MEDIA RELEASE

 

Last week the Emperor and Empress of Japan paid an official visit to Kona. This week, Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope of Japan captured the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) championship, beating out Old South Marlin Club #4 by 93 points. 

Third place honors went to Malibu Marlin Club. 

Skunked for the first two of five tournament fishing days, the father-son team Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope from Japan roared back mid-week. 

When the final fish count was tallied, angler Kihachiro Suzuki’s week-long catch of five Pacific blue marlin and one ahi (Yellowfin tuna) put them on top of the scoreboard. 

On Wednesday, Suzuki tagged two Pacific blue marlin. 

On Thursday, Suzuki tagged another Pacific Blue marlin plus he boated a Pacific blue marlin that weighed in on Kailua Pier at 332 pounds. 

By the end of HIBT fishing on Friday, Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope tagged its final Pacific blue marlin estimated at 150 pounds.  

His complete joy transcended language. Speaking through an interpreter Suzuki said, “This is my second time here at the HIBT. It is so enjoyable. I came to Kona with a feeling that I would win and I am so happy!” 

Team Old South Marlin Club #4 of North Carolina rallied Friday with another tagged Pacific blue marlin, propelling them from fourth to second place. 

Malibu Marlin Club, the team that had held the top spot for three of the five days, finished in third place.  

“We want to extend a heartfelt mahalo to the entire Kona community for the warmth and aloha shared these past fifty years,” HIBT founder Peter Fithian said.

 

Top Captain

 

David Bertuleit, captain of the 41-foot Kona Seafari, reeled in the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament’s coveted Henry Chee Award. 

The perpetual Henry Chee Award was established in 1965 to honor the charter boat captain upon whose vessel the most number of billfish points have been scored at HIBT. 

The award’s namesake, a pioneer marlin fisherman who set an unprecedented number of gamefish catch records, helped establish the Kona coast as a world-famous fishing destination. 

This is Bertuleit’s first Henry Chee Award. 

Anyone who knows Kona fishing knows the Parker name. Bertuleit started fishing for the late George Parker more than 20 years ago and more recently he fished with George’s sons – Randy and Marlin Parker. 

About 10 years ago, Bertuleit earned his captain’s license, took the Kona Seafari out of service for a year and rebuilt it. Since then, Bertuleit has fished nearly every HIBT. This year, he asked another legendary Kona captain, Tioni Judd, to come out of retirement to crew. 

“This was a great tournament because nearly every boat caught fish! But having Tioni fish with me was even better,” Bertuleit said. “It was all about teamwork.”  

 

About HIBT

 

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament welcomes teams to its 50th golden anniversary along side the State of Hawaii as it celebrates 50 years of statehood! Once again, the world meets here in Kona as enthusiastic anglers gather from around the world to fish these famous waters including Australia, Bermuda, British Isles, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tahiti and representing teams from around the US including California, Florida, Hawaii and North Carolina.   

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is underwritten by the generosity of the County of Hawaii and sponsored in part by Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner, KWXX Radio and numerous corporate and community donors. 

— Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

 

MEDIA RELEASE

Four days into the five-day 50th anniversary Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament and a mere 24 points separate Malibu Marlin Club from second place Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope of Japan.  

“Anything’s possible tomorrow,” HIBT founder Peter Fithian said. “With more than 77 fish caught over the last four days, there is a whole lot of movement within the scoreboard.”  

Veteran team Old South Marlin Club #4 put serious points on the scoreboard by tagging three Pacific blue marlin, estimated at 150, 200 and 275 pounds. Fishing light 50-pound test tackle, anglers Lance Cleveland, Christian Amico and Glenn Garritano posted the first one-day team triple tag of the tournament this week.   

Thursday’s Weigh-Ins at Kailua Pier

In addition to a tagged and released Pacific blue marlin estimated at 275 pounds, Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope from Japan, fishing aboard Marlin Magic, also weighed in with a 332-pound Pacific blue marlin. 

