Hawaiian Marlin
OLD SOUTH MARLIN CLUB TEAM 4 HOLDS LEAD HEADING INTO FINAL DAY OF HIBT FISHING
SCOREBOARD IN MOTION
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (Thursday, August 16) – North Carolina's Old South Marlin Club Team 4 is the team to beat at the close of Day Four of this five-day fishing marathon, but several teams have posted high scores and are within striking distance. After yesterday's stunning triple marlin score, Old South Marlin Club Team 4 was unable to add points to the leaderboard today.
Kona Game Fishing Club Taiyo of Japan has consistently posted valuable points on the board all week. The team fished aboard the 41-foot Miss Mojo today and tagged and released another two Pacific blue marlin and boated an Ahi, netting this team a close second on the scoreboard.
Other notable catches today included New Zealand's Bay of Islands Swordfish Club-Endeavour boating the day's largest fish. Angler Greg Thompson reeled in a 528-pound Pacific blue marlin in an astonishing 14 minutes, fishing aboard_ Bwana_. Teammate and angler Jeff Douglas tagged and released an estimated 150-pound Pacific blue marlin earlier in the day. Papua New Guinea's Port Moresby Game Fishing Club, fishing aboard_ Anxious_ brought in a 376-pound Pacific blue marlin. Angler Anthony Farrell boated this marlin in one hour and 45 minutes.
"Such an active scoreboard indicates what a great week of fishing we have had here on the Kona Coast," said Peter Fithian, HIBT Founder. "HIBT teams are fishing with lighter line and working hard while the captains and crew members of this fine fleet work just as hard to bring in the fish. International sportsmanship and camaraderie are key components of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament."
Day Four HIBT action netted two boated Pacific Blue marlin, two boated Ahi, twenty one billfish tagged and released which included seven Short nose spearfish.
Tournament points are equally valuable for each HIBT captain. Several awards honor the memory of Kona’s fishing legends and are cherished by the captains. Through Day Four, Captain Jason Holtz of Marlin Magic holds the lead in the race for the highest score and the Henry Chee award. Other captains to watch going into tomorrow’s final day of HIBT fishing include Teddy Hoogs of Bwana, Doug Pattengill Holo Holo and Mark Shubert of Miss Mojo as they battle it out for the Henry Chee Award.
The 2012 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament continues through tomorrow Friday, August 17.
Place Team Points
2 Kona Game Fishing Club-Taiyo Japan 2,418
3 Bay of Islands Swordfish Club-Eldorado New Zealand 1,700
Skipper Boat Points
Jason Holtz Marlin Magic 2,350
Teddy Hoogs Bwana 1,904
Doug Pattengill Holo Holo 1,467
Mark Schubert Miss Mojo 1,450
_–– Source: Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament _
