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

KILA KILA takes biggest Ahi of the year 6/29/09

Right out of the harbor this morning started of well.  I ran out to the 500 fathom ledge and Josh put the lines in the water.  I spotted a group of shear waters winging over a particular area and turned out to make a pass near them.  Shortly before reaching the middle of the birds Josh's morning lesson was spoiled.  Angler Justin Johnson, from Seattle, soon got his heart pumping when the line started ripping out from the rod and reel he was already clipped into the chair with.  Josh was teaching him what to expect and techniques on angling when the fish struck.  After a 15 minute fight we had it within sight.  The long Allison yellow-fins streaming from the tuna were the first sign it was a bigger fish.  The fish gave Josh a good tug on leader before we secured it with the gaffs.  The beautiful Ahi weighed in at 233 1/2 lbs.  largest of the year on rod and reel for 2009.  

Aloha, Capt. Teddy Hoogs

www.kilakilasportfishing.com

Kona Classic Tournament 6/27/09 -to- 6/28/09

David Pilgrim of Texas started off his string of tournaments with us with a bang.  We tagged one of the first blues of the tournament getting us in contention to win some money.  We didn't know at the time of releasing a 200# blue that it would be worth as much as it was.  Turned out fishing was a little on the slow side and if you had one of the first blues released you were sitting in the money.  Sunday we lost a fish around 300#s and then hooked another blue in the afternoon only to lose it at the back of the boat.  If one of those two fish held on we could have doubled our winnings.  We tied for second and can't complain with our winnings totaling $26,622.00.

Aloha, Capt. Teddy Hoogs

www.kilakilasportfishing.com  

Repeat Clients 6/25/09

The Conboy's have fished with us for a number of years.  This year was pretty special, we started the morning off with marking a cluster of marlin, yes a cluster.  At first I didn't know what I was looking at on the depth sounder, but I soon learned my first guess was correct.  We raised a blue up on the short-bait, shortly after one was up on the short rigger, and before I knew it we had one up on every single lure.  That something I've never seen from blue marlin before, having more then two up at once is pretty rare, and five up at once is pretty special.  One of the five we had up looked to be around 500#'s, one female and 4 males.  We managed to only stick one of the five and tag & release it.  We went through the day to miss a couple more marlin, and see another special sight.  We came across one of the smallest whale sharks I've seen, about 12 feet in length.  We got Mr. Conboy and Josh in the water swimming with it.  They were pretty excited to end the day swimming with a whale shark!

Aloha, Capt. Teddy Hoogs

www.kilakilasportfishing.com 

3/4 day off the cruise ship 6/24/09

Morning started out uneventful, but we got lucky around 11:30 a.m. hooking a 166# Ahi on a lure.  We had one other bite around 2:00 p.m. before they had to be in to meet the ship.  We hooked a blue around 300#'s but pulled hook near the boat.  The fish put on a great show and a good fight.  Everyone got to see it, and experience the thrill of the fight to make it a successful trip.