Kona offers not only a real shot at marlin weighing 1,000 or more pounds, but also almost immediate access to the fishing grounds, a huge first-rate fleet, and a long season in what must qualify as the world's calmest conditions for big fish. Also, U.S. fishermen enjoy the ease of going to another state versus another country.
The Odds: According to best records, the fleet of about 100 charters has weighed in an average of two granders per year over the past few decades; this doesn't include fish released and those hooked but lost, says Kona's resident marlin-fishery expert (and Sport Fishing contributor), Jim Rizzuto. The 1,065-pounder taken in August of 2003 marked last year's third grander. At press time, this year had seen one grander taken (a 1,006-pounder with Capt. Sean Cleaver on July 3), but with a number of bigger fish reported hooked and lost.
Species and Size: Mostly blues, the odd black. (In fact, only two or three 1,000-pound blacks have been caught here over the decades, but they can show up; a 760 was taken in July aboard Capt. Gene Vander Hoek's Sea Genie II.) A rough average for blues off the Big Island might be 200 to 500 pounds, though in most years the fleet will catch more than a hundred topping 600 pounds. Kona boats take about as many stripes as blues, the stripeys running about 50 to 70 pounds.
Release: Including striped marlin, a knowledgeable guess would be a 30- to 40-percent release rate. Billfish have always been considered food fish in the islands and widely still are, though gradually more and more skippers are releasing marlin.
Distance to Fish: Advantage Kona: Depths fall off dramatically right outside Kailua Harbor, and blue-water marlin grounds begin after a run of just minutes. Granders have been caught within five minutes or so of the harbor mouth, as was a 1,285 in July 2003.
Length of Prime Season (for Granders): Six months: April through September. Granders have been taken in other months as well, except October and November (though Kona granders have been hooked during those months — and caught around other islands in the chain).
Conditions: Hard to beat — generally calm-water fishing all year; winds usually 5 to 15 knots, often variable. (Occasionally finding smooth water may require a bit of a run.) Only a few days in most years might anglers consider the waters unfishable "and there's usually someone fishing on those days, too," Rizzuto says.
Charter Availability/Quality: You can choose from roughly 100 charter boats. The majority of these are outstanding and equipped to handle granders. Moreover, there's a great deal of camaraderie and cooperation among the fleet, so if a boat lacking a really experienced deckhand hooks a monster, a nearby boat will ferry out another deckie within 15 to 20 minutes. "Happens all the time," Rizzuto says.
Charter Cost: Also tough to beat anywhere: Smaller boats (28 to 31 feet) can be had for as little as $350 per day or as much as $900. The smooth waters allow even smaller boats to get in on the action — granders have been towed in after being whipped by anglers in private 16-foot skiffs off Kona.
Accommodations: Kona's loaded with options. Anything decent will likely run you $100 or so per night, but you can go higher — much higher, given inclination and finances.
Other Fishing Opportunities: Kona offers good shots at three billfishes — blue marlin, striped marlin and spearfish. In fact, Kona completely dominates light-tackle world records for spearfish, with 4-, 6-, 8-, 12- and 16-pound class records in both men's and women's classes caught here. In all, during some of the better seasons, boats may enjoy 12 to 15 shots per day at various billed critters. But wait, there's more. These waters can be filled with yellowfin tuna (`ahi) that offer arm-rubberizing action. Wahoo (ono) are usually around and at times in great numbers. For big specimens of both albacore and bigeye tuna, try night fishing. Fishing near bottom and/or near shore, you can tangle with Kona's carangid thugs: amberjack and giant trevally, which can hit three digits.
Cost to Get Here: (from Los Angeles): $600 to $700 at the low end.
General Information: www.bigisland.org; www.gohawaii.com; www.konaweb.com; www.tripspot.com/state/hi.htm.
