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What’s not to love about Kona? The blue marlin, the weather, the camaraderie and, most of all, the aloha vibe. This volcanic wonder, located some 2,400 miles from the mainland, never disappoints. Marlin Expeditions hadn’t visited Kona in three years, and with clients clamoring for a shot at a big fish—or looking to round out their species list—June just felt right. Nearly every offshore species found in Hawaiian waters is in play this time of year, including blue and striped marlin, spearfish, ahi tuna, mahi and ono. And after the lights-out fishing anglers saw last June, we took a calculated gamble and showed up ready to do some damage. I once wrote that trolling these waters “is like quietly floating over a sapphire-blue cloak of velvet sprinkled with diamonds.” Even though we battled a little rain over those 10 days, that description still holds true. In Kona, you can’t help but reflect and connect.
As our clients filtered in on arrival day, we were off and running, ready to get settled into our villas perched on the Kona Country Club fairways, overlooking Keauhou Bay, just 10 minutes south of Kailua-Kona.
Instructor Capt. Laurel David and I had flown in the day before to get a jump on the jet lag and meet with our private chef for the week, Sarid Ditton. Having cooked for celebrities, professional sports teams and high-profile guests from around the world, Ditton was more than capable of handling the unpredictable nature of a group like ours. She took the inevitable juggling acts and last-minute changes in stride.
David and I connected with her immediately, and to say she crushed it would be an understatement. Our daily fresh catch turned into sashimi, poke and ceviche overnight.
For this trip to Kona, we enlisted some of the best captains in Honokohau Harbor. They say it’s not what you know, but who you know, and I was lucky enough to line up three of the top boats in not only Hawaii, but also the world: Capt. Teddy Hoogs on his 46-foot Gamefisherman, Bwana; Capt. Jason Holtz on his 54-foot Scarborough, Pursuit; and Capt. Kevin Hibbard on his 43-foot Allied Marine, 2nd Offense. Each boat was equipped with omni sonar, and although we did experience a few slower marlin days, everyone managed to catch fish. From hitting personal milestones, such as a first blue marlin, yellowfin or spearfish, to climbing into the fighting chair for the first time, Kona reminded us of what makes these trips so special: the positivity, the drive, the shared wins. Everyone—captains, crews, instructors and clients—was happy for each other, no matter how their own day went. That’s true camaraderie, and it’s what this thing we call sport fishing is all about. It’s also why fishing is so addictive.
If you’ve ever wondered what exactly Marlin Expeditions is about, I can only say that you have to experience it to believe it. You show up with half a clue, wondering how the organized chaos is going to work itself out. You arrive as strangers, and somehow, almost instantly, you leave with a new group of friends. Magically, you go home with everything you (me included) hoped for—and more. It’s a dream come true.
