Kona

Every now and then you meet someone who makes you stop, take a step back, and then get fully immersed in what they are doing. On a recent trip to Kona, Hawaii, Tony Orton came across such a man…

Many years ago I had the pleasure of fishing with one of the most dynamic and driven game-fishing crews out there. This duo had one thing and one thing only in their sights: the biggest blue marlin to ever be caught.

----- Advertisement -----


At the helm of the Marlin Magic at that time was Captain Jason Holtz and his super-deckie Brian Toney. Not only were these guys obsessed with catching the biggest blue marlin, they were also very focussed on trying to catch that moment on camera.

For me it was an eye-opener. My marlin fishing is more a numbers game: catch as many of these magnificent creatures as I can and experiment with various different ways to catch them without getting too hung up on catching the biggest fish, because size is one factor I felt I could not control.

Way back then, to fish with these two guys at the top of their game was an amazing experience. The teamwork was flawless and every part of the process seemed to go like clockwork.

Jason could quite possibly be the only captain to have caught 1000lb-plus (450kg plus) marlin in every ocean. However, to complement a world-class captain like him, you need a world-class deckhand. Step in Bryan, a super-confident deckie with flawless wiring skills and his trademark backhand wrap. (Any young deckhand should watch his videos and learn from them.)

As new opportunities arise in life, this amazing crew went their different ways, with Jason moving to the helm of another boat and Bryan graduating to the skipper’s role aboard the ever-famous Marlin Magic.

I continued to follow Bryan’s passionate quest to capture the biggest blue marlin, and this year had the opportunity to team up with him again on the Marlin Magic out of Kona, Hawaii.

Five days were spent with Bryan, and it was great to share each other’s fishing adventures and stories. But, more importantly, I finally worked out why and what it takes to commit oneself – as Bryan has – to such a journey.

Having now caught a lot of billfish (we are not talking 10, 20, or even a hundred fish, we are talking in the thousands), he really does know what works.

This man (actually there are bunch of these guys in the world) is now driven to find that one giant fish and has to be incredibly structured, to the point that he is basically waiting for that one moment in his life when that fish comes along.

If you knew exactly what lures could get the bite out of a fish of a lifetime, what leader size would be required to subdue a fish well over 600 kilos, which hooks would match the, say, 330kg leader, and which 60kg rod-and-reel combos would you attach them to? Then, would you (or could you) change this system, knowing the day you did so could be the day you get the bite from the fish you’ve spent your whole life waiting for?

Also, knowing that grander blue marlin eat spearfish and mahimahi, would you ever pull in your big gear to catch one of these smaller game species, knowing that there is a small possibility that the fish of a lifetime might be feeding on those smaller fish you’re so tempted to target and eat?

To be so dedicated to this mission is actually very simple: it’s either yes or no.

For a crew like this there is a whole lot of waiting: a sub 230kg/500lb marlin is by-catch and 230-450kg (500-900lb) provides practice. Anything over 450 kilos means you’re on the right track.

With the trend for dredges and daisy chains to raise fish these days, could these be used to attract that monster fish? To some of these guys, the simple answer is no. What if your dream fish only hit 
the teaser? How could you live with that, knowing you missed the one opportunity that might never be repeated?

On the first day fishing with Bryan, his deckhand pulled out a big rubber lure, roughly a metre long, which looked just like a spearfish.

Not being the most patient person on the planet, my first thought was, “Oh shit, here we go. Sure this thing may catch a 1300lb marlin, but what about all the other opportunities we are going to miss?”

However, after hanging out with Bryan, talking a little and understanding his thought pattern, it became quite clear that, yes, this may only get one bite, but when it does, it could be that fish. I was excited to be the guy who had entered into Bryan’s world for a few days; here was someone who was prepared to wait.

Coming back to Bryan’s camera skills: he is so dedicated to his rubber spearfish, he has a handy-cam recording the rubber spearfish splashing away all day long, just to capture that one moment. I just hope the camera is recording when that fish bites, for Bryan’s sake!

A look at the record books and at some of the crews responsible for catching these monster marlin reveals most are not guys who just get lucky, they are the teams that put in the most time, skill and, most of all, dedication, to be ready for the moment when that one fish comes along. Hawaii has a huge list of captains and crews that fit this category, and it’s not uncommon for these skippers and deckhands to search other oceans for that once-in-a-lifetime blue marlin during the Kona off-season.

Late last year, Bryan’s hard work and commitment paid off while fishing off Ascension Island. They fished for days without a bite, to finally hook and land a stunning 591.5kg/1306lb blue marlin, claiming a woman’s world record in the process.

But, after hanging out and spending time with Bryan, I get the feeling he’s still waiting for the ‘real’ one to turn up, proving his true commitment to the journey...

IT MAKES YOU think about our fishery here in New Zealand. There are guys who fish Waihau Bay each year in search of that one XXL blue marlin. We also have black marlin over the magic 1000lb mark visiting our waters. For us, striped marlin can be a tempting distraction; crews running light hooks and light tackle to catch them in good numbers may miss an opportunity to catch ‘that one’ fish.

----- Advertisement -----


Is it possible the biggest marlin in the world could come from New Zealand waters? How would we know? Could it be this summer, or will we miss an opportunity by targeting smaller striped marlin or even small tuna and mahimahi?

For me it’s a romantic thought that one day, when I stop charter fishing and ticking all those smaller fish off my bucket list, I could spend the rest of my time towing a huge live bait around those offshore reefs in search of the biggest marlin ever. You just never know!

So how about you? Could you dedicate your life and time to just that one moment?

Talk through the expectations

Successful trips often come down to expectations that are set well before the client even books the charter. So, when booking a charter, prospective clients should ask questions as to how the captain/boat fishes.

Query the type and size of tackle used, target species and typical techniques used. Trying to get a crew to fish your way will almost always end in not getting the result you’re after. So if it is not your style, find another boat.

Sadly, the basic questions do not get asked from either party at times, which can lead to a disappointing experience for the client.

More often the top charter boats will only fish their way and with their gear. It is an experience to fish with these top crews who, left to fish their familiar style, will be able to give the best back to the client. From a crews’ perspective, a successful charter is measured in different ways – be it simply catching a fish or having the client learn something and having a great day out along the way.

To have an angler turn up at the boat with their own gear, only to lose a big fish – or any fish for that matter – because their tackle failed, is gut wrenching for a crew that is working hard for a worthwhile result.

 

   This article is reproduced with permission of   
New Zealand Fishing News

September 2016 - By Tony Orton
Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited

Fishing bite times Fishing bite times

Major Bites

Minor Bites

Major Bites

Minor Bites

Latest Articles

Gear Preparation for Marlin
March 2024

Ben Brown shares his tips and tricks for prepping gear for marlin fishing... Read More >

One-pan Tomato Poached Snapper with Leek Recipe
March 2024

A one-pan tomato poached snapper recipe is shared... Read More >

How Social Media Is Influencing Fishing
March 2024

Social media is changing people's perception of fishing, writes Sam Boothroyd... Read More >

Raymarine Axiom Pro Fishfinder/Chartplotter and Cyclone Radar Review
March 2024

Nick Jones Reviews the Raymarine Axiom Pro Fishfinder/Chartplotter and Cyclone Radar... Read More >

Brent Condon - Fishing Art
March 2024

An artist profile on illustrator Brent Condon... Read More >