Fishing News

The sound of line peeling off a reel is music to the ears of the world's big-game anglers who gathered in Kona this week to celebrate the Holy Grail of blue water fishing contests - the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.

This was the 43rd HIBT, and it attracted 85 anglers on 22 teams from as far away as Northern Ireland, Kenya, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the U.S. mainland. They came not only to fish, but also to enjoy the Big Island and spend money.

Anglers such as these spend about $8,100 per person while competing in the tournament, according to a study done by the University of Hawaii at Hilo, which examined the impact of the 1997 and 1998 tournaments on Hawaii's economy. In 1998 alone, the study estimated, 224 anglers who competed that year directly spent $1.8 million. When adding in the economic multiplier effect, the study estimated the total impact of their spending at $3.7 million.

That's big business for Kona's little economy.

What's even more remarkable is that it's all done for love of the sport and event - not prize money - because there is none. Anglers compete for trophies in the tournament, which began last weekend and ends tomorrow.

"The tournament's important to Kona," said Marni Herkes, executive director of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. "There's a lot of romance in its history. Lana Turner, Lee Marvin and Richard Boone - all of those Hollywood actors used to come over here. It's an important part of our past and hopefully it will be an important part of our future."

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