than there are 1000+ marlins.
