The Maui Jim Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series has just completed the first three tournaments in the series in as many weeks with a total of 99 teams competing for over $267,000 in cash and prizes.  61 marlin were tagged and released. Living up to the reputation of the “Marlin Capital of the World”, Kona waters also produced 11 marlin over 500 pounds, two of which were in the 700 pound class.

At the “Fourth Inning Stretch” between the first three event and the Big Island Marlin Tournament later in August, top Series Boat is “Holiday” with 2,771 points. In second is “Chiripa” with 1,632 points. Trailing in a near Third is “Five Star” with 1,300 points followed by “Ihu Nui” with 1,055 and “Huntress” with 864 points.

The Firecracker Open fielded 43 boats with a purse of over $118,000.  The format for the Firecracker was largest Ahi and Marlin.

Day One yielded 2 marlin over 600 lbs.  The first was taken by Capt. Bruce Matson on “Cormorant” and weighed in at 681 lbs..  Big fish of the day went to Capt. Doug Pattengill on “Holiday” with a 698 lb. marlin, caught by seasoned veteran Kip Taylor.

Capt. Dennis Smith on “Nimble” caught the largest ahi of the tournament, a 192 pounder.   Second Place went to Capt. Scotty Pruner on “Deceiver” with 167.5.  Capt. Guy Twilleger on “Ho’okele” came in third with a 156 lb. ahi.

By tagging a fish on Day Two, “Holiday”, with 948 points took First Place and over $78,000.  Second Place went to Capt. Carlton Taniyama on “5 Star” with 750 points and $17,880. Bruce Matson’s “Cormorant”, with 728 points, won Third Place and $6,880.  Other daily winners included “Deceiver” with $5,040.00 and “Ho’okele” with $2,880, and “Kona Rainbow” with $990.

The unique format for the Skins Marlin Derby is similar to the skins format in golf.  Instead of winning a skin and money for each hole played, a skin is a daily prize for catching a marlin weighing over 500 lbs.  This format could only take place here on the Kona Coast where marlin over 500 lbs. are common.

A record setting field of boats helped to create a total purse of over $96,000.  A daily skin was worth $14,400 and a team could win additional money from optional entries categories.

Day One saw 5 marlin tagged. First to the scales on Day One was “Autumn Marie” with Capt. Brett Cotton.  Their 594 lb. marlin was the only marlin weighed and qualified as a Skin. The Autumn Marie, along with daily optional’s, won $28,530.

The Ihu Nui with Capt. McGrew Rice was first to the scales on Day Two with a 705 lb marlin.   Capt. B.C. Crawford on the Chiripa weighed a marlin later that day that topped the Ihu Nui’s fish by just 8 lbs.  At 713 lbs., the Chiripa scored the skin for Day Two and along with daily optionals won $19,980.  The Ihu Nui did not win a skin but did manage to take home $6,750 in optional categories.  

In addition to the 705 and 713 lb. marlin, the Pamela with Capt. Peter Hoogs weighed a 518 marlin. In most places, this marlin would have won the “Skin”, but due to the phenomenal big fish fishing in Kona, it came in a distant third – and out of the money! The Holiday with Capt. Doug Pattengill weighed a 443 lb. marlin to close out Day Two.

With no fish qualifying as a skin weighed on the Third Day of fishing, Day Three reverted to total points.  This made the Chiripa winner of the skin for Day Three and  a final purse winning of $44,730.  The Autumn Marie, with optional payouts won another $3,600 to finish with $32,130.  Similarly, the Ihu Nui collected an additional $12,150 to finish with $18,900.  Other prizes were given out such as Accurate and Avet reels along with a Melton Tackle 80lb. trolling rod.

To date the Maui Jim Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series has awarded over $267,000 in cash prizes.   This purse is generated from entry fees.   Television coverage is supported by the Maui Jim Sunglass Company, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Melton International Tackle, Accurate Reels, Outrigger Resorts and Avet Reels. Television coverage is provided by “Pacific Expeditions” which airs twice every Tuesday on the Outdoor Life Network. “Pacific Expeditions” is the only weekly television program produced in Hawaii and airs at 7:00 AM Eastern and again at 5:30 PM Eastern, and at corresponding times across the country.

For information on the Maui Jim Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series, visit us at www.konatournaments.com, e-mail tropdil@earthlink.net or call 808-327-1440.