KAILUA, KONA, Hawai'i — Monday marks the start of the 49th Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament off the Kona Coast of the Big Island.

Twenty-six teams from around the world are entered in the five-day event.

The teams hail from Japan, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, New Zealand and Portugal, as well as California, Florida, North Carolina and Hawai'i.

Last year, 21 Pacific blue marlin were tagged and released. The largest fish to be boated was a marlin weighing in at 679 pounds.