KAPA‘A — Ahi was the “Fish of the Day” during the Garden Island Trollers Father’s Day Fishing Tournament that wrapped up with the weigh-in, Saturday afternoon at the Waikaea Canal Small Boat Launch Ramp.
The choice of ahi getting the spotlight did not disappoint as the Valaka team, fishing aboard the Triple K was named the Largest Fish in the tournament after tipping the scales at 117.8 pounds, nearly 18 pounds over its estimated 100-pound weight call-in.
More ahi crossed the scales as Scott Taba captured top honors in the Yellow Fin Tuna category with a 110.6-pound reading, nearly four pounds heavier than Ryan McKnight’s second place ahi that settled at 106.8 pounds.
“The Valaka fish was the heaviest of the tournament,” said GI Trollers’ Sea Captain Jolene Spence. “But it was limited to winning just one category which meant that Scott’s fish was the biggest in the Yellow Fin Tuna category.”
Kaulana Kaye, aboard the Doris Kaye, pulled in an ahi that was just out of the running with a weight of 105.4 pounds.
Richard Arruda aboard the Sandra Lynn recorded a 103-pound ahi, and John Mundon aboard El vasco followed with an ahi settling at 86.4 pounds.
Bruce Javellana, fishing aboard the Orient Express, topped the Marlin category with a catch that weighed in at 115.8 pounds followed by Mark Brewer taking second place on a 113-pound submission from aboard the Grander.
Tokiem Suzuki, fishing aboard Hi‘ilei Wainani, topped the Ono category with a fish that weighed in at 30.6 pounds, more than the 20-pound estimated call-in. Mark Koehler, fishing aboard Ku‘ula Kai, was announced in second place with his 28.6-pound fish.
Curtis Matsumura, casting off aboard the Keiko M., topped the Mahimahi class with his heavier catch that settled on the scale at 11.8 pounds. His second fish weighed in at 11.4 pounds.
Tim Strauwalk, fishing aboard Moku ‘ae ‘ae, had just one fish to weigh in — a barracuda that tipped the scales at 17.6 pounds for top honors in the Others Over 5 Pounds class.
With fishing limited to Saturday, all registered fishers and guests were treated to the awards luau on Fathers Day, reinforcing the goal of the Garden Island Trollers of bringing the community together to foster the spirit of good fellowship and unity among the fishers of Kaua‘i.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
