Same area, different day... 7/27/09

Morning started off the same as yesterday -beautiful. Our family of four was excited to get in on some of the action we saw yesterday. We caught a Mahi Mahi in the same spot the first blue was released yesterday. Our family was happy about that catch, as that was their request: something to eat, preferably a Mahi Mahi to cook at their house during the week. So with that out of the way, all we needed now was the heart pumping action from a blue marlin. We worked the same area all of our action was yesterday with no luck, in, out, all around working the bottom structure. Finally I marked one at 40 fathoms, I was able to show the family the mark and get everyone to watch the lures for the bite. We didn't have to wait long. The marlin exploded on the stinger but didn't get hooked up. After that strike we worked around a little longer, with no luck. Josh whipped up a great lunch, cooking some fresh ono we caught.

The long troll home was uneventful, with five minutes to go before Josh pulled the lines in we saw a ripple on the long corner. That ripple was one about 500#s. We had a bite out of her, and as it was screaming out line another one eats the long rigger. Too continue our luck both fish fell off.

Aloha, Capt. Teddy Hoogs

www.kilakilasportfishing.com

Mike and Andrew McLoed 7/26/09

Beautiful Kona morning, glass calm as we trolled our way South. As we watched the sun rise over Hualalai and Mauna Loa we had our first bite of the day, releasing a feisty little blue. Our plan was to fish our way south off the lava flows, about 30 miles down the coast. The current has been flowing south for a while now, and has been stacking numbers of blues in that area. The first blue was a good sign , and it got better from there. As we got to the zone I really wanted to fish we caught another small blue. We had some steady action throughout the day, ending our tally at 3 for 8 on blues. Couple off the fish we missed were decent size. Not a bad day fishing by anyones standards, and certainly a great day fishing for the Mcloed's, so good they booked us another day this week.

Aloha, Capt. Teddy Hoogs

www.kilakilasportfishing.com

Hawaiian International BIllfish Tournament 7/19/09-7/24/09

First day of the billfish we tied for the lead tagging two blues out of 3 bites. Second day we had two blues on, but couldn't keep a hook in em. Third day we didn't have any strikes, but were right in the middle of allot of action. Forth day still pretty slow for us, we got a strike out of one late in the afternoon. Fifth day I decided to change tactics and go the opisite way I was fishing and it worked out. We tagged a 200# blue and had another one two leader but it shook off before we got a tag in it.

The three blues we tagged gave us 900 points, we were in the hunt to place in the tournament only if we had a little more luck. Thats fishing, fun week of fishing with some great teams from around the world, look forward to next year.

Aloha, Capt. Teddy Hoogs

www.kilakilasportfishing.com

Three Blues 7/19/09

Our charter this morning weren't really interested in targeting marlin. They were more interested in getting some action for their young daughter and if we hook anything big its a bonus. On our way to the north grounds we got lucky catching a little 120# blue which was their bonus for the day. We put the lures back out, with another couple miles before we get to the ledge, where lots of bait fish were assessable for some action. We had the lures in the water maybe 10 minutes when we hooked another blue around 500 lbs. The big blue put on a great show, and after a 15 minute fight we released it in great shape. All this action was before 8:00 a.m. The family of six were pretty impressed and must have thought this sort of thing happens everyday. After getting their young daughter action in on the ledge with some skipjack tuna it was time to turn around an d head back to the harbor. I made one more pass in the area we got our strikes earlier in the day and it payed off with another blue around 170#s. Not a bad day for not even focusing on blue marlin.

Aloha, Capt. Teddy Hoogs

www.kilakilasportfishing.com

Skins Marlin Tournament 7/10/09-7/12/09

The Skins tournament started off pretty well, angler David Pilgrim tagged a 160# blue first thing friday. We hooked another blue in the afternoon but lost it near the boat. We were on the board with one, which gave us a good chance for the next two days.

Saturday morning we raised a fish that looked to be 4-500#s that wouldn't eat. Then later that day we had another decent fish knock the short rigger out really hard but didn't stick. Had our chances at two decent fish that could of won a lot of money.

Sunday the fishing really slowed down with no bites for us. Most of the fleet struggled this weekend, with a lot of boat not even seeing a fish the whole weekend. We considered our-selfs lucky to have some shots at money fish.

The tournament was won with one nice fish that took the whole pot.

Aloha, Capt. Teddy Hoogs

www.kilakilasportfishing.com

First Blue Marlin 7/8/09

17 year old Hunter Habetz caught his first blue marlin today. He's been fishing with his father, Chad a few years now in Kona. Chad, has had some good success in various tournaments over the years and wants his son to join in on the fun. Hunter has had a handful of blues on but has been unlucky getting one to the boat.

Hunters fish hit when we were on our way home after spending a night at Okoe bay, about 40 miles south of the harbor with two other boats, "Wild Hooker" and "Strong Persuader". The trip ended on a high note by catching a feisty little blue for Hunter, who also did great following I.G.F.A. rules. We estimated the fish at 180 lbs. and after we got some great video and still shots of the fish we released it.

Father Chad was happy to finally get Hunter his first blue. Father and son already are looking forward to next summer.

Aloha, Capt. Teddy Hoogs

www.kilakilasportfishing.com