Chip Van Mols 1,064 lb. Blue Kona, HI

[tim R]

Just got back from the weigh in and should have pictures pretty quick.

Chip spent 16 plus months in dry dock with his 35 bertram Monkey Biz II...It looks like it paid off!!!

Chip has been on a great roll the last 1.5 months catching a ton of 500 lb. fish...Well today he put the capper on it with a 1,064 lb. Blue, the second of his career.

I'll have more details and photo's later!!!!

Congrats Chip on the first Grander in Kona, HI this year!!!!

[Tenacious]

Congrats Chip!!! Tim, Looking forward to the pic already

[Patudo]

Very very fine captain who has been incredibly generous with information and advice. Beautiful custom job on his new ride too. Major well deserved congratulations to captain Chip and the Monkey Biz team.

patudo

[tim R]

Captain > Chip Van Mols
Deckhand > Ryan O'Halloran
Angler > Tim O'Halloran

The luck of the Irish showed up in Kona, HI yesterday when deckhand Ryan had his father Tim came out fishing for the day.

It was getting close to the end of the day when Chip saw the big fish pushing a ton of water on the hand made ice blue jet Ryan saw the same thing from inside the Salon and bolted into the cockpit. The fish piled on the triple skirted jet and the 9/0 single stiff Hays Hook was buried. (stinger)

The fish just stayed in place head shaking and gave the crew time to clear the lines without losing a ton of line. They prepped the gaffs and chip back down quickly on the fish which still never made any radical moves YET.

Once they got closer to the fish and bumped the drag up to 45 lbs. the fish came up creating all kinds of white water, but not going anywhere, finally it started jumping and then turned 45 yards away from the boat and came right at the Monkey Biz II...Chip got on the sticks and barely got out of dodge with the fishes final jump landing no more the 6 feet off the corner of the cockpit.

Again the fish never took off, the crew was ready again and chip backed up hard on the fish Ryan got the leader and they started hitting the fish with its head almost 6 feet down, then things got hairy as one gaff pulled and they barely got a second one back in (three total gaff shots). Again more pressure as the leader parted and now only on gaff kicking up white water the boys managed to finally subdue the fish and then struggle to bring it through the door...

Causually calling it a fat 800 on the way in everyone was still waiting at the scale, BAM 1,064 lbs. Chips second grander, but first as a captain! Ryan's first grander as a deckhand!

Ironically Chip still has some openings at the end of July and in August...Let's just say he is "ON FIRE" right now!!!

You can reach Chip @ 808-960-5954 mobile or by e-mail: bvanmols@rod-bender.com

Chip is one of the best kept secrets in Kona...

[Roddy Hays]

So let me get this straight - the leader broke, yet the wee 9/0 held ?

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I hope sincerely to make it back to Kona one day to meet Chip face to face.

[Capt Chip]

Hey Roddy,

Yep, the 2.05 Momoi Marlin Hard broke right as the 2nd Gaff went in. The leader was worked to it's limit too, down and digging fish, Ryan really honked on it. 9/0 was right in the corner of the mouth at that stage but there was a large and deep tear in the front of the roof of the mouth where the hook must have started out. That may explain the large amounts blood that trailed the fish during the fight.

I Bought a pack of new 9/0 Hays hooks about a month ago and noticed they were a thicker wire stock than my older ones so I switched all my 9/0 rigs to the newer thicker ones. They are the shit! Zues was riding on the second wave as usual too!

Aloha,

Chip

[Capt Josh]

Man congrats again guys. Got a photo of the lure?!?!?

[Duke Blue Blood]

Way to go Chip!

Hook

[richmake]

Wow!!!!!
Congrats Tim and Ryan....

[lilharcher]

Major congrats to Chip, Ryan, and Tim!!