Laguna Niguel Billfish Club Team 2, fishing aboard Pacific Blue, weighed in a 430-pound Pacific blue marlin. 

Fremantle Sailing Club A Team from Australia, fishing aboard Anxious, weighed in a 490-pound Pacific blue marlin. 

And Game Fishing Club of South Australia, fishing aboard Maggie Joe, weighed in a 331-pound Pacific blue marlin. 

Thirty-nine of the 41 teams competing have posted points on the official HIBT scoreboard. Teams are pinpointing strategies as they contemplate plans for Friday’s final day of fishing. With 77 fish caught through four days of tournament fishing, all HIBT anglers know the fish are out there. 

As of Thursday, three HIBT teams have entered the Great Marlin Race, deploying satellite tags on Pacific blue marlin and tracking their progress for 180 days. Barbara Block, Ph. D. and her graduate students/technicians from Stanford University assist participating teams and crews in deploying the satellite tags. 

The team whose Pacific blue marlin travels the farthest over 180 days will receive a free entry in the 2010 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. A true win-win for HIBT fishing and scientific research.  

Team Salty Reels In Fish Story of the Day

And they say cats have nine lives? 

At 10:30 this morning, Team Salty from Japan prepared to routinely tag and release an estimated 180-pound Pacific blue marlin. Imagine their surprise when they discovered the fish already sported a barnacle-clad tag. 

The crew aboard the Hookele, captained by Guy Terwilliger, was able to retrieve the older tag and attach the new HIBT tag without harming the fish. The captain will forward the tag to NOAA for further monitoring and research.  

— Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

 

MEDIA RELEASE

Early in Day Three of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, the Aussies from Fremantle Sailing Club A Team fishing aboard Real Pleasure hooked-up just outside Kailua Bay. 

Veteran angler and team captain Mark Maher, an IGFA representative, fought the good fight for nearly six hours before losing the fish estimated in excess of 400 pounds.  

“It was about the same size as the Pacific blue marlin boated yesterday. Those 400-pounders are very active this week,” HIBT founder Peter Fithian said.   

Before the mid-morning radio round-up, one of three daily team call-ins, anglers had tagged and released 12 Pacific blue marlin. With six more hook-ups announced over the airways before noon, anglers representing enthusiastic teams from around the world were on high alert. 

All but five of the 41 teams have now posted points on the HIBT scoreboard.  

The big fish story of the day belongs to Malibu Marlin Club, fishing aboard the 53-foot Maggie Joe captained by Mike DeRego. 

Angler and team captain Sam Spinello boated a 567 pound Pacific blue marlin, propelling the team into first place. 

“This was a beautiful fish. For more than 70 percent of the fight, we saw her jumping and we chased her round and round,” DeRego said. “Sam is an incredible 74-year old angler.”  

Malibu Marlin Club hooked up in Uniform, the fishing area way south near Hookena. 

“This was another very strong, tough fish. We had the drag on as high as it could go and she still gave us a tremendous fight,” angler Sam Spinello said. “We had her to the back of the boat at least a dozen times! But she was up for the fight – she was well fed and in excellent physical condition. The captain and crew did an amazing job with boating the fish. What a day.” 

The five-day Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament continues through Friday, July 24.    

— Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

 

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Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.org Contributing Editor

A surprise visit by Mayor Billy Kenoi at Tuesday afternoon’s weigh-in on Kailua pier created a stir. Kenoi recognized Peter Fithian’s 50 years of commitment to the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament and proclaimed July 19-25 as Peter Fithian Week. 

“We need to celebrate this great tournament and the fame it has brought the Kona Coast,” Kenoi said. “This iconic event is an economic driver for our county and attracts visitors from around the world to our beautiful island. For that we are grateful to Peter and the HIBT.”  

Fithian was honored and surprised by the mayoral proclamation. 

