After a busy string of tournaments and a quick surf trip to Mexico, Capt. Chris Donato and his crew aboard the 37-foot Merritt, Benchmark, are in the midst of a busy charter season in Kona. With an unpredictable current, it’s very difficult to accurately pattern the blue marlin fishing, resulting in fish which are widely scattered and not found in their usual locations around known structure points. But there’s always a chance for the blue of a lifetime as well, so it’s always game day aboard Benchmark. And fall is right around the corner—fewer crowds in town, fewer boats on the water, and excellent fishing.
