The last photo shoot. (Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Contributing Editor

Ever wonder what happens to those big fish – the ones caught in contests like the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament and other local tournaments?

Well, this 779 lb. Pacific blue marlin spent its last hour locked in mortal battle with Ted Morikawa. The angler from Oahu, fishing with Out of the Blue team, landed the giant fish Friday, Aug. 6 while aboard Miss Mojo.

Although Morikawa gave credit to Capt. Tio Kearney and crewmate Mike Nesbitt, he was one who landed the tournament’s biggest fish and posed proudly with it at Kailua Pier.

The big catch on the final day gave Morikawa’s team enough points to secure second place in the prestigious fishing tournament.

The fish gave her life.

After the weigh-in, the congratulations and the photos, Morikawa asked if he could have the tail and the bill to mount as a trophy.

Off to market. (Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

Minutes after it is lowered from the scales on Kailua Pier, the fish is loaded into the back of a pick up truck and driven right to the front door of Bite Me Fish Market at Honokohau Harbor.

A restaurant employee begins the cleaning process almost immediately, covering the fish with a blue tarp as he works.

At Bite Me Fish Market. (Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

“Nothing will go to waste,” said Bite Me co-owner Deneen Wargo. “We’ll use pretty much everything.”

The meat will make for “lots and lots” of meals, Wargo said. “Marlin is great when it’s grilled. It’s kind of a white and firm meat.”

Some grilling steaks will be served up at the Bite Me bar and grill, others will be sold to local restaurants.

More meat will be made into poke, jerky, dip or smoked.

Eventually, the carcass will be turned into compost for local farms, Wargo said.

“It’s not like we dump it at the side of the road or anything,” she said.

At least one wharf kitty wishes they had different plans …

Do I smell marlin? (Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

Using the whole fish is part of Hawaiian International Billfish Association’s commitment to research, education and responsible fishing practices.

HIBT was founded primarily as a fishing tournament, but organizers realized that little was known about the life cycle of the marlin.

Urged by former director of the Honolulu Laboratories of the National Marine Fisheries Service, John C. Marr, the board started a non-profit scientific corporation, Pacific Ocean Research Foundation.

PORF was founded in response to the need for sound international management policies that would ensure wise and sustainable use of migratory fishes throughout the Pacific.

It was decided from the outset that the best way to achieve the ideals of the Foundation was to encourage, foster and facilitate scientific research on the fishes that were the basis of sport fishing in the central Pacific, and in particular, the billfishes.

PORF, in the last 15 years, has presented more than 65 scientific papers on the marlin and its life cycle.

During this year’s Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, fishermen tagged and released 38 Pacific blue marlin, three striped marlin and 13 short nose spearfish. They boated eight Pacific blue marlin.

— Find out more:
www.hibtfishing.com
www.bitemefishmarket.com
http://holoholo.org/porf/