NAWILIWILI — When Lawai Dickens landed his big ulua, he didn’t have a fish box big enough to hold the big fish that tipped the scales at 58.2 pounds Sunday in the ulua category of the Kauai Youth Football Second annual Shoreline Fishing Tournament that weighed in at Nawiliwili Park.
“He didn’t even have a box big enough,” said his companion, who hastily moved the pickup truck out of the weigh-in area. “We had to borrow a fish box for him to get it here.”
Dickens’ entry topped the ulua category, with a 39.9-pound entry caught on the Westside taking second place for Devin Frasco Rull, and a Robert Shibukawa entry tipping the scale at 38.5 pounds for third place.
Ethan Inanod, one of the first entries to weigh in, topped the ulua keiki category with his entry that topped the scales at 27.7 pounds.
“These were part of the 165 anglers who signed up for the tournament that started fishing at 12:01 p.m. Friday,” said Brad Hiranaka, KYF president and commissioner. “We started the tournament after fishermen were complaining about the lack of tournaments, and thought we could do this and make some money for the kids at the same time.”
Ron Feldhaus of Minnesota had a group of his visitors peering over the battery of weighmasters, including Scott Taba and Gordon Higa, who helped move the fish across the scales.
“I just wanted this these kids to experience this,” Feldhaus said. “We have fishing tournaments in Minnesota. They have a lot more fish, but not like the types here. We have a lot more freshwater activity.”
Feldhaus and his group’s visit were rewarded when the ulua, or the big boys, started rolling in for weighing.
“Someone called this morning with reports of an 80-pounder,” said Nardo Nacnac, the day’s announcer. “But he’d better fly because he needs to be in line when the clock hits noon or the fish doesn’t count.”
Dickens continued to pull in winners, getting second place to Edward Keoho Jr. in the moi division with a fish coming across the scales at 1.6 pounds.
Michael Valmoja was a dual winner, taking top honors in the oio division with a six-pound beauty, and topping the others five pounds and over category with a fish weighing in at 11.7 pounds.
The James Javinar family was winners all the way around, as son Jonah Javinar was the top keiki in the others division five pounds and over with a nenue that settled at 5 pounds even. Father James topped the others 5 pounds and under with another nenue that settled in at 4.8 pounds, tying the weight of son Sage Javinar, who topped the keiki division of the class with a 4.8-pound nenue.
Hiranaka said with the increased level of suport, KYF will be evaluating the event with fishermen to see how the third annual contest can be even better.
Results
Ulua: Lawai Dickens, 58.2 pounds; Devin Frasco-Rull, 39.9; Robert Shibukawa, 38.5; Keiki: Ethan Inanod, 27.7;
Moi: Edward Keoho Jr., 1.9; Lawai Dickens, 1.6; Wayne Bonilla, 1.2; Keiki: Eli Keoho, 0.9;
Papio: Jayden Manuel, 2; Benjamin Brown, 1.8; Lokelani Rosario, 1.7; Keiki: TJ Freitas, 2.6;
Omilu: Frank Joe Manibusan, 1.5;
Oio: Michael Valmoja, 6; Eric Carbonel and Allan Andres, 4.2; Keiki: Lawakua Brown, 3.5;
Others 5 pounds and over: Michael Valmoja, 11.7; Cale Fernandez, 7; Keiki: Jonah Javinar, 5;
Others 5 pounds and under: James Javinar, 4.8; Dwayne Akau, 3.2; Larry Mata, 2; Keiki: Sage Javinar, 4.8;
Special category Moi: Cody Bonilla, 0.9;
Invasives (total weight): Paul Medeiros, 17.4; Cherisse Eguchi, 7.9; Kasen Goias, 3.3; Keiki: Makoa Vidinha, 3.5.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
