Kona Fishing Report for April 2013

Kona, Hawaii – The fishing in Kona this Spring has continued to remain consistent and anglers have been with big fish.  The year started off with a couple of world records, a Grander and a number of blue marlin over 800 pounds.  Anglers fishing on the Humdinger have enjoyed good fishing this spring and have tagged and released several fish over 500 pounds.  We have even enjoyed a few half-day and 3/4 day charters with anglers catching and releasing multiple marlin in a single trip.

The late Winter and Spring weather patterns of fronts moving across the Hawaiian islands is starting to slow down and we are moving into a period of more “variable” winds.  This, along with the full moons of April and May signal the arrival of the Ono, which are now starting to show up in good numbers with 40-50 fish a week being reported by the charter desk.  This transition period between Winter and Summer can provide a mixed bag of opportunity for anglers fishing in Kona.  There are still some striped Marlin showing up, and very good numbers of shortbilled spearfish and Ono (Wahoo) hanging around.  The marlin fishing overall remains better than average and the Ahi (Yellowfin Tuna) are popping up here and there as well.  The next 30 days will only get better for the Ono and Spearfish as we transition into Prime Time Fishing for Blue Marlin during the months of June through September.

 

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.



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