Angler Daron Castoro pulled in a 27 pound Ono on boat 'Kona Blue' skippered by Captain Dave Crawford Saturday (June 25). Photo by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Editor

Boat check-in at Honokohau Harbor at the end of the first day of the Kona Kick Off fishing tournament. Photo by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

The Kona Kick Off – the first of seven summer fishing tournaments – blasted off Saturday with 36 boats, captains and anglers competing for approximately $90,000.

Eleven blue marlin were tagged and released during in Day 1 of the tournament, including a 718-lb. behemoth.

Fishing aboard Strong Persuader, Joe Gallegos brought in big beast about 10:30 a.m.

Captained by Shane O’Brien, Strong Persuader holds the lead for Largest Blue Marlin after Day 1.

Fishing aboard the Leilani, angler Lisa Aukai lead the largest ono category after Day 1 with a 31-lb ono.

Fishing wraps up Sunday, followed by the awards party 6 p.m. at Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club.

The Kona Kick Off is the first event in the 25th Annual Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series. A “Four Flags” tournament, the largest marlin earns 40 percent of the base purse, and the largest ahi, ono and mahi each earn 20 percent of the base purse.

More than 30 marlin have been caught off Kona in June. This includes: two 900+, five 700+ and four 500+ pounders.

— Find out more:
www.konatournaments.com

Joe Gallegos with the first blue marlin of the 2011 Kona Kick Off at 718 lbs. (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series)

Angler Lisa Aukai with 31-lb ono. (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series)