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| The 2000 Ho’ole’a
Fishing tournament, proudly sponsored by CSX Lines (formerly Sealand), Jim Beam,
Caterpillar, Dekuyper, Budweiser, Murphy’s Bar and Grille, and others, is receiving
entries at a record pace. Even 1999’s record attendance of 77 entries had fewer
paid through this same date last year, and at no time in the tournament’s history has
there been this many entries with five weeks to go. As a result, organizers are advising anglers to
enter early for priority scheduling in mooring, which is included with each paid entry.
Anglers who enter by August
5th receive up to four free t-shirts and four free banquet tickets, a $120.00
value. Visiting anglers from the
neighbor islands to the US mainland and beyond that are considering chartering a boat
should make their contacts early or risk being disappointed with availability. As of
8/1, Oahu charter boats Monkey Biz, Kuu Huapala, Kahuna Kai, and Magic have entered, and
the skippers of Wild Bunch, Sea Verse, Maggie Joe, Mazel Tov, Sea Hawk, Kono, and Tsubasa
have all indicated interest in participating. Beverley, the 18 foot
Whaler that makes an annual pilgrimage from Kauai to Oahu for the North Shore Hanapa’a
tournament, won their entry into the Ho’ole’a and will be attending.
Additionally, Maui Jim, the 50 foot Halvorsen from Lahaina, Maui and title sponsor
for the Maui Jim Hawaii Marlin Series, has committed to fishing the Ho’ole’a.
More boats from the neighbor islands are expected. As with last year, the Ho’ole’a
promises to reward anglers with AT LEAST 100% return of the main entry jackpot. Ho’ole’a
is the only tournament in the state to do this, and it is made possible because the
generous donations from tournament sponsors. The Ho’ole’a is
the sixth stop on the Maui Jim Hawaii Marlin Series, a statewide series of tournaments
that will end up at a made-for-TV fish-off at South Point for the series’ top five
anglers. Points are earned by participation in tournaments all around the state (6
in Kona, plus the Ho’ole’a and Lahaina Jackpot in Maui), and additional points
are earned by catching qualifying fish and/or placing in the tournament. As of July 28, two of the
shows in the made for TV series have already been aired on ESPN2, and additional filming
will continue as the season progresses. As of July 31, angler Rick
Chapanot of Honolulu is leading the Marlin series with 1,642 points after a second place
finish in the Kona Classic and a first in the Big Island Invitational. In second
place is Jack Sanford with 1,137 points after placing first in the Firecracker Open with a
787 pound Marlin. In third is Heath Rosa with 1,121.5 points earned in the Skins.
Rosa earned 771.5 points with a fish of that size, plus picked up 50 participation
points and 300 points for winning the most “skins” in the event. Fourth
place currently belongs to James Karamouzis, who also had a huge showing in the Skins,
earning 973.5 points. In fifth place is Charles Helscel who earned 887.5 points in
the Big Island Invitational. Since points are earned with poundage, participation
and winnings, the state championship is up for grabs, and at least ten anglers are within
striking distance of the leaders. In addition to the Maui Jim
series, Ho’ole’a is a qualifying event for the 2001 Rolex/IGFA International
Tournament of Champions, and the winning team will receive an invite to the second annual
ITOC in Kona next March. Each and every angler will receive a complimentary
membership for one year with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). Ho’ole’a will
again send the team catching the largest qualifying Ahi to the 2001 Ahi Fever as team #2.
Ahi Fever has been the state’s record attendance tournament, filing to their
maximum capacity of 260 boats every year since it began. Ho’ole’a will
give a free entry into the 2001 North Shore Hana Pa’a Fishing Tournament for the team
recording the third highest total qualifying poundage including releases (first and second
are major prize categories). In addition to the 100% or
more jackpot, Ho’ole’a will once again run optional entry categories which will
offer the potential for significant winnings over and above the main entry. Many
anglers have already entered several categories thus far, and prizes are expected to meet
or possibly exceed those in the main jackpot purse. The beauty of the optional
categories is it forces all kinds of different strategy and lets everyone from the
smallest trailer boat to the largest sportfisher to compete at whatever level they feel
comfortable with. Even with all these
affiliations and tremendous prizes, there will be no line class or leader restrictions for
the Ho’ole’a itself. The tournament is defined as loose rules (not jungle,
not IGFA, but in between), and anglers may use live bait so long as it is caught after the
start fishing gun. For points to be earned in the Maui Jim Hawaii Marlin Series,
qualifying fish must conform to additional series rules. The schedule will be much
the same format as in previous years, with the skipper’s meeting at 7:00 pm at
Waikiki Yacht Club on the 1st of September, fishing Saturday and Sunday the 2nd
and 3rd, awards banquet on Monday the 4th at the Hawaii Yacht Club
located in the ocean heart of Waikiki. For more information, please contact
tournament co-chairs: |
Click here for Ho'ole'a Information & Online Entry Form
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