1999 Na Wahine O Keehi Fishing Tournament Report

By KBC member Marie Muller

Keehi Boat Club’s Wahine tournament held on September 25, ’99 attracted boats with those special people – women anglers! Water balloon fights just outside Keehi’s head buoy, flailing arms waving to old friends and anxious Captain’s awaited the traditional prayer, sung by Marleen Nishimiya , and the call to “start fishing!” Promptly at 6:30 a.m., all 33 boats were off in search of the big one, the winner!

Around 7:15 a.m., the calls started, an ono, several mahimahi and then marlin. Throughout the morning, the pattern remained, mahimahi and marlin, mahimahi and marlin, mahimahi estimated between 15 and 25 lbs. and marlin between 90 and 150 lbs.. The fish of the day, Ahi, was nowhere to be found!

Team no. 4, Captain Darrell Oka (KBC club member) aboard his Koulealea called in a 100 + marlin.

Then, in the early afternoon, a bigger one hit! Team no. 2, Captain Ross Matsukawa, captain of the borrowed Kailana II called in a 300 lb. marlin. Guess it doesn’t matter whether he’s on his Salt Shaker or the Kailana II, Ross manages to catch a winning fish no matter what! Notice though, he called in his fish at 300 pounds!

A bit later team no. 5, Captain Francis Robiniol on his Arjen called in a 400-pound marlin. Wow, excitement! Two big fish! In the twelve years of KBC’s tournaments there had never been a fish boated over 500 lbs. Maybe this was to be the year. Exciting? You bet!

Then finally, team no. 8’s Captain Elton Choy (KBC club member) aboard his POLEKE had the one and only Ahi of the tournament.

At the scale – a total of 1,835 lbs. of fish. The winners:

	Weight	Captain	Boat
CATEGORY I
Largest fish	520 lb. marlin	Capt. Ross Matsukawa	Kailana II
2^nd largest fish	445.75 lb. marlin	Capt. Francis Robiniol	Arjen
3^rd largest fish	150 lb. marlin	Capt. Darrell Oka	Koulealea

CATEGORY II
Largest marlin	135.25 lb.	Capt. Rich deRego	Kiki D
2^nd largest marlin	120.25 lb.	Capt. Corey Aleviado	Hawaiian Hawk
3^rd largest marlin	118.75 lb.	Capt. Fred Kaya	Hana Pa’a Hawaii

Largest mahimahi	35.5 lb.	Capt. Alan Simcock	Tigress
2^nd largest mahi	27.2 lb.	Capt. Leighton Tsubota	Triple L II
3^rd largest mahi	23.3 lb.	Capt. Bill Lee	Kapunalua

Largest ono	28.7 lb.	Capt. Dean Sakamoto	Kristen S
2^nd largest ono	24.9 lb.	Capt. Dan Tom	Ramona T

Largest ahi	22.8 lb	Capt. Elton Choy	Poleke

Did you see the size of the largest fish – yep, Ross caught a 520 pound marlin! Now the anticipation begins again. In addition to the cash prizes, another terrific prize, a Penn International 80STW reel and rod is awarded to the largest fish caught in either the Wahine or the Jackpot tournament. The reel and rod awarded to the largest fish over 500 lbs. has been donated by a fantastic KBC club member, Fred Kaya, owner of Hana Pa’a Hawaii. So it’s not a done deal yet, the jackpot tournament is this Saturday, October 2, ’99. Think anyone can pass Ross Matsukawa’s 520 pounder? There’ll be 88 boats and Captains trying to bring in 521 pounds or more! Good fishing, all

1999 Na Wahine O Keehi Annual Fishing Tournament Report