North Carolina team wins billfish tourney

The Old South Marlin Club Team 4 from North Carolina captured the 53rd annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament on Saturday in waters off Kailua Kona on Hawaii island. The winners scored 3,150 points, the third-highest total in the event’s history.

Kona Game Fishing Club of Taiyo, Japan, was second with 2,418 points, and Bay of Islands Swordfish Club of New Zealand was third with 1,904.

Jason Holtz of the Marlin Magic won the Henry Chee Award as the top captain.

Next year’s tournament is scheduled for Aug. 3-10.

For more information on the HIBT, including daily video recaps of this year’s event, go to hibtfishing.com.