“I am so very pleased that Mayor Kenoi has come here today. This tournament would not be possible without the support of the County of Hawaii. I want to say that I am honored to know that the County of Hawaii recognizes this grand tournament as an asset to the Kona community and its world-class fishing fleet.” 

Fithian joked that he would take full advantage of the honor.

“So I’m OK for a week around this town,” he said. “Tell the cops.”

The tournament is something of a Fithian family event. Wife Bobi, son Chip and daughter Marsha are working on Kailua Pier this week.

“What an honor for him. He’s worked so hard over the years. He really deserves this,” Chip said. “I’m a Kona boy and my love of fishing just came naturally. I love this tournament.”

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is celebrating its 50th golden anniversary this year.

Once again, the world meets in Kona as anglers gather from around the world to fish these famous waters including Australia, Bermuda, British Isles, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tahiti and representing teams from around the U.S. including California, Florida, Hawaii and North Carolina.   

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is underwritten by the generosity of the County of Hawaii and sponsored in part by Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner, KWXX Radio and numerous corporate and community donors. 

— Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

 

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Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.org Contributing Editor

Bob Lowe has fished the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament for 25 years, but he said he met his match Tuesday.

The 78-year-old angler from Lizard Island, Australia spent more than 3 hours wrestling with a 443-pound Pacific blue marlin during the second day of the competition.

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Lowe, aboard Kona Seafari, snagged the fish at 8:14 a.m. on 50-pound test line.

“That’s the toughest little fish I’ve ever seen in my life,” Lowe said, relaxing with teammates and a cold beer. “It’s only a little rat, just more than 400 pounds, but it was tougher than some 1,000-pounders I’ve caught.”

An Old South Marlin Club #2 teammate expressed his admiration for Lowe.

“This is the toughest S.O.B. you’ll meet,” he said. “Three and a half hours and he never broke a sweat. It would have made a younger man cry.”

As an Australian representative for the International Game Fish Association, Lowe knows fishing and has his share of catches under his belt including landing a 1,000-pounder in under an hour.    

And One Ahi

In other news, one ahi was also boated Tuesday. Another 23 billfish were tagged and released back to the sea throughout the day.  

Pajaro Valley Game Fish Club #1 had its first tag of the day just minutes into the competition. 

Team Malaka followed its second-fish-of-the-day habit with angler Phillip Duke tagging his estimated 150-pound Pacific blue marlin by 7:30 am. 

These important points earned Team Malaka its two-day lead.  

Old South Marlin Club #2, Malibu Marlin Club (2007 HIBT winners) and Bay of Islands Swordfish Club from New Zealand are close in the team standings.  

“This is really how the tournament functions best,” said HIBT founder Peter Fithian. “Lots of fish, the scoreboard always changing and most teams are seeing plenty of action.”  

Fishing continues through Friday, July 24.

—Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com 

 

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Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.org Contributing Editor

It’s usually all about the fishing at the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Monday was no exception, with 16 Pacific blue marlin tagged and five short nose spearfish and three ahi tallied.

But there were some non-fishermen at the weigh-in on Kailua Pier, too.

One is tournament founder Peter Fithian.

“You know, I’ve never actually fished in this one,” he said. “It’s my job to see that everything is working smoothly, like a watch. I get the benefit of seeing everyone come to my hometown so it’s like a reunion of sorts.”

Fithian also enjoys showing off his hometown.

“Kona is generally regarded as a good place to visit whatever your reasons,” he said. “These gentlemen know the fishing is good, they know the water is good and they know it’s well organized.”

This year is special for Fithian because so many of his old friends returned for the 50th anniversary celebration.

“The British Isles team is back. It’s nice to have them,” Fithian said. “Shoalhaven is, too. They’ve been such great supporters of  this tournament over the years. And Sydney Game Fishing Club. And Fremantle Sailing Club. They sent two teams.”

This year’s anglers come from Australia, Bermuda, British Isles, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tahiti and representing teams from around the U.S. including California, Florida, Hawaii and North Carolina.   

