Kona HI's Ihu Nui Wins the WORLD CUP w/ 773.5 lb.

[tim R]

Captain and crew of Ihu Nui McGrew Rice & Carlton Arai led Mike Corbino's team including Kevin Shiraki to victory for the largest Blue Marlin captured world wide in a one day event. Originally started by Tex Schram the GM of the Dallas Cowboys, this event has grown to epic proportions and now is recognized as THE single largest event world wide that pursue's Blue Marlin.

132 teams were entered in this years event including 42 in Kona, HI and at stake was braging rights for tournament wins with Kona, HI and Bermuda deadlocked at 5 each...Making 2008 out to be a decisive year.

At 10:45AM HST the word came down that Bermuda had the leading fish at 718 lbs. This really put the pressure on the Kona fleet which were not able to truly answer the challenge until the last 2 hours of the tournament, but answer it they did, with a 773.5 Blue Marlin that came up and ate the stinger (a Senior Wide Range Purple softhead) on the Ihu Nui. After a 45 minute battle Carlton Arai managed to get control of the leader and get the fish into gaffing range after taking several high pressure wraps.

The boys were totally across the board and should see a pay day between $375-$450K...Not that its about the money, but getting your name in the book for the World Cup is about as prestigous as it gets for Blue Marlin Fishing tournaments because you are not only up against the best crews and teams in the world, everyone gets to fish their home water, so you are literally beating the best of the best on their home turf!

This is what makes the world cup such a great format that Kona, HI now leads 6 victories to 5 over Bermuda...see World Cup Blue Marlin Championship - for for more info...

Contratulations go out world wide for Ihu Nui for making Kona, HI N0 1.


...Pictures to follow...P.s. Tom, Carlton Arai is wearing a Melton sponsored MARLIN STAR T-shirt...Which is his new lucky shirt, so don't plan on getting him to change it any time soon!!!

[tom@marlinstar]

Congrats goes to McGrew, Carlton and Team Ihu Nui for bringing the World Cup to Kona,Hawaii. We could feel the buzz from Honokohau Marina all the way here in Cali !

Can't wait to see the pics!!!

[tom@marlinstar]

Originally Posted by tom@marlinstar

Congrats goes to McGrew, Carlton and Team Ihu Nui for bringing the World Cup to Kona,Hawaii. We could feel the buzz from Honokohau Marina all the way here in Cali !

Can't wait to see the pics!!!

Whooops..sorry.....C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s ....It was a looong night

[Capt Josh]

No chit Tom! I'm still hurting!

Congrats boys soooooo stoked for ya'll!!!

[jwalker]

Hey Tim,
What's the scoop with the boat that broke off a big one after 11 hours? Any news on what the guestimate weight was and what boat?
Was Drew fishing the tournament?
Cheers,
JW

[tim R]

Fish was a decent one, around the same size as Ihu Nui's, but they were using 80 with 300 lb. leader...Not exactly armed for the big fish.

Boat name was Hokulia (I believe)...They got leader 5 or so times at the end, but the fish kept surging away.

Unfortunately, when you don't get heat on a big fish right after the first run and get shot on leader in first hour or so, they can settle down and go into cruise mode (conserving engergy), which this fish did on light tackle. It just kept squirting away from them at dark when they finally had it close.

That's all I heard, from WC tournament Rep for Kona, HI, Kathy Bakke when she called me at last night to let us know Hokulia had broke main line. Carlton Aria and Kevin Shiraki were at our place waiting it out...Celebration, all around...Too bad for Hokulia, second time they have been in this position in two years, but it's great for Ihu Nui, they deverve the big win...

[Flatdog]

Played Gentlemen Played congrats to all.