HIBT Leader Board 2011
Fish SponsorDistance

"West Marie"

8

West Marine 2188 nm
7 Laguna Niguel Billfish Club #1&2 1752 nm
5 Kona Game Fishing Club - Taiyo 1053 nm
4 Louisiana Hot Sauce Club 1028 nm

"Merlin"

 10 

Patricia Steele and Sherry Vann 522 nm
2 Bay of Islands Swordfish Club #1&2, and Stephen Chow 515 nm
Great Marlin Race Blog
  • IGFA Great Marlin Race Gets Off to a Roaring Start
    Today marks the opening day of the 55th Annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It is also the sixth year for the Great...
  • A Busy New Year
    The past several months have witnessed some amazing outcomes for the Great Marlin Race (GMR) program, and 2012 is getting off to a fantastic start...
  • Back Home - and the Race Nears Full-Swing
    The 2011 HIBT was a fantastic success, and the 2011 HIBT Great Marlin Race has also gotten off to a great start!  When fishing started...

Three Tags Up, Fish 5 Holds the Lead

On September 26 the Fish 5 tag, sponsored by the Kona Game Fishing Club - Taiyo, popped up 1053 nautical miles southeast of Kona, putting it in the lead.  This 200-pound marlin was caught by angler Masaharu Matsushita and tagged by Keith "OB" Morton on board the Strong Persuader.

Fish 5 about to be released

Just 8 days later a third tag popped up, this one from Fish 6 - a 175 pound marlin caught by Bob O'Dea fishing on the Sea Baby III, and sponsored by the Balboa Angling Club.  The tag came up 1031 nautical miles southeast of Kona, just a little ways northeast of the Fish 5 tag, putting Fish 6 in second place.

A third tag reports on Oct. 4

We're now about halfway through the Race with only three tags having popped up early - so it's still anybody's game!  Keep checking back for updates.