Kona Hawaii fishing report – April wrap-up ,
This month, the biggest marlin of the year was made 4 times! If you've been following my reports, you might remember that I had the biggest of the year in January but was beat out by 2 ½ lbs. just 3 days later and that 600 ½ pounder has been the leader until this month. On April 1st, there was a tournament and a 669 blue marlin was caught, winning the tournament. These guys weren't only happy about the win but also making the "Big Fish List" until, a 672 pounder was weighed in later the same day. The 672 wasn't in the tournament but being knocked off the "Big Fish List" so soon was a bad April fools day joke. Even the 672 was short lived too because a 940 pounder was weighed in just 8 days later. That one should have stuck for a while but the very next day, Kona's first "Grander" of the year was weighed in and topped the scales at 1104 lbs. The sizes of the blues have been pretty good this month but the numbers are still a bit on the slow side. The striped marlin and spearfish were barely around this month although the biggest spearfish was caught and now stands at 62 lbs.
Ono tops the list right now as the most common catch and again, the biggest of the year was caught a few times this month also and now stands at 78 ½s. lbs. Some mahi mahi have been around too and the biggest of the month again, was caught this month and now stands at 38 lbs. With the ahi, there have been a few of the big ones caught, biggest of the year (again this month) now at 209 ½. The smaller "shibi" size have been showing up on the ledges and any debris that happens to be floating offshore.
The bottom bite has been good and two bottom fish made the big fish list this month, gray snapper and GT. The GT came in just ½ lb. shy of making the prized 100 lb. mark but it may have been the mode of transportation to blame. Fish loose weight after being caught if bleeding (this one was) and also when left in the sun. The GT was caught from a kayak. No fish box there. I imaging it was a little slow paddling with a 100 lb. fish on his lap also. To top it off, then he had to drive it to the official scale at the harbor in the trunk of his car. This was all done on April fools day. Another bad joke but true.
Obviously April was a great month. No Joke!
See 'ya on the water ,
Capt. Jeff Rogers ,
FISHinKONA.com