The Huntress is a legendary 42’ Merritt sportfishing charter based in Kona, Hawaii, with a proven record that few boats in the world can match. Fishing in Hawaiian waters since 1973, she has caught more grander marlin than any other boat in Hawaii. Formerly named Black Bart and operated by the legendary Captain Bart Miller, the vessel made history in 1984 with a 1,656-pound Pacific blue marlin, one of the most iconic catches in sport fishing. Notably, the Huntress also won the 2014 World Cup with Captain Steve Epstein and Stephanie Choate — the second-ever female angler to win the tournament.

History of Huntress - 42’ Merritt, Hull #13

Built in 1965 as the 13th hull and first of the iconic 42’ Merritt design, the Huntress began her life as Hopalong, commissioned for Fletch Creamer and Capt. Buddy Landers. This groundbreaking vessel went on to inspire the later 43’ Merritt design and became one of the most influential sportfishing boats ever built. The 43’ Merritt is highly regarded for setting the most tuna fishing records, winning the most tournaments and setting more all-tackle records possibly than any other boat in history.

Today, the Huntress blends her unmatched legacy with modern performance. After an extensive rebuild and re-power, she now features state-of-the-art sonar and tournament-ready systems. Still fishing at the highest level, the Huntress has earned numerous Hawaii marlin tournament wins over the years. Recently, Captain Jack Leverone trolled an incredible 10 marlin in a single day, a standout performance that underscored Huntress’s reputation as one of Kona’s most dominant sportfish vessels.