LIHU‘E — Stacie Chiba-Miguel of the Fishing for Charity for Father’s Day Fishing Tournament committee made a special trip to Nawiliwili Harbor, Saturday night ahead of the Sunday weigh-in at Vidinha Stadium parking lot.
“They called and said they had a big marlin,” Chiba-Miguel said. “I needed to get a photo before they cut up the fish. What was amazing was the large number of people fishing at the harbor at night.”
The marlin belonged to Meynard Enrique who tagged top honors for Largest Marlin caught on a boat 25 feet and below.
More than 200 registered fishers in all divisions, including Keiki, Shoreline, and Boaters, took to the waters around Kaua‘i to compete for various prizes that ranged from cash pots for the adult categories to pool passes and hotel stays for Keiki fishers.
“The event — 3rd Annual Fishing for Charity Father’s Day Fishing Tournament — was a great success,” Chiba-Miguel said. “Ashley Yoshimori is already getting calls from the fishermen inquiring about doing another tournament, this year! This was the first year we incorporated a boating division in this family-friendly event, and the turnout was amazing!”
The Lihu‘e Baseball League Park Rats added to the family-friendly atmosphere at the weigh-in by maintaining a food booth in partnership with Reel Nauti Kaua‘i, vending pronto pups, smoked meat plates, and “decadent desserts,” including an appearance by Lisa Johnson and the Super Duper II ice cream truck, as a fundraiser for a mainland tournament coming up later in the year.
“This is unlike anything I’ve seen before,” said Chip Bahouth, the general manager of the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort, and originator of the first Fishing for Charity for the Po‘ipu resort’s employees and family. “It’s much bigger than the ones I’ve experienced on Maui.”
The tournament raised more than $18,000 for Kaua‘i nonprofits via the Kaua‘i Charity Walk, and provided a nice Father’s Day outing for kama‘aina during the one-of-a-kind drive-through tournament weigh-in event.
Organizers credit the many sponsors for their generosity in making the tournament a success, including the Pacific Concrete Cutting &Coring, and its crane operator Brad Hiranaka for the creative boom in weighing in the “big ones.”
The 4th Annual Fishing for Charity Father’s Day Fishing Tournament has already reserved June 17 through 19, 2022, for its next outing.
Results
Boaters – 25 feet and Under
w Largest Marlin: Meynard Enrique (130 pounds),
w Largest Ahi: Koby Kashima (174 pounds)
w Largest Ono: Scott Taba (40 pounds)
Boaters – 26 feet and Over
w Largest Ahi: Aaron Baltazar (93 pounds)
Shoreline
w Ulua: Jose Erese (57.88 pounds), Hunter Takahama (52.8 pounds), Lawrence Garcia (47.8 pounds)
w Papi‘o: Jose Erese (9.0 pounds), Robby Silva (8.8 pounds), Joseph Tafoya (8.48 pounds)
w O‘io: Kalen Lopes-Barreto (6.4 pounds), Lani Medeiros (2.5 pounds), Cale Fernandez (2.4 pounds)
w 5 pounds and over: Ely Bunao (19.6 pounds Kahala), Ralph Kaui (5.4 pounds Mu)
w 4.99 pounds and Under: Bryson Worrell (4.8 pounds Nenue), Justis Berrett (3.8 pounds Tohei), Cale Fernandez (3.2 pounds Roi)
w Keiki Division 4-8 years: Max Melendez (4.5 pounds papi‘o), Conner Kimura (4.2 pounds O‘io), Ayden Frasco Rull (2.6 pound O‘io)
w Keiki Division 9-11 years: Blaze Beach (5.8 pounds papi‘o), Kapena Baxter 5.2 pounds Papi‘o), Shayden Yaris (3.5 pounds Papi‘o)
w Keiki Division 12-14 years: Ashton Leanio-Balagat (3.1 pounds Papi‘o), Kaui Kanahele (0.8 pound Perch)
How much are the fishes being sold for?
Restaurants will buy it.