The 2015 Kona Kick Off started up Saturday with 32 teams vying for $120,090.
Both numbers are an increase. Last year’s field had 30 teams and a prize pot of $109,440.
The Day 1 catch report included a 456.5-pound blue marlin, boated by angler Tyler Peterson on High Noon. The largest ahi (138) of the day belonged to Randy Weih aboard Foxy Lady, and the Intrepid’s Brian Kimbal reeled in a 43.5 pound ono.
Go Get Em’s Bruce Barnes and Jason Long of Lightspeed also weighed marlin of 400.5 and 447.5 pounds, respectively.
Lightspeed currently leads after the first day of fishing with 647.5 points.
Last year the largest marlin was a 662 pound blue weighed by angler Randy Weih on board Luna. The second largest was 518 pounds and belonged to Mike Kehoe on board Sea Genie II.
The Largest ahi was 197 pounds in 2014 by wahine angler Michelle Carrol from “Ihu Nui.” The largest ono last year was 35 pounds by John Sakai from “Silver Star”.
The smallest qualifying fish of the 2014 Kona Kick Off created the best story when the “Lucky Rose” had to be towed in to make the scales. Keith Klevinger earned enough purse to pay for the boat to be repaired when he weighed in a mahi mahi that just qualified at 10 pounds — the exact minimum weight needed.
The fishing continues Sunday, and a champion is expected to be crowned at an awards party at Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club at 6 p.m.
For more information log on to konatournaments.com or head the fuel dock at Honokohau Harbor for weighins at 4 p.m.