Start fishing better with FREE Weekly Video Tips delivered straight to your email.
Kona Blue Marlin
Kona is one of the world's great blue marlin fisheries, where the bottom drops into thousands of feet of blue water within sight of the beach and calm mornings let a lure spread work clean. Kevin Hibbard fishes it aboard 2nd Offense, reading how current, structure, and bite windows line up, setting a Kona-style spread with the help of Omni sonar, and rigging skirts and Sta-Stuk hooks for fish that can top a thousand pounds. From tackle to boat driving, these courses cover the whole program.
-
2023, Rigging Marlin Lures with Sta-Stuk Hooks
11:45 · Kevin HibbardSta-Stuk hooks from Fudo represent groundbreaking innovation for blue marlin lure rigging through design addressing traditional J hook weaknesses. Kris Ishibashi's step-by-step demonstration reveals proper crimping techniques and leader threading based on hook orientation, creating connections withstanding violent strikes and sustained battles while enhancing hookup ratios beyond what conventional designs provide for trolling big marlin.
WATCH NOW -
2023, Lure Spread Setup for Marlin Fishing: Kona Style
21:24 · Kevin HibbardCalm water marlin fishing demands lure spread configurations different from rough sea presentations, with principles applying beyond Hawaii to any flat-condition fishery. Kevin Hibbard and Kris Ishibashi reveal how Omni sonar technology transforms blind trolling into informed spread adjustments, plus optimal wave positioning for different lure types creating balanced coverage where each lure maintains proper action throughout the spread.
WATCH NOW -
2023, Fundamentals of Fishing Structure for Blue Marlin
29:51 · Kevin HibbardBlue marlin position predictably where ocean structure concentrates baitfish rather than roaming randomly. Captain Kevin Hibbard's insights reveal how currents and upwelling interact with bottom topography creating nutrient-rich zones that establish food chains, determining where marlin patrol and feed most actively rather than trolling aimlessly through surrounding waters appearing identical on the surface.
WATCH NOW -
Featured
2021, Blue Marlin Fishing Tackle with Kevin Hibbard
29:16 · Kevin HibbardBlue marlin fishing unpredictability demands tackle capable of handling 1200-pound giants even when targeting average-sized fish. Premier destinations produce big marlin frequently enough that Captain Kevin Hibbard emphasizes reel capacity, drag systems, and mainline strength must handle sustained runs and extreme pressure rather than gambling on lighter setups adequate for smaller fish but inadequate when mama strikes without warning.
WATCH NOW -
2021, Blue Marlin Trolling Technique with Kevin Hibbard
14:58 · Kevin HibbardBlue marlin trolling effectiveness depends on using satellite data to locate temperature breaks and current convergences concentrating bait, then interpreting tuna and porpoise signals revealing real-time feeding activity. Kevin Hibbard's techniques for positioning lures relative to bait schools in open water versus around structures create systematic approaches rather than random trolling hoping to intersect marlin patrolling productive zones.
WATCH NOW -
2021, Blue Marlin Trolling Lures with Kevin Hibbard
37:56 · Kevin HibbardBlue marlin trolling lure effectiveness depends on understanding swimming cycles in varied sea conditions rather than random lure selection. Kevin Hibbard's Pacific-rooted rigging techniques emphasize how leader material natural bend and memory affect lure action, while his philosophy on size and color prioritizes angler confidence that allows committed fishing over constant second-guessing undermining presentation quality.
WATCH NOW -
2021, Fishing Kona with Kevin Hibbard for Blue Marlin
22:33 · Kevin HibbardKona blue marlin fishing requires understanding how feeding times, water conditions, currents, and structure interact rather than single-factor approaches. Kevin Hibbard's decades of experience reveal that consistent success depends on reading how these variables combine to create high-percentage zones, recognizing bite time patterns when marlin feed aggressively, and knowing when bait versus lure presentations produce better results in Kona's unique environment.
WATCH NOW -
2021, Boat Driving Skills for Blue Marlin with Kevin Hibbard
16:47 · Kevin HibbardBlue marlin boat driving determines fight outcomes through simple spread setup allowing quick line clearing, understanding fish behavior patterns that inform positioning decisions, and achieving superior position early. Kevin Hibbard's worldwide marlin experience reveals how drag settings, line angle management, and strategic use of current create control needed for landing trophy fish rather than reactive responses after marlin establish advantages.
WATCH NOW