Categorized | Fishing, Sports

HIBT Day 2: Japan woman boats record fish on 50-lb test line

Veteran angler Mari Arakawa with her HIBT record 622.6-pound Pacific blue marlin caught on 50-pound test line. (Photo courtesy of HIBT)

Veteran angler Mari Arakawa with her HIBT record 622.6-pound Pacific blue marlin caught on 50-pound test line. (Photo courtesy of HIBT)

MEDIA RELEASE

Not only did Mari Arakawa of Japan’s Olympian Dream Fishing Club boat a 622.6-pound Pacific blue marlin that powered her team to the top of the leaderboard on Day Two of the 55th Annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT), she also landed herself in the tournament’s record book.

Fishing Tuesday aboard Illusions, the veteran angler hooked up just after 10 a.m. and after a four-hour fight, Arakawa landed HIBT’s largest fish ever caught on 50-pound test line by a woman.

“This is my first catch in this year’s tournament. She was such a strong fish, but not too strong for me,” the diminutive angler said. “It took me over four hours, but the time went by very, very fast.”

In 2011, Arakawa fought another 600-pound Pacific blue marlin for three and one-half hours before losing it at leader. This time, it was her fight to win.

Olympian Dream Fishing Club’s members have fished all over the world, but they now prefer Kona’s fishing grounds, the experienced fishing fleet of captains and crews and the secure location.

“Arakawa’s catch today really underscores the tenacity and skill of the women who fish the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament,” HIBT founder Peter Fithian said. “Not since the early ‘60s has a women weighed in such a large fish, and on 50-pound test, well, that’s one for the record books here at HIBT.”

Reports from the teams on Day Two of this five-day iconic tournament indicate the fish are enjoying summer feeding with two notably quick hook-ups.

Just 15 minutes into Day Two of HIBT fishing and Japan Game Fishing Association – Team Bonita, fishing aboard Bite Me 2, hooked a Pacific blue marlin estimated at 200 pounds and 12 minutes later angler Hirofumi Shigeta tagged and released the fish, scoring valuable points for his team.

Laguna Niguel Billfish Club #3 angler Martin Firestein was next up on the scoreboard and he took only five minutes to tag and release his estimated 110-pound Pacific blue marlin fishing aboard Northern Lights.

The prestigious five-day Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament continues through Friday, Aug. 1.

2014 HIBT Day Two Standings

LEADERBOARD POINTS

Olympian Dream Fishing Club, Japan 1029
China Sea Wolf Club 600
Laguna Niguel Billfish Club Team 1 300
Malibu Marlin Club 300
Whangaroa Sport Fishing Club Team 1 300
Laguna Niguel Billfish Club –Team 3 300
Team Friends of Kenya 300
Japan Game Fishing Association-Team Bonita 300
Old South Marlin Club-Tarheels 300

TOP CAPTAIN STANDINGS POINTS

Illusions 1029
Rod Bender 600
Bite Me 2 550
High Flier 300
Humdinger 300
Kona Seafari 300
Miss Mojo 300
Northern Lights 300
Topshape 300

For more tournament information, including daily fishing video recaps, IGFA world-records, rules, and entry information, visit: www.hibtfishing.com

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