We need a bigger boat

dok7mm

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west texas
My son was in Virgin Islands last week and had a helluva day. Quite a change from bass fishing. 1506.png
 
Depends to a large degree where you fish for them, and of coarse the type day you do it regardless of boat size.
In the late 80s I went to Kona Hawaii and fished for Marlin.
Kona is on the lee side of the island, and as a result the water is usually very calm. Not only that, but since the islands are volcanic the water is very deep very close to shore. So that puts you in Marlin type water as soon as you exit the marina. I caught a stripped Marlin and had a blue on for 2 jumps before he came off the hook, both within a couple miles of shore. I also have pictures of a young native of about 20 with a large blue on his boat of no more than 18' at the dock.
He was all alone when he caught it and thought no more about that than most of us do catching a decent Bass.
Of coarse in Kona, at least at that time, all fish are/were the property of the boat and were sold for meat.
 
I live in Hatteras, NC and I honestly believe we have better opportunities HERE for Blue Marlin than anywhere else in the world. There is an abundance of 500 lbs so that they are almost routine. Anyone wanting to try it is free to contact me.
 
Of coarse in Kona, at least at that time, all fish are/were the property of the boat and were sold for meat.
Yep, I laughed at a couple captains trying to book a trip off Maui years ago. No way in hello was I paying 500 then they make another K Off my fish.
Never looked again now just hit cheap mart buy a combo and some squid/shrimp throw off the beach and small outcropping.
 
I lived on OHAU for 9 years and did a lot of fishing. Marlin, Tuna, Mahi Mahi. Fished for gaint Ulua (Trevally) off the clifs at night with hand made 13' rods and #4 or 6 reels with 100# test line. Had access to several boats on Oahu, Maui, & Kona and all the fish we caught we kept. Usally divided up between everyone for food. A 200 Yellow Fin or 4-500 lb Marlin goes a long way. Sure miss those days!
The boats off of Kona really socked it to the tourists for price and keeping the fish. Kona was the best for off shore. There was a drop off about a mile off the Island so it was really cheap to fish because so close to the Dock.
 
Since they are volcanic made islands, the drop off essentially starts at the shoreline.
I felt the charter rate i paid was very fair even for that time frame (1987), i owned my own boat and held a masters
license myself at that time.
No doubt fuel savings due to very short runs help with that.
I knew the deal on the fish when i booked the trip, so it came as no surprise.
Fact is that being a charter captain isnt a path to becoming wealthy, regardless of the location or wether or not you get to sell the fish.
 
I live in Hatteras, NC and I honestly believe we have better opportunities HERE for Blue Marlin than anywhere else in the world. There is an abundance of 500 lbs so that they are almost routine. Anyone wanting to try it is free to contact me.
At the time i was in Kona Randy there was a plus 1600 pounder hanging at the fishing center there.
Granders (1000#) werent all that uncommon then either, and over there they can do it year round in calm seas.
I have pictures of a native kid of maybe 20 at the dock with a Marlin weighing about 250# he caught while fishing alone in a 19' outboard powered boat.
Try that at Hatteras. lol
 
At the time i was in Kona Randy there was a plus 1600 pounder hanging at the fishing center there.
Granders (1000#) werent all that uncommon then either, and over there they can do it year round in calm seas.
I have pictures of a native kid of maybe 20 at the dock with a Marlin weighing about 250# he caught while fishing alone in a 19' outboard powered boat.
Try that at Hatteras. lol

Yes Charter Boats do not make a lot of money when you have invested in the Boat and all the gear along with hiring mates to help out. Bad Weather and lack of tourism could make you go bankrupt.
Kona fishing you see the shore line all the time -so close because of the drop off. I was in a $10k payout tournament out of Kona in the early 90s. Had hooked a Marlin that was estimated over 1,000 lbs. Got him to the back of the boat and he lunged forward along side of the boat and pulled the hook. The winer of the Tournament was a 89 lb Sail Fish.
Nothing compares to BIG Game Fishing. When I moved back to the mainland and fished for bass the largest fish was smaller than the bait we used in HI.
 
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