The Sea Genie takes on fuel at Kona’s Honokohau Harbor. She’s still looking good and is the only 39’ Rybovich ever built. Completed in 1992, the Sea Genie II was purpose-built for Hawaii’s charter fishing. The boat takes a minimalist approach—you won’t find trim tabs (which aren’t necessary in Kona’s calm waters) or a generator onboard. While overseeing
the build, Capt. Vanderhoek’s intentions were to keep the Sea Genie II as simple and quiet as possible when trolling.
Known by a number of different names in different places, this knot is the goto in Kona for tying big swivels on your mainline. No matter what you call it, this knot works well with the 130 lbs. Amalon mono (another Kona staple). Big knots, big line, big marlin….you get the picture!
Over the last few years, many Kona marlin have succumbed to the pointy end of the hook inside these lures handmade in Hawaii. The lure heads are fairly heavy and skirted with a popular fly tying material called Flashabou. Capt. Vanderhoek will often pull one from the left long or in Kona terms—the long corner position.
Check out the hook set on this small, almost transparent lure. “We caught a lot of marlin on fly using this gapped hook-set, and then I decided to try it in a trolling lure. “It works well,” says Capt. Vanderhoek.
Elephants eat peanuts. The same theory can be applied to huge Kona marlin. This is one of four actual lures which have fooled a G-bomb behind the stern of the Sea Genie II.
Capt. Vanderhoek leads the Kona crews in grander marlin captures with a total of four. Prior to his fourth grander in 2012 (a 1023), his longtime friend and lure maker, Joe Yee, made this as a gift to commemorate his grander list.
Melvin’s experience has not only imparted expertise as a sportsfisherman but also aptitude in the culinary side of the equation.
Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.
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