Marlin Fishing Lures: The Mastery of Bomboy Llanes

The Evolution of Sportfishing Traditions: Bomboy’s Beginnings

Capt. Bomboy Llanes reflects on his lineage as he surveys the horizon from the flybridge of his 38-foot Bertram, Bomboy’s Toy. Our conversation, carried over the distant waves of Kona, Hawaii, isn’t just about his prowess as a grander-catching captain, but his acclaim as a creator of big game marlin fishing lures. It’s a tale that begins in the 1950s, with his grandfather’s commercial fishing to sustain a large family, embedding the sportfishing traditions that Bomboy would inherit and elevate.

Bomboy recounts his introduction to charter fishing and handmade lures for marlin, tutored by his father in the late 1970s. Even as we speak, he’s trolling his famed creations – the Scarface, Supernutt, and his Bullets – through the rich Kona waters. At the mention of a strike, our interview is paused with a promise of return – the Scarface lure has lived up to its reputation once more.

Crafting the Scarface: A Lure Above the Rest

Born into the vibrant marlin-fishing scene of Kailua-Kona, Bomboy Llanes was just five when he began his tutelage under his father, Capt. Kenny Llanes, not only in the art of angling but in the craft of making handcrafted fishing lures. “It all started with my father’s father, my grandfather,” Llanes shares. From a 20-foot canoe, his grandfather laid the foundations for a legacy that would transcend commercial fishing and venture into the sportfishing limelight.

Grander Catches: The Legacy of Llanes’ Lures

By 1975, Capt. Kenny had ventured into charter fishing, with young Bomboy as crew. It was here, among the Kona waves, that Bomboy’s passion for marlin and lure-making ignited. “What excited me the most back then was seeing marlin hit the lure and then start jumping,” he recollects. His ambition was not just to be a captain, but to be renowned as the best, a dream he has since realized.

Innovating with Every Cast: The 1041 and Beyond

The Scarface, the family’s first lure, bears the hallmarks of a bonito, a favored prey of the marlin. But it’s not just about mimicry; it’s about creating a siren call through design and hue – like the red-chrome foil that glistens beneath the sun, beckoning the giants of the deep. Each Scarface lure, adorned with the scars of countless battles, is a testament to the Llanes’ lure-making prowess.

Llanes’ lures, such as the 1041, named after a 1041 lbs grander blue marlin he guided the angler, named after a monumental catch, are not just tools of the trade but are emblems of innovation in marlin fishing lures. Each creation is a narrative, a story of the fish they’ve danced with and the hands that crafted them.

On the Horizon: Future of Marlin Fishing Lures Design

As we conclude, Bomboy Llanes looks towards the future, his sights set on the next chapter of his lure-making saga. With a mindset melded from predator and creator, Llanes draws inspiration from the ocean’s depths – its tides, its currents, and its myriad of life that dictates the design of his lures, from the Bullets that mimic squid to the Malolo Bomb inspired by flying fish.

Each of his 35 lures, from the original Scarface to the Hawaiian Shrimp Bullet, is a piece of Llanes’ soul, signed and destined to become a collector’s gem. As negotiations with major tackle companies unfold, Bomboy’s vision remains clear – to continue the tradition of innovation, year after year, lure after lure.

“In the summer, there are a lot of pink and brown squid, and we have our Bullets that mimic that,” Llanes explains, tying the knot between observation and creation. His lures are a celebration of color, life, and the relentless pursuit of the marlin – a pursuit that has defined and will continue to shape the world of big game fishing.

Bomboy Llanes has not only mastered the craft of marlin fishing lures but has also crafted a legacy that ripples through the waves of Kona and beyond. As he signs off each lure, he’s not just signing a product; he’s endorsing a legacy – a legacy that’s taken the Llanes’ family tradition from a 20-foot canoe to the grandest stages of sportfishing.

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