UPDATE February 15, 2013 Humdinger Tags and Releases a 500Lb+ Blue Marlin.  Check back in a few days for the video!

Fishing Report for Kona Hawaii – January 2013  The Kona Charter Boat fleet January kicked off the season in Kona with yet another Blue Marlin tipping the scales at over 1,000 lbs, further demonstrating the quality and consistency of this fishery.  While the peak season for large numbers of Blue marlin is typically June through September, the winter months in Kona have traditionally produced numerous “Grander” blue marlin over 1,000 pounds.

More reliable during the winter months here in Kona are the smaller billfish species are Striped Marlin and Short Billed Spearfish.  Also plentiful in the waters off Kona this time of the year are Mahi Mahi (Dorado) and in a few months, usually around the full moon of April and May, large numbers of Ono (Wahoo) will show up.

The past few weeks in Kona fishing has been very reliable with good numbers of striped marlin, spearfish and few Mahi Mahi.  In the first week of February, anglers on the Humdinger caught several short billed spearfish and striped marlin.

If you are planning a trip to Kona during the late winter or Early spring, don’t rule out the possibility of hooking up with a giant blue marlin.  If you are more interested in catching something for the table, consider fishing around the full moon period in May or April for some Ono.  Check with the captain a few days before your trip and see what has been biting best.

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Meet the Captains

Jeff Fay, Captain Owner and Operator, Captain Jeff Fay, has been fishing in Kona, Hawaii for giant blue marlin for over 40 years. In addition to his numerous decades of knowledge and experience he has collected in Kona, Captain Jeff has operated several sportfishing charter boats for owners worldwide.

Captain Jeff began his fishing career in Kona crewing for Terry Truman aboard the Kua Lua in 1966. Shortly thereafter he moved to the Malia where he crewed for West Vannetta. In 1975, he partnered with Captain Peter B. Wright and purchased the Humdinger, a 37′ Rybovich located in Tampa, Florida. After moving the boat from Florida, Captain Jeff and Peter chartered the Humdinger out of Kona until the mid 1980′s when Capt. Jeff bought out partner Peter B. Wright and then briefly partnered with globetrotting big game angler Jerry Dunaway. Shortly thereafter, Captain Jeff purchased Jerry’s remaining interest in the Humdinger and has been operating sportfishing charters on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kona from this classic Rybovich ever since.

Captain Jeff has enjoyed a rich and successful career in the big game sportfishing community. After capturing his first “Grander” in 1972, Captain Jeff has gone on to assist anglers on eleven marlin over 1,000 pounds worldwide. Additionally he has captained anglers to numerous world records, the two most recently in Kona when he captained Debra Dunaway to her last two world records to complete her bid to be the first angler in history, man or woman, to hold a world record for every species of billfish in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Captain Jeff is the only Four Time Winner of the prestigious Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament’s “Henry Chee Award” presented to the top-scoring Hawaii charter fishing captain in the tournament. He now shares his passion for big game sportfishing in Hawaii with his son Brett who now Co-Captains the Humdinger along side his father.

Brett Fay, Co-Captain Co-Captain Brett Fay is a native of Hawaii; born on the Big Island and raised in Kona. Brett grew up fishing in Kona with his father, Captain Jeff Fay, on the 37’ Rybovich “Humdinger”. He enjoys surfing, hunting, and fishing and just about anything that involves being outdoors. At age five, Brett caught his first Blue Marlin, and has been “Hooked” ever since.

Brett literally grew up on the Humdinger, learning the trade of Big Game Sportfishing in Hawaii and boat handling from his father Captain Jeff and mentor, Captain Henry “Butch” Chee Jr. Brett received his U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License at age 20 and began assisting his dad chartering guests on the Humdinger. Brett is an accomplished Captain and boat handler and works hard to share his passion for Hawaii, the Outdoors and Sportfishing in Kona with his guests and clients.