In Memoriam: Peter S. Fithian

 Founder of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, Trustee Emeritus and IGFA Fishing Hall of Famer

 

IGFA Trustee Emeritus, Peter S. Fithian, renowned angler, conservationist, and visionary founder of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT), passed away at the age of 96, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the world of sportfishing and conservation. Fithian’s impact on the sport is immeasurable, with his contributions spanning over six decades and continuing to shape the future of game fishing.

Born in 1928, Peter Fithian’s journey began after serving in the Navy and graduating from Cornell University. In 1954, he was hired by legendary golfer, Bobby Jones, to manage Augusta National Golf Club, where he learned the principles of ethics and tournament management that would later inform his vision for the HIBT. After a brief but influential tenure at Augusta, Peter followed his dream to live in Hawaii, where he became the manager of the Kona Inn in Kailua-Kona in 1955. It was there that he saw the untapped potential for big game fishing in Hawaii’s waters, recognizing the allure of Kona’s calm seas, deep waters, and abundant fish.

In 1958, Peter gathered a group of local anglers, including IGFA Fishing Hall of Famer, Henry Chee, to create a world-class sportfishing tournament. The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament was born in 1959, the same year Hawaii became a state. The HIBT set the gold standard for competitive fishing events, introducing groundbreaking innovations such as adherence to IGFA rules, a new scoring system that rewarded anglers for using lighter lines, and a festive angler parade to celebrate the global participants. These innovations helped ensure the HIBT’s early success and set the stage for its evolution into one of the longest-running and most respected tournaments in the world.

 

Under Fithian’s leadership, the HIBT became a platform not only for competition but also for conservation. In 1972, he hosted the inaugural International Billfish Symposium, uniting scientists and fishermen to advance the study and conservation of billfish. His commitment to conservation extended further with the founding of the Pacific Ocean Research Foundation (PORF) in 1975, which focused on the study of game fish, particularly Pacific blue marlin. In 1988, Fithian chaired the second International Billfish Symposium of Kona, a landmark event that drew over 150 participants from 12 countries.

In 2009, the HIBT became the birthplace of the original Great Marlin Race, a pioneering citizen-science research initiative that later evolved into the IGFA Great Marlin Race in 2011. This groundbreaking collaboration between the IGFA and Stanford University aimed to enhance our understanding of billfish biology and track their migratory patterns using satellite tagging technology.

Fithian’s visionary leadership ensured that the HIBT’s influence would be felt far beyond the shores of Kona, contributing invaluable data to the conservation of billfish worldwide.

Throughout his career, Fithian’s contributions were recognized with numerous accolades. In 1976, he was appointed to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council by the Governor of Hawaii and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, a testament to his expertise and commitment to managing the region’s fishery resources. He also played a key role in the establishment of the Japan Game Fish Association (JGFA) in 1979. In 1986, Peter joined the Board of Trustees of the IGFA, where he served with distinction and was later honored as Trustee Emeritus.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to competitive angling and game fish conservation, Fithian was inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame in 2017.

Peter Fithian’s influence on the sport of fishing is immeasurable, and his passion for conservation will continue to inspire future generations of anglers. He leaves behind a legacy that will forever be intertwined with the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, an event that he founded, nurtured, and brought to global prominence.

Peter is survived by his wife, Roberta “Bobi” Fithian; his son, Chip Fithian; and his daughter, Marsha Fithian, along with a wide circle of family, friends, and countless individuals whose lives he touched through his unwavering dedication to the sport of fishing and the conservation of marine life. He will be profoundly missed by the angling community and all those who knew him as a mentor, innovator, and passionate advocate for conservation.