My initiation to fishing the Kona Coast was about as storybook as it gets…almost. There was little doubt that the fishing gods had smiled on me once again. They must have because I was standing in the cockpit of the 45’ Rybovich Bad Company with Anthony Hsieh, Steve Lassley and Bill De Preist, with Randy Parker and “O.B.” O’ Brien making up the crew.
We were pulling out of Honokohau Harbor for the shotgun start of day third and final day of the Maui Jim Skins Marlin Tournament. The lineup of boats was impressive. There were plenty of classic wood sportfishers in the mix of 31 boats entered, but when we hit the throttles Bad Company quickly found herself in front of the pack, racing to the “grounds.” Less than five minutes later Randy pulled the throttles back and O.B. set the pattern and we had a tasty spread of plastic popping and swimming off the riggers. Watching the fleet spread out behind us, there was a huge splash as a big marlin came leaping out of the water with a black lure dangling from its mouth. As we watched the fish tear up the water taking line off the reel we thought this one might be a “nickel” or a fish at least 500 pounds. The only problem was that the fish was connected to another boat that had crossed our wake about ¼ mile behind us. Mercifully, the boat was not entered in the tournament, and the hooks pulled after the fish had run off several hundred yards of line. But the impact on my mind had been made. Less than ten minutes out of the harbor a big blue marlin had left her mark, inflicting me with the Kona Blues.
As we worked our way South along the Kona coast, I got caught up with the details of the tourney. The skins format pays the largest fish over the 500 pound mark each day a “skin” amount equal to1/3 of the total payout (about $25,000 per skin). Released fish were worth 200 points each and fish over 300 pounds are worth a point a pound and came into play as a tiebreaker and for optional dailies. Day one of the tournament Bad Company had released a blue, one of six by the fleet. One of the boats won some dailies with a fish that went over 360 pounds, but the skin went unclaimed and rolled forward. Bad Company raised three fish but was unable to get one on for more than a few jumps on day two. A dozen fish were released but no qualifying fish were landed that day in the tourney. That meant that the skin from day 1 and 2 rolled over to day three, making for some serious rewards for landing a good fish. If no 500 pound fish was landed, all three skins went to the team with the highest point total, and Bad Company was 400 points behind Chiripa, which had 600 points from three releases.
It wasn’t long until O.B. called out “Long Rigger, Marlin!” as a fish came up slashing behind the jig, then was gone without even popping it out of the clip. Just after lunch the water exploded behind the starboard rigger and we were on. Anthony grabbed the 130 pound outfit and climbed in the chair. Randy called in the hookup to tournament control, then went to work. The choreography of captain and wireman was impressive as we had the fish to boat side in under five minutes. Now came decision time. The fish was chunky, but short. What from a distance looked to be a 350 pound easy qualifier looked just a bit under 300 pounds against the boat. We took a quick measurement and decided to release the fish.

Bad Company now had two releases, and Chiripa still had three. We were still a good fish or two releases away from the lead when Ho’kele reported boating a fish around 370 pounds. Next Strong Persuader called in back to back releases just 6 minutes apart and leapfrogged to the ultimate lead with four releases and a payday of nearly $125,000. It was lines out at 4 p.m. and by 4:15 we were back at our mooring. The Rybo had raised seven fish in three days of the tourney, but had just managed 2 releases. Oh the heartbreak of lure fishing.
The next day we made the (long for Kona standards) 15minute run north to one of the FAD buoys to fish live bait style. The area was loaded with Aku (skipjack) so we caught a couple and began slow trolling the area. We had two quick bites, both bronze whaler sharks that Lassley released. We watched the Maui Jim release a fish nearby, so we knew there were a few around. Just after lunch the short bait got picked up and Anthony was in the chair again. After about five minutes Randy had the Rybo backing hard as O.B. reached for the leader. It was a wild rodeo ride as the fish tail walked up the port side, O.B. taking wraps and pulling hard as the leader parted, the fish going away in dramatic fashion.

And so it went for the rest of the trip. We ended up getting 4 Kona Blues over 5 days. There were no big ones landed by the fleet that week leading up to the full moon, historically the best time to get a nickel or a grander. I know they are there, I saw a big girl my first few minutes out. Trolling the incredible blue waters of Kona, with vog (volcano fog) engulfing the island, waiting for the next big bite, has me addicted. I have the Kona Blues, and I will never be the same again.