Pacific Blue Marlin - The Blue Marlin is the ultimate challenge in big game fishing. The Big Island of Hawaii/Kona holds the official all-tackle world record at 1,376 pounds. Big Island of Hawaii/Kona is the only place in the world where blue marlin are caught daily, all year long.

Black Marlin - These are caught occasionally off the Big Island coast in late fall and grow to approximately the same size as the Blue Marlin.
 Striped Marlin - Caught year round off the Big Island of Hawaii coast. The average size of Striped Marlin in Kona is less than 120 pounds. These fish travel in groups of three to ten fish, and at times will strike all of the lures in a pattern.

Shortbill Spearfish - The Big Island of Hawaii/Kona is one of the few areas that the acrobatic Spearfish is consistently caught. The average weight of the Spearfish caught off the Big Island is 40 pounds.

Broadbill Swordfish - Caught occasionally off the Big Island of Hawaii/Kona coast in the spring and summer months and usually at night. Average weight in Kona is 250 pounds.

Pacific Sailfish - Caught occasionally off the Big Island of Hawaii/Kona coast, mainly in the summer months. These exciting acrobatic fish are fun to catch. The average weight of Sailfish in Kona is under100 pounds.

Mahi Mahi(Dorado) - Caught year around off the Big Island of Hawaii/Kona coast. The average weight of this bright blue, green and yellow fish on the  Big Island of Hawaii is 20 to 25 pounds. They are very acrobatic when hooked and great to eat.

Tuna - There are many different types of Tuna caught off the Big Island of Hawaii/Kona coast. The Yellowfin(Ahi) caught off the Kona coast averages 150 pounds. Skipjack Tuna (Aku) averages around 10 pounds.

Amberjack - Caught year-round off the Big Island of Hawaii/Kona coast. Average size caught off Big Island of Hawaii/Kona is 75 pounds.

Ono (Wahoo) - Caught year around off the Big Island of Hawaii/Kona coast. Ono is one of the fastest of fish (up to 60 m.p.h.). Fun to catch, and popular to eat.

SPORT FISHING CALENDAR

While Big Island of Hawaii/Kona boasts a 365 days/year fishing season, if you're planning your vacation around fishing for a particular species, here are your best bets:

January: Best for Striped Marlin, Amberjack, and BigeyeTuna.

February: Best for Striped Marlin, Amberjack, Snapper, and Spearfish.

March: Best for Striped Marlin, Spearfish and Amberjack.Good for Mahi-Mahi.

April: Best for Striped Marlin, Spearfish, Mahi-Mahi; and Amberjack.Good for ,Black Marlin, and BigeyeTuna.

May: Best for Striped Marlin, Spearfish, Black Marlin, YellowfinTuna, and MahiMahi.Good for Blue Marlin, Swordfish, and Ono.

June: Best for Blue, Black and Striped Marlin, Spearfish, Swordfish, Yellowfinand BigeyeTuna and Ono.

July: Best for Blue and Black Marlin, Swordfish, Yellowfinand BigeyeTuna and Ono. Good for Striped Marlin.

August: Best for Blue Marlin, and Ono.Good for Yellowfinand Skipjack Tuna.

September: Good for Blue Marlin, Ono and Skipjack Tuna.

October: Good for Blue Marlin and Mahi-Mahi.

November: Best for Mahi-Mahi.Good for Blue Marlin.

December: Best for Striped Marlin, Mahi-Mahiand BigeyeTuna.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST FISHING TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR.

THE HIBT. HAWAIIAN ISLAND BILLFISH TOURNAMENT.

HERE IS THE LATEST UPDATE AS OF 7.24. LAST DAY TODAY!

MALIBU MARLIN CLUB GRABS HIBT LEAD WITH 567 POUNDER
BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII/KONA'S FISH IN FIGHTING MOOD!

Early in Day Three of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT), the Aussies from Fremantle Sailing Club A Team fishing aboard Real Pleasure hooked-up just outside Kailua Bay. Veteran angler and team captain Mark Maher, an IGFA representative, fought the good fight for nearly six hours before losing the fish estimated at 400+ pounds.

"It was about the same size as the Pacific blue marlin boated yesterday. Those 400-pounders are very active this week," said HIBT founder Peter Fithian.
Before the mid-morning radio round-up, one of three daily team call-ins, anglers had tagged and released 12 Pacific blue marlin. With six more hook-ups announced over the airways before noon, anglers representing enthusiastic teams from around the world were on high alert. All but five of the 41 teams have now posted points on the HIBT scoreboard.
The big fish story of the day belongs to Malibu Marlin Club, fishing aboard the 49-foot Maggie Joe captained by Mike DeRego. Angler and team captain Sam Spinello boated a 567 pound Pacific blue marlin, propelling the team into first place. "This was a beautiful fish. For more than 70% of the fight, we saw her jumping and we chased her round and round, "said DeRego. "Sam is an incredible 74-year old angler."
Malibu Marlin Club hooked up in Uniform, the fishing area way south near Hookena. "This was another very strong, tough fish. We had the drag on as high as it could go and she still gave us a tremendous fight," said angler Sam Spinello. "We had her to the back of the boat at least a dozen times! But she was up for the fight - she was well fed and in excellent physical condition. The captain and crew did an amazing job with boating the fish. What a day."
The five-day Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament continues through Friday, July 24, 2009. Next year, Big Island of Hawaii/Kona will once again welcome the 51st HIBT July 31-August 8, 2010.
See the Malibu Marlin video

About the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament
The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament welcomes teams to its 50th golden anniversary along side the State of Hawaii as it celebrates 50 years of statehood! Once again, the world meets here in Big Island of Hawaii/Kona as enthusiastic anglers gather from around the world to fish these famous waters including Australia, Bermuda, British Isles, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tahiti and representing teams from around the US including California, Florida, Hawaii and North Carolina.
The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is underwritten by the generosity of the County of Hawaii and sponsored in part by Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner, KWXX Radio and numerous corporate and community donors.
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INFO FROM: http:/www.HIBTfishing.com