“Fifty years ago New Zealand and Australia participated in the tournament allowing us to call ourselves an international tournament,” Fithian said. “We are so pleased to see many of our long-time tournament friends return to celebrate our golden anniversary.”

The Wives

Meanwhile, Becky Campos was congratulating her husband, Tony, captain of Pajaro Valley Game Fish Club #2.

The team managed to get on the scoreboard the first day of fishing.

“That’s huge. Dang, that’s the biggest deal,” she said. “We’re here to win it. Otherwise it’s just an expensive boat ride.”

The couple from Watsonville, Calif. have been coming to HIBT on and off for 35 years, she said, although Tony first fished in the tournament 40 years ago.

“It’s amazing that some of the boats are still here. We go all over to fish – Mexico and everywhere – but these captains really know these waters,” Campos said. “They are just as nice as they were 30 years ago and now we see some of their kids coming up so that’s cool.”

Campos said she appreciates the effort it takes to organize such a tournament.

“The volunteers here are just great. Some people forget that word: volunteer. Some people just take it for granted, but they really make the whole week happen,” she said. “And they don’t forget us ladies. While the men are out there, they find such fun and interesting stuff for us to do.”

Activities and excursions for anglers’ wives this year include a spa day, visits to area resorts and an ancient lei and haku making demonstration.

Day One

OK, back to the fishing. 

The tournament kicked off under clear, early morning skies as anglers acquainted themselves with Kona’s legendary fishing fleet, skilled captains, ocean conditions and rules of the tournament. 

By day’s end, 16 Pacific blue marlin were tagged, adding valuable team points to the scoreboard. 

Team Malaka was the first team to put points on the scoreboard. 

Angler Steve Gunther took little more than 17 minutes to tag his estimated 200-pound Pacific blue marlin on 50-pound test line. By noon, Team Malaka’s angler Tal Nizani tagged yet another Pacific blue marlin.  

“We tagged the final fish of last year’s 2008 HIBT and we’re very excited to tag the first fish this year,” Gunther said. “Our team is ready to be here in Kona to fish this great tournament.”

Every HIBT team is required at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. to call in its action, whether it be a strike, hook-up or caught, and the location of where they are fishing. 

At the end of the 41-team round-up, tournament radio control broadcasts the report, giving teams valuable information that helps with strategy.  

The five-day Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament continues through Friday, July 24.

Great Marlin Race

The inaugural Great Marlin Race is underway as part of the celebration of the 50th running of this prestigious tournament. 

Teams can purchase a satellite Pacific blue marlin tagging device, and once attached to the marlin, it will track the fish’s travels for about 180 days. The fish that travels the farthest wins the Great Marlin Race and its team will receive one free entry for up to six anglers in the 2010 HIBT, not including charter boat fees and travel expenses.  

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is underwritten by the generosity of the County of Hawaii and sponsored in part by Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner, KWXX Radio and numerous corporate and community donors. 

— Find out more:

 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

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MEDIA RELEASE
It was 1959.
Peter Fithian, Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament founder, remembers being in his car, having just finished a meeting when he heard on the car radio Hawaii had become the 50th State.
Ask him what draws him back to that time and Fithian will say he was launching the idea of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, the first sportfishing tournament of its kind.
What Fithian did not know was that 50 years later, the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament would become the iconic sportfishing tournament in the world and would still be welcoming teams from around the world each summer to fish Kona’s now famous waters.
This year, HIBT will generate more great fishing stories as it prepares to welcome almost 50 teams on its 50th anniversary in the 50th state.
Kona’s famous fishing waters will once again be filled with enthusiastic anglers as teams return to be a part of the Golden Anniversary tournament.
International interest is stirring with six teams alone coming from Australia. The Australian teams will have competition as six teams are from Japan, eight teams from California and three teams from Papua New Guinea prepare for this year’s tournament.
Also returning to the competition are the Tahitians from Haura Club de Tahiti.
— Find out more:
Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com