Kawaihae helps prepare the fish for the scale

HILO, Hawaii: A boisterous Bryson Kawaihae was last in line at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium on Sunday, but he ended up in first.

Kawaihae could hardly contain himself, suspecting that he and his fishing partner Rody Dasalla had caught the two or three biggest ulua in the 9th annual S. Tokunaga Store Ulua Challenge, the highlight of the summer competitions for Hawaii’s shorecasters.

Kawaihae’s 85.3 lbs. ulua reeled in off Road to the Sea took the title for biggest fish, while Dasalla’s ulua took second at 79.9 pounds. All three ulua were caught using barbless circle hooks.

The last minute weigh-in thwarted Kalsey Naus Jr.’s bid for first, as the 66.9 pound catch earned the angler third place.

We will have more on this story in tomorrow’s newscast, including a discussion on safety measures recommended for the fishermen, in the wake of the tragic loss of a fisherman at South Point last week.