Japan’s Kona Game Fishing Club Taiyo captured the 2023 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament on Friday.
The team of Masaharu Matsushita and DaikukeYamazaki held the top position the entire week and finished with 1,300 points.
Kevin Hibbard made history, becoming the first captain to win consecutive Henry Chee Memorial Awards, given to the charter boat captain accumulating the greatest number of billfish points during the tournament. Hibbard is a resident of the Big Island, having moved from Florida in 1995.
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61st HAWAIIAN INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT
Friday
At Kona
TEAM STANDINGS POINTS
Kona Game Fishing Club Taiyo, Japan ……………………………………………………………………….. 1,300
Ohana Fishing Club, Japan…………………………………………………………………………………………… 1,200
Mission Bay Marlin Club, USA………………………………………………………………………………………….900
Dun Deal, Australia…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 850
Kona Game Fishing Club Osaka, Japan ………………………………………………………………………… 700
Bay Of Islands Swordfish Club, New Zealand………………………………………………………………..600
Tag & Brag, Australia………………………………………………………………………………………………………….500
41 Degrees South, Australia …………………………………………………………………………………………….500
Australian Adventure Charters, Australia………………………………………………………………………….400
Laguna Miguel Billfish Club, USA…………………………………………………………………………………… 400
New Britain Game Fishing Club, Papua New Guinea ……………………………………………………300
Poco A Poco —
BOAT STANDINGS CAPTAIN POINTS
2nd Offense Kevin Hibbard 1,600
Tantrum Nick Durham 1,000
Maverick James Bach 900
Kona Dream David Borges, Jr 900
Hooked Up Chuck Wigzell 850
Lightspeed Rob Ellyn 800
Bwana Teddy Hoogs 700
Kraken Cyrus Widhalm 300
Beastmode Mike Dakil 300
Topshape Al Gustavson 300
Legend Randy Parker 100
Siesta Sam Choy, Jr. 100
