Team Likeke Club, Illusions Take Home HIBT Wins

Team Likeke Club snatched the top spot on the top of the leaderboard in the middle of the week and never looked back.

Captained by Rich Wilson, Team Likeke Club captured the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, scoring 2,296 points, taking a slim victory over Sunshine Coast Game Fish Club.

Illusions was the top boat over the five-day fishing tournament. Captained by Tim Hicks with crew members Chris Kam and Jordan Kilkenny, Illusions finished ahead of Northern Lights II and Ihu Nui.

Friday’s final weigh-in featured one of the top catches in the tournament, a 543.7 pound marlin brought in off of the boat Rod Bender. It was the only catch brought back to the Kona Pier, as everything else was tagged and released.

Shortly after the marlin was brought ashore, a heavy downpour of rain crashed the party of volunteers, fisherman, and interested spectators. There was even a flash of thunder and lightning, forcing many to look for shelter.

“This was a memorable year at the 56th Annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament,” said Peter Fithian, HIBT Founder. “All 31 teams and every charter boat in the fleet put points on the board. I’d say that is pretty close to perfect.”

2015 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament

Leaderboard

Team Likeke Club – 2,296

Sunshine Coast Game Fish Club – 2,289

Kona Game Fishing Club – Kusatsu – 2,114

Mermaids Anglers Club – Team Kalaoa – 2,100

Nanhai Lang Tao Club – 1,700

New Britain Game Fishing Club – 1,700

Top Boats

Illusions – 2,445

Northern Lights II – 2,000

Ihu Nui – 1,764

Hooked Up – 1,658

Kona Blue – 1,550

Topshape – 1,450

Fishermen and others gather at the weigh-ins on the final day of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Photo by Jamilia Epping.

Volunteers roll away the marlin caught by the Rod Bender. Photo by Jamilia Epping.

Fisherman, volunteers, and media members gather after Fridays weigh-ins. Photo by Jamilia Epping.

The leaderboard displays where all teams stand going into Friday’s weigh-ins. Photo by Jamilia Epping.