December is quickly becoming a favorite fishing month in Kona.
In addition to our success in starting the month, another boat in the harbor caught an 1124lb blue marlin. The biggest that has been caught in 2024. Other highlights have been numerous, but these were some of our favorites this past week.
December 9: The Big Girl South of Kealakekua Bay
On December 9, we headed out with Mike, setting our sights southward toward our favorite haunts between the harbor and Kealakekua Bay. The day started with a near miss—a blue marlin that didn’t stick—but redemption came quickly. We tagged and released a feisty blue marlin shortly after, setting the tone for the day.
As we reset our spread, a promising blip appeared on our sonar—a larger fish lurking below. We positioned ourselves perfectly, and soon enough, she rose to the short corner, missing a couple of strikes before locking onto our Large JetPack lure on the short rigger. Her calm demeanor after being hooked gave us the rare chance to close early. Crewman Ryan Mariano expertly handled the leader, tagging the fish before she reacted, forcing him to release the leader. Mike brought her back to leader range for an intense battle by applying full drag. Ryan skillfully brought the estimated 700-pound blue marlin boat-side, securing some incredible photos before her successful release. Fish of this size are rare and highly prized, and we never take these moments for granted.
We added a shortbill spearfish to the tally to round out the day, making for another memorable adventure. With winter just beginning, we’re excited to see what other opportunities lie ahead—and perhaps even a shot at a true giant!
It was a fun ride
Kona Fishing Charter on December 11: A Morning to Remember
We set out early on December 11 with boat owners Mike and Jodi Glimpse, eager to capitalize on reports of action up north at “The Grounds.”It was an ideal day for charter fishing in Kona Hawaii. Our early departure paid off, as we aimed to be the first to hit the prime spots. The morning was electric, with a steady flow of bites keeping us on our toes for the first few hours. By 10:00 a.m., we had already tagged and released five blue marlin and a striped marlin, including the rare thrill of a double hookup—a blue and a striped marlin simultaneously!
Though the bite slowed in the afternoon, we added one more to our tally: a spirited little blue marlin. By the end of the day, we were 7 for 7, with all the fish ranging between 80-150 pounds. While the sizes weren’t huge, the sheer volume and excitement of the day made it nothing short of exceptional.
Another big day of Kona Fishing
Book With Tantrum Sportfishing
If you are interested in fishing with us, you can see our availability calendar for the remainder of ’24 and into 2025. You can book directly from the site here. Spots are filling up quickly; you will not be disappointed.
