In Memoriam for Martin Firestein

It is with great sorrow in our hearts we are informing you of the passing of another HIBT Ohana Member.

Marty Firestein, 2019 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) champion, passed away following complications after surgery.  Marty was an avid big game saltwater angler and conservationist, who imparted his incredible legacy upon his son and favorite fishing partner, Mitchell.  Marty was a longtime participant of HIBT, as well an IGFA representative for Southern California. Additionally, Marty was an active member of the Balboa Angling Club, Dana Angling Club, and Laguna Niguel Billfish Club. 

An ardent supporter of billfish conservation, Marty regularly sponsored satellite tags in conjunction with the IGFA’s Great Marlin Race (IGMR) during the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) and Master Angler Billfish Tournament (MABT).  Marty’s commitment to conservation was rewarded in 2013 when he and Mitchell caught, satellite-tagged, and released an estimated 250-pound Pacific blue marlin off Kona, Hawaii, that traveled an incredible 2,883 nautical miles (nm), before surfacing off the Pitcarin Islands south of the equator.

Marty also served on the State Board of Coastal Conservation Association-California (CCA-CAL) where he was an active member of the Government Relations Committee. Marty devoted countless hours towards curtailing the use of drift gill nets and longlines off the California coast.

Marty participated in numerous tournaments. Perhaps his crowning angling achievement was winning the 60th Annual HIBT in 2019 with his son Mitchell. Marty is deeply missed throughout the angling community and by all those who had the good fortune to know him.  He is survived by his wife Rory, his daughter, Carly and his son, Mitchell.