HIBT Day 2: Change ups on the leaderboard

Miss Billfish Cheri Lavoie with Team Likeke Club, which boated largest fish of Day 2. The team was fishing aboard Dojo, under the guidance of Capt. Ryan Foster. (Hawaii 24/7 photo by Karin Stanton)

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With near perfect conditions, scoreboard action continued to heat up on this second day of the 56th Annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT).

The top teams are locked in a very tight race witnessed by incredibly dynamic fishing.

Afternoon action put Australia’s Sunshine Coast Game Fishing Club in the lead.

“Twenty-seven of 31 teams have already posted points on the scoreboard – and we’ve only just completed Day Two of fishing,” HIBT founder Peter Fithian said. “With so many fish taking the bait, any team could pull ahead in the days to come.”

Nearly all fish caught are tagged and released throughout the tournament. HIBT tag and release strategy captures valuable points for teams and boat captains.

Fithian said, “Captains, crews and teams must be able to quickly estimate the weight of the fish, often during a heated battle reeling in the fish. This is where experience and knowledge come into play.”

HIBT fishing continues through Friday.

2015 HIBT Day Two Results

Sunshine Coast Game Fishing Club 1,688

Team Likeke Club 1,495

Kona Game Fishing Club – Kusatsu 1,264

Nanhai Lang Tao Club 1,000

Mermaids Anglers Club – Team Kalaoa 900

TOP BOATS

Illusions 1,645

Ihi Nui 1,564

Northern Lights II 1,000

Topshape 900

— Find out more:

www.hibtfishing.com