Brothers Eric & Jason Little teamed-up to boat this nice October marlin that made a 500 yard run when the leader wrapped-around its tail. First, they really don't like that & really are a pain when you have to bring one in backwards.
This 25# female grabbed a large lure & when we filleted the fish you can see the varying stomach contents which look to include triggerfish, small bonefish, squid, & a partially digested needlefish.
Peter Schwende is another make a wish survivor who knows how to have a good time; he's a college freshman majoring in Physics.
The smile on Joe Hudson's face says it all: "Not all of our fish are big - some just fight that way.
Angler Chuck Dickerson used to fish with Capt. Jeff Parrish on the Lil Hooker (Jeff's now retired from fishing & doing will with a bracket racing 9.90 roadster) & used 50# tackle to catch another September Ahi.
Make a wish survivor Kevin Smith has an attitude to match his smile. After catching a couple of skipjack tuna he turns to his older brother and says, "I've caught enough - you can have the next one".
During a half day trip in September, angler John Brennan helps revive a blue marlin he caught, weighing roughly 190#.
Return client Roger Christmas again finds his way to the scales in early September with a nice marlin & a late season yellowfin tuna.
Deep jigging continues to provide some interesting (and yummy) results. This deep water Nohu (Scorpion Fish) & Uku (Gray Snapper) are excellent table fare.
This 50# Ulua (GT) had been caught before - notice the tag below the dorsal fin. It swam away after placing another tag in the other side...
This short-nosed spearfish made an almost career-ending decision when he tried to eat a puffer fish.
Regular client Rue Leitzke took these pictures while both fish swam away very slowly.
Judy Lamberson releases a 30# striped marlin on the same trip.
Jim Lamberson (another successful internet charter) released this blue of 375# - hooking up10 minutes into our trip 2/11/02.
Phil Collins returns to Kona & catches a (rare) wintertime yellowfin tuna of 142# on 2/4/02.
George Archer holds the 25# mahi that his wife Donna (she's the one on the right) caught on a half-day charter on 1/14/02.
Here's a shot of my dad Bud - after dragging me around as a kid hunting & fishing there's little doubt how I became a charter boat captain.
He is also the oldest angler (86 years) to boat a marlin on the Catchem.
Boobie on the bow - this one landed long enough to preen its feathers.
Paula Pattinson released this 325# blue marlin on 11/30/01.
Patty Hawkins releases her first blue marlin - a bit short of 400# on 11/29/01.
This 170# blue is about to be released.
Roger Christman fights a blue about 180#.
Sperm Whales are infrequent visitors to our waters & are very distinctive when they "blow" (out the side) - look closely at the upper right part of the image.
Hooking a large yellowfin tuna in the center of their nose makes for good action at the boat.
This striped marlin was only about 40# - showing-off his colors just before release.
Arman Wong from Honk Kong (try saying that fast 5 times) smiles over one of the larger onos (wahoo) caught this year.
After washing down the boat - a good sized green sea turtle let me polish his shell in the harbor; hung around for about 5 minutes enjoying the attention.
B Esser (his first name is Bob) releases 2 blue marlin; about 160# & 240#.
Lester Lam visits each year from Thailand & fishes a stand-up rod of his own design spooled with 80# spiderwire.
Make-a-wish angler David Lyle shows-off a couple of nice 25# onos he caught in June.
This is the largest amberjack I have seen alive - looks & felt to be close to 100# - we let this one live, too. Every once-in-a-while we manage to catch an Ulua or Giant Trevelly (GT to the japanese) this one is almost 30#.
Daytime albacore are almost unheard of!
A nice 50# amberjack.
Many japanese anglers bring their own tackle to do some deep-water (yes, 500' IS deep) jigging and catch a variety of fish most of which are released.
Most people don't believe that a fish can be this color.
Wheelchair angler Mike King boated this 25# mahi-mahi using a spinning rod with 15# line (and that's not my stomach!).
This blue marlin was only about 50# - jumping at leader while I'm taking the picture with my other hand - let this one swim away, too.
Here's a blue about 250# that we later released.
Internet customer Troy Willis caught this blue marlin after 40 jumps & a 400 yd run.
Tom Larson Sr & Jr (also regular customers) - their smiles tell the story.
Roger Christman (a regular customer...so he gets his picture in here) hoists a nice mahi-mahi.
Retired college professor Ed Halas boats a hefty bull mahi-mahi.
George Archer (Pro golfer and past Master) and his caddy Bucky the day before he won the $200K MasterCard Challenge.
Here's a millenium marlin!
A nice yellowfin tuna (ahi in Hawaiian) is brought to gaff here.
Paula knows that fishing should be FUN!
Things can get a bit ticklish at this point as the fish is getting closer in.
This fish was tail-walking close to the boat.
Here are a pleased anglers with 2 mahi mahi.
Steve went fishing with Chuck and caught 3 fish... here's a nice ono!
A melonhead whale came by the boat to say hi ^_^
This was the first and only time I saw Orcas (killer whales) off the kona coast!
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