Our Marlin scaled out at 804 pounds. She bit the same lure as the Ahi Fever Ahi, and an Ahi we caught Sunday, July 2, 2000.

After a frustrating morning of fishing with no strikes the past Saturday, we headed back towards Ko Olina. I saw a small group of birds sitting on the water about eight miles outside the Kahe Point power plant, and made a pass by them to "put them to work." As soon as I passed them, the starboard rigger slammed down, and the 16/0 screamed as the 200 LB test line was stripped off.  We initially thought it was an Ahi until I saw the splash of the fish way back behind the boat. The fish took over 3/4 of the spool before we were able to clear the other lines. We backed down a little to gain some line, then settled into the fight which took about an hour. Steven Kimura and a friend of my wife visiting from California brought the fish in Hawaiian Style handlining.

Because the fish never jumped out of the water, we didn't get to see how big it was until we got the leader. Normally I would release a fish this size. However, the fish turned belly up at the boat, so we decided to take it. The fish ended up going under the stern of my boat where the leader got tangled in either my props or rudders. I told the leader man to slack the leader in hopes that the fish would come up. It came out the back of the boat, so I was able to set the flying gaff. Unfortunately, I lost the lure which has been super hot.

We thought we would be able to get the fish on the swim step, but after a half an hour of trying, we ended up asking a friend for help. Shelden Araki jumped into the water from the Moonlighting, a 26' Surrat, and he helped us get the fish on the swim step. We headed straight in to Ko Olina, where we backed my Ford F-250 pickup truck down the launch ramp. We floated the fish to the truck, and eight guys managed to pull the fish into the truck where it was wrapped in canvas and packed in ice.

We took the fish to the auction house where the initial weight was 780 lb. with head and tail still touching the ground. We buried the fish in crushed ice to chill it down. The weight at sale on Monday ended up at 804 lb.  I have already purchased new skirts and will rig up another Blueberry Shiroma head to try for more.

The moral of this story is you don't always have to land 'em to have a great time!

Our day started early and we could tell that Captain Scott did not want to waste our fishing time explaining everything. He told us the basics of the equipment and the boat and we were off. We meet at the harbor at around 6:00 and we had lures in the water by 6:35 a.m. It wasn't long after that that we had our first fish on. We were just getting settled in when a Aku decided it was breakfast time. My wife had first dibbs (ladies first), so she hoped in the chair and reeled him in. Wade said it was one of the earliest hook ups he has seen lately. 

Well, we set the line back out and figured the waiting game was back on. We talked about fishing and all that it entails, but a Big Bull Mahi Mahi had the nerve to interupt us. So since it was my turn I jumped in the chair and the fight was on. After some zigging and zagging Captain Scott had the Gaff in the Mahi and on to the deck. The Mahi was pushing 40 lbs. and was easily the biggest fish I had ever caught. Captain Scott said it was really big for a Mahi Mahi. So by 8:15 or so, we had boated two flag fish and the fishing had just begun. I thought, with the way the fishing has been, things would probably slow down and we may catch an ono or two off the ledges, but not much else. So we continued to troll and I continued to bombard Wade with all sorts of questions. The sun was up know. but the clouds kept it pleasent for awhile. 

It was roughly around 9:30 or 10:00 when Captain Scott swung around what I think was "Z" bouy. He said he could see a couple of Mahi around the bouy, but none of them decided to grab a lure. We stretched the sweep for a few hundered yards and then Scott turned around to make another sweep, not long after the turn, the port corner reel started singing, but as we got ready the fish let go and the excitement died down, however, it only took long enough for Wade to look up at Scott on the fly bridge and say "He got off", before the starboard corner reel started screaming. Scott jumped down and said it is a Marlin, at that same time I looked back to see a Big Marlin lighting it up about 300 yards off the back of the boat, it seemed like he stayed out of the water for at least 45 sec. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.

Well it was Krista's turn in the chair, however, she refused to strap herself to a 400+ Marlin. So I happily jumped in the chair and the battle began. It was a back and forth battle, I kept as much pressure on the fish as I could and he took as much line as he wanted.  About 20 minutes into the fight the fish sounded and then went right back down. We thought that was a good sign, but the fish wasn't finished, I continued to apply pressure and try to convince the fish that the best place to be was not 200 feet down. Captain Scott did a great job of working the boat, and it appeared that the fish was coming back to the surface, and sure enough he came up and gave us a great head shaking display with a half gainer to round it off.

