Kailua-Kona, HI  - 

The first event of the annual Maui Jim Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series came off strong as a record number of teams stirred up a record number of fish this past weekend.  Holding true to the desire to create a competition where small boats and small fish have a chance to win against big boats and big fish – the Kona Classic format produced results.

One of the smallest fish caught in the tournament – a 13 pound mahi mahi - won money as the largest fish in a daily category! However, the tournament was not only about small fish and small boats. The big ones showed up as well.

As is often the case, the biggest one got away. However, it was not a fish story, as the camera crew from the nationally broadcast TV show “Pacific Expeditions” was on hand to document the 2 hour battle. Ultimately, the huge marlin swam away, breaking the leader after 3 grown men tried 5 times to pull the fish up to the surface. All on the crew were experienced “big fish” fishermen, and normally would have waited the fish out bit longer. However, the gang felt a little urgency to push the situation as the big female was accompanied by a small male marlin that was darting around threatening to possibly cut the line with a fin. Capt. Mike Fann and the crew of the Spooki Luki came home with an empty boat, but will have an experience that they will remember all their lives.

The largest marlin of the tournament ended up going to the “Holiday” when Kenny “Kojack” Kreuger hauled in a 630 pound blue on the last day of fishing. “Holiday” also logged a total of 3 tagged and released marlin. Largest ono (wahoo) of the event also went to Kreuger, fishing with Capt. Doug Pattengill. Largest ahi (yellowfin tuna) of the tournament was caught on a small boat, Capt. Bob Crawford’s “Catch 22” by Chris Kamelamela.  The heaviest mahi mahi (dolphin fish or dorado) went to Less Chess on Capt. B.C. Crawford’s “Chiripa”. Each of the largest flag fish earned $2533.31 each.

A total of 38 teams tagged and released 28 marlin last weekend. The Outstanding Achievement award went to the all female crew on board Capt. Kent Mongrieg’s “Jacque Apito”. Betsy Bowes tagged two blue marlin and Ronata Goetzendorfer, Jennifer Davis, Jan Kristensen and Janine Carr tagged one blue marlin apiece.

Team “Maui Jim” tagged and released 4 blue marlin to start off their run at the Series Championship. Mike Dalton tagged two on Saturday, while Jeff Obstfeld and Jumbo Haywood each claimed a marlin tag apiece.

Capt. Tom Casey led “Team Maui Jim” to wind up the season last year in the Top Team position. Capt. Peter Hoogs and Kerwin Matsunaga won Top Boat award on “Pamela”. Wahine Angler Mary Marten won Top Angler accolades after a strong start, even though she sat out the end of the season when her skipper, John Llanes Sr. was injured. Jeff Smith caught the largest marlin of 2002 with an 875 pound monster angled from “Pamela”.

The Maui Jim Series picks up again this weekend with the 15^th Firecracker Open Big Game Tournament. As the Series progresses, the formats become increasingly more specialized. The Firecracker Open will award catches of ahi this weekend, as well as tagged marlin, and marlin over 300 pounds at the scale.

The Skins Marlin Derby fishes the following weekend for a total of three back to back weekends of Maui Jim Series action. The tournament trail continues in August with another three weekend in a row marathon. The Big Island Marlin Tournament fishes August 15, 16 & 17 in Kona. The first stop on the Statewide calendar is the Lahaina Jackpot on Maui August 24, 25 & 26, followed by the Ho’olea Fishing Tournament held August 31 and September 1 on Oahu.

Based upon last years performance and the exciting growth of the Kona Classic, The Maui Jim Series will probably award more than $700,000.00 in cash and prizes such as Accurate and Avet fishing reels, Maui Jim Sunglasses and more tackle through catalog sponsor Melton International Tackle. Some lucky winners of cash will also get a chance to win more money after the season when a free trip for four including air fare to Las Vegas will be awarded by Vacations Hawaii and the  Californian hotel.

All tournament cash purses are generated by the angler entry fees of each tournament in the Maui Jim Series, but the national television coverage by “Pacific Expeditions” is made possible through the support of the Maui Jim Sunglass Company, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Melton International Tackle, Avet Fishing Reels and Accurate Fishing Tackle.