Kona, Hawaii ) - Early in Day Three of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT), 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 at 400+ pounds.
“It was about the same size as the Pacific blue marlin boated yesterday. Those 400-pounders are very active this week,” said HIBT founder Peter Fithian.
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 49-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% of the fight, we saw her jumping and we chased her round and round, "said DeRego. “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,” said angler Sam Spinello. “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, 2009. Next year, Kona will once again welcome the 51st HIBT July 31-August 8, 2010.
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.
For more information on the golden anniversary of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, log onto HYPERLINK “http://www.hibtfishing.com” www.hibtfishing.com.
Media Contact
Peter Fithian, Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (808) 383-6701 or Laura Aquino (808) 326-7820 or laura@current-events.com