We thought for sure the fish was done, he didn't go very deep and I started to really let him have it, Wade began to work the line and try to get the fish in position, however, at about 20 yards down the hooks pulled. I felt them let go and a slumped down in the chair. I don't know who was more depressed me or Wade. But we looked at each other and said "What a great battle." That's the way the fishing line crumbles!!! 

Well we motivated ourselves and decided we would just catch a bigger one, however, he didn't show up. We rounded out the day with a few more Mahi Mahi, that we teased up to the boat and then caught on tuna strips. Which was just as much fun as fighting the Big Guy. If anyone hasn't teased up sportfish they should try it, it is a kick in the pants. Well, the day was beautiful, the fish box had around 80-90 lbs. of fish in it, made up partly by a 39 lb. Bullie, and my arms were sore. All in all it was a great day and I look forward to the day I get to go back out. I've decided that whenever we go anywhere where there is sportfish to be caught I'm going to at least get out on the water for a day and try to even the score with the mighty Blue Marlin.

I just want to say again, that you guys have a great operation and Captain Scott is a superb Captain and fishermen and I look forward to fishing with him again. I may be out there again in Feburary and I will definately be on the water, I'll talk with you guys as that day approaches.

The blue marlin hit about 1:00 pm and since Rich was next in the chair he jumped in and started to work the fish.  What a battle this had become as after about 10 minutes Rich was already spent and had to have Bill relieve him in the chair. Clint gave them directions on how to switch out of the chair while not losing control of the rod. Rich slid out and Bill slid in and we took the jacket off Rich and strapped in Bill. At this time Scott was so pumped he didn't even toss chum anymore and took charge of steering the chair for both Richard and Bill. 

After about 30 minutes, Richard decided he wanted back in the chair to try and land the marlin so after getting Rich back into the chair, he could hardly reel the fish so it really became a team effort with Richard working the rod and Bill and Scott doing the reeling while one or the other steered the chair.  With all of the team effort, we finally got the fish up to the boat. I checked my watch and it had taken 1 hour. I took pictures while it was beside the boat and I remember looking into it's huge eye as I snapped the picture. It was really something to behold!

It took another 20 minutes or so to secure the fish to the back of the boat. It took all of our combined strength to pull it onto the step ledge.  There was no way we were going to try pulling it into the back of the boat.  The marlin was 11 feet long and weighed 448lbs.  What a trip this turned out to be!!!

Thanks again to Captain Tim and 1st Mate Clint! And everyone at Sportfish Hawaii.

And last summer (1999), I finally got a chance to visit the Big Island. I visited KONA, chartered a ship for half a day. We trolled 4hrs and didn't even get one attack from the Marlin. We were just about to give up and go back to the harber, and that's when the Giant attacked the stinger and ripped away with our rubber bate. I got into the chair, buckled down, and started to fight against it. It pulled and I pulled for 1.5hrs and kept a firm tension on the line, but all the sudden the hook came off and lost the fight again!! The guide told me that the hook may have been hooked on the body and not the mouth, since the Marlin didn't jump after it took the line.

Either way, I lost two fights, two years in a row. So this year (2000) is the year to fight for the third time and win. But there is a Japanese saying, "What happens twice, happens three times".(Laugh)  When I fight the Giant again, I'll let you know!!  See ya!!

We hit the Russian, Kenai, Kasilof, Ninilchuk, and some other rivers as well. Some highlights are the fact that we turn the motorhome shower into a drop for our Hodgmans, gear, raingear, etc., hence, we do not shower the entire trip! This helps keep the motorhome clean and highly mobile - no wet gear piled all around inside. The shower screen and pull cords hold up the rods and other wet gear as we rock-n-roll down the highway from one spot to the next. If only our wife's could see us! We actually have a contest between us guys as to who's "skivvies" are the dirtiest by the end of the trip! HAHA. Some trips are worse than others, we all look forward to the shower in Homer! (Have to clean up before the boys hit the Salty Dog Saloon).

My hook was set hard, fresh line and solid nail knot, the rest was up to me. Fighting a monster like this, one that is running in a deep, swift current on the Kenai, is no easy task. Baitcasters get the hell out of my way! FISH ON!!! goes the cry......Keeping his head-up, way up, is the secret in a strong current. Don't even blink for a moment or it's gone. Total concentration, total awareness, and total confidence in my equipment and abilities. I landed this monster, took the first fish pool, biggest fish pool, and in the end; the most fish pool.