HANALEI — Team Kai Kona hooked an ahi, which tipped the scales at 216.4 pounds to top the North Shore Fishing Tournament Saturday. Captained by Travis Caberto and crew Dave Saraos and Richard Oshiro, the team radioed in an estimated
HANALEI — Team Kai Kona hooked an ahi, which tipped the scales at 216.4 pounds to top the North Shore Fishing Tournament Saturday.
Captained by Travis Caberto and crew Dave Saraos and Richard Oshiro, the team radioed in an estimated weight of 170 pounds. The full gallery of spectators whooped in joy and appplauded the team when the final weight was displayed on the special rigging at the newly-dedicated Hanalei Pier during the 5th annual North Shore Fishing Tournament.
Chad Pacheco coordinated the tournament where more than $25,000 in prizes were distributed among the lucky anglers from the field of 63 boats.
“There were a lot of boats, this year,” said Gary Pacheco, Chad’s dad, who served as emcee for the weigh-in. “There were so many boats, the start was delayed as the committee checked out the boats.”
Kai Kona’s catch was the heaviest catch of the tournament followed by another ahi, a 180-pounder, weighed in by the crew aboard Wild Thang.
Third place honors for ahi went to the Kanai K with a 153-pound beauty, the crowd showed its appreciation with ample doses of applause when the crew pulled out a 129-pound marlin, the only one caught in the tournament, to join its trio of ahi.
Top Mahi Mahi honors went to the crew aboard Sudden Rish who topped the field with a 24.6-pound fish followed by the Oulilani with a 19.2-pound submission. Janey Girl weighed in mahi at 13.2 pounds and 11 pounds with the We’re Here 2 crew rounding out the field with a 5.2-pound entry.
A 20-pound aku, one of three weighed in by the crew aboard Anuhea, topped that class, the other two fish weighing in at 17.6 pounds and 16.2 pounds. The Kai Lio, radioed in an estimated 20 pound aku, settled at 17.2 pounds and the Lilly Belle, calling in an estimated 13 pounds, settled at 15.4 pounds to round out the leaderboard for the division.
The Paniolo crew topped the Ono category at 47.4 pounds, edging out the team aboard Waioli who came in with a 46.6-pound fish. The Manu Lani brought in a 39.6-pound entry followed by the Pueo at 35.8 pounds and the crew aboard the White with a 33.8-pounder to fill in the leaderboard of that class.
In keeping with keeping the oceans clear, the team aboard Au Lani, while not catching any fish, topped the special Opala, or marine debris, class with submissions of 32 and 7.6 pounds.
Chad said the tournament, where a portion of the proceeds help the Waioli Mission, was made possible through the help and sponsorship of numerous generous community organizations.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
