NAWILIWILI — An ulua tipping the scales at 22 pounds made a big splash Sunday during the Nawiliwili Yacht Club’s Father’s Day Keiki Fishing tournament set up outside the Kaua‘i Sailing Association building at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor.
Not only was the entry by Cheyla DeFries an ulua, it was the first fish to cross the scales and open the tournament that marked its return following three years of being shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When I first saw it, I thought it was a papio,” said Fred Styer of the NYC. “But it’s more than 10 pounds so it’s an ulua. I even brought out the scale to weigh it. It was the only fish I weighed. The other fish are just measured for length and girth to determine size.”
Fisher Gordon Higa, a perennial keiki fisher sponsor, was without a sponsor for this tournament. But as a fisher, he watched the young girl pull up the ulua that eventually ended up as the Biggest Fish caught in the tournament.
“She didn’t use the regular rig,” Higa said. “The fish would’ve broken the regular setup. Instead, you know what she used? Some 10-pound test line tied to the end of a painter’s extension pole. And the bait? The people on the charter fishing boat Grander (the Grander earned second place for Mike Brewer in the Marlin Category during Saturday’s weigh-in of the Garden Island Trollers’ tournament) were cleaning from an earlier trip out. She got a piece of skin of those fish and that was the bait.”
The remaining field of fishers never lost sight of that opening excitement and remained in their spots with dreams of trying to better the big splash.
“It’s the prizes,” Styer said. “Look at all these prizes provided by generous community contributers like NAPA Auto Parts, the Lihu‘e Fishing Supply, and even Claire’s at the Kukui Grove Center who came up with all these stuffed animals. We gotta give away all of the prizes. Everybody’s going to win.”
Community sponsors that made all of the fun and prizes available for the keiki and their families include Ace Housemart, Lihu‘e, Ainofea Kaua‘i, Aloha ‘Aina Juice, Claire’s Boutique, Costco Kaua‘i, Deja Vu Surf Hawai‘i, Game Stop, Fred and Gloria Styer, Jim and Paula Saylor, John and Charlotte Ross, Kaua‘i Rainbow Paint &Fishing, Lihu‘e Fishing Supply, Lures by Matt Luis, NAPA Auto Parts, PS&D, Orly Patisserie Cake Shop, Pepse Beverage Co. Kaua‘i, Walmart, and West Marine Honolulu.
Registered fishers already started out winning by being able to redeem their ticket for a free yacht dawg and cold drink lunch.
Results
Most Fish Caught by hook: Vernon Javinar, Most Fish Caught by crook: Adam Killerman, Biggest Fish: Cheyla DeFries, Next Biggest Fish: Anthoney Lai’s, Longest Fish: Kaine Lagmay, Next Longest Fish” Nauai Dowsett, Fattest Fish: Julian Brock, Next Fattest Fish: Chelsea Brock, First Fish Caught: Cheyla DeFries, Prettiest Fish: Chelsea Brock, Biggest Crag: Adam Killerman.
Special category
Most Curious: Julian Brock, Most Fierce: Slater McCulich, Vibrant: Remi Lagmay, Stripes: Vernon Javinar, Sparkle Shiney: Sesimani Arakaki, Friendliest: Aila Okasaki, Speediest Fish: Julian Brock, Most Precious and Unique: Cheynee Lei DeFries, Super Silver: Mila Okasaki, Most Inquisitive: Mila Okasaki, Most Easy Going: Sesimani Arakaki, Fastest and elusive: Mila Okasaki, Most Gentle: Noamanu Arakaki, The Rascal Wrasse: Siona Arakaki, The one that got away: Kili Dowsett.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
