Kona Hawaii Fishing Tournaments

Kona fishing tournaments range from one day to 5 days, with entry fees ranging from $100 to several thousand dollars plus side pool monies, etc. Winners receive trophies and/or cash prizes. The amount of cash winnings depends on the tournament and how much you want to invest.

There are currently only a couple of wahine (ladies) tournaments, which are very popular, although the ladies are more than welcome to join in the other tournaments.

Most big game tournaments feature the Pacific Blue Marlin and stress tag and release. However, there are several tournaments that include other species of game fish. These "flag" fish include ono (wahoo), mahi mahi, ahi (yellowfin tuna) and spearfish.

2012 Kona Fishing Tournament Schedule

• January 1, 2012 - Charter Desk New Years Tournament
• January 7 - Dirty Dozen
• Jan. 28-29 - Biggest fish oever 100 Pounds
• February 6 - Dirty Dozen Wahine tournament
• Feb. 25-26 - Biggest Fish over 100 Pounds
• March 3 - Dirty Dozen
• March 24-25 - Kona Classic
• April 7 - Dirty Dozen
• April 21-22 - Ono-Only Tournament
• May 5 - Dirty Dozen
• May 26-27 - Ahi-Only Tournament
• June 2 - Dirty Dozen
• June 15 - 17^th Rock-n-Reel
• June 22 - 24^th Kona Kick Off (Maui Jim Series Opener)
• June 30 - July 1^st Firecracker
• July 4^th - World Cup
• July 3 & 5 Marlin Magic Lure Tournament
• July 6 - 8^th Skins Derby
• July 13 - 15^th Maui Jim Series Championship
• July 28 - Huggo's Na Pua O Ke Kai Tournament
• August 4 - Dirty Dozen
• August 12 - 18^th - Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament
• August 18 - 20^th - Big Island Marlin Tournament
• September 1 - Dirty Dozen
• October 6 - Dirty Dozen
• October 27-28 - Halloween Monster Mash
• November 3 - Dirty Dozen
• November 17-18 - Fuel Dock Series Tournament of Champions
• December 1st - Dirty Dozen

Many years ago, it was thought that there were no Pacific blue marlin in this area. The marlin here were thought to be black marlin. It was Captain George Parker who brought to the attention of the IGFA that the marlin thought to be black were in fact Pacific blues. Captain Parker was instrumental in bringing fishing tournament action to Kona, which is now known as one of the best sport fishing meccas in the world.

Most of the Kona marlin tournaments take place in the summer months. While Kona fishing is good year around, the most consistent Pacific Blue marlin fishing generally happens in the summer. Then, many smaller marlin are here and make for exciting tournament fishing. The marlin fishing tournaments in Kona promote tag and release, with points given for tags. The minimum qualifying size for boated fish depends on the tournament. The points for tags and boated marlin are added up to determine the winner.

Side pools usually go to the biggest marlin each day of the tournament, or the biggest fish (per division) when other flag fish are included.

Kona fishing tournaments have a variety of tournaments to offer the professional angler ( with strict IGFA rules), as well as fun tournaments for the casual angler ( where Jungle rules apply). If you will be in town and are considering competing in a Kona fishing tournament, the best thing to do is to talk to the Captain and work out a plan. Captain Dale Leverone has competed in many Kona tournaments over the years, and is a well seasoned professional.