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Each year, as winter fades and the trade winds settle into rhythm, the Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series (HMTS) quietly roars to life. In 2026, that ignition came in the form of two back-to-back staples: the Lazy Marlin Hunt and the Lure Makers Challenge. These two events not only opened the season but reminded the fleet exactly why Kona is such a unique and special fishery.
Lazy Marlin Hunt: Grinding It Out
Weather delays forced a reshuffle to start the week, but as is often the case in Kona, the fleet adapted. When lines finally went in, it wasn’t about numbers—it was about making opportunities count. With no marlin brought to the scales, the tournament shifted to an all-release format, rewarding consistency and execution over three days of fishing.
At the top, it was APEX, led by Capt. Cyrus Widhalm emerged victorious, edging the field on time after releasing three blue marlin. Their performance earned them $17,527, the first place trophy, and an invitation to the 2027 Costa Offshore World Championship in Quepos.
Close behind, Capt. Mike Bartell on Ambush secured second place with three blue marlin releases of their own, while Last Chance, captained by Tracy Epstein, rounded out the podium in third with another trio of blues.
It wasn’t a week defined by volume, but rather by patience and precision—hallmarks of Kona fishing when conditions refuse to cooperate. The result: a hard-earned start to the season that rewarded crews willing to grind.
Lure Makers Challenge: Tradition on Full Display
If the Lazy Marlin Hunt tested resilience, the Lure Makers Challenge, presented by Kraken Fish Co., celebrated something deeper and truly exclusive to Kona’s identity. This event, unique in both format and spirit, leans into the island’s rich history as the epicenter of big-game lure design, where innovation, craftsmanship, and fishability intersect in every spread. And in a fishery where confidence in one’s gear often makes the difference, that connection took center stage—making this event feel as much like a tribute to Kona’s lure-making legacy as it was a competition.
On the leaderboard, Last Chance, led by Capt. Tracey Epstein, flipped the script from earlier in the week, delivering a dominant performance with eight blue marlin releases to claim the 2026 title and $54,774. Second place went to B’wana, captained by Teddy Hoogs, whose six blue marlin releases kept them squarely in contention, while APEX continued its strong week with a third-place finish, tallying two blue marlin and three striped marlin releases under Capt. Cyrus Widhalm.
Beyond the team results, the spotlight extended to the creators behind the scenes. The 2026 Top Lure Maker award went to Koya Lures, whose legendary designs (including the ever-popular Koya Bullet) accounted for eight blue marlin releases across multiple boats—a testament to both consistency and trust within the fleet.
The Season Underway
With the first two tournaments down, the tone for HMTS has been set. Now, the series takes a brief pause before picking back up in late June with the Kona Kick-Off. From there, it’s a full sprint through the summer months, with near non-stop tournament action, building toward the kind of high-volume, high-stakes fishing that has long defined this legendary fishery.
Remaining 2026 HMTS Schedule
- Kona Kick-Off — June 27–29, 2026, Fishing Days June 28 & 29
- Firecracker Open — July 3–6, 2026, Fishing Days July 4 & 5
- Kona Throw Down — July 6–10, 2026, Fishing Days July 7-9
- Skins Marlin Derby — July 10–13, 2026, Fishing Days July 11-13
- Big Island Marlin Tournament — August 24–28, 2026, Fishing Days August 25-27
- It’s A Wrap! Tournament — August 28–31, 2026, Fishing Days August 29-31
