Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2019 i Hawaii Fishing News

We are proud to say that none of this blue marlin went to waste. It provided a lot of fillets (some donated to those less fortunate for Thanksgiving), the head was used to make soup, the little scraps between the bones fed the cats and the rest of the scraps, frame and entrails will be returned to the ocean to feed the scavengers on our next bluewater adventure. On Wednesday, November 21, the day before Thanksgiving, Benjamin Zyons (@benzo_speedo), owner of Freedive Hawaii (@freedivehi), landed a 130-lb blue marlin while using a KAP Spearguns (@kap_spearguns) 145 cm Cubera and an Ulusub Spearfishing Co. (@ulusub_spearfishing) 100 m Bluewater Reel with no buoys. Although we were not set up to catch such a fish, we have great respect for all fish, big…

My kayak fishing trip was not planned; however, the weather was good, and I wasn’t going to just sit at the house. I decided to try my luck on O‘ahu’s west side out of Poka‘i Bay. I’d heard throughout the week that several people had experienced some pretty good fishing there. The day’s conditions were ideal with a slight breeze, small waves and little boat traffic. My first goal was to catch bait. I had no trouble finding schools of ‘opelu; they were near the surface and causing a disturbance that attracted birds and nearby boats. As I got on the ball, I ran into some fellow fishermen I’d met on the Facebook group “Kayak Fishing Friends Honolulu, HI.” After saying “Hi” to everyone, I worked the school until I…

Bobby Fernandez grew up fishing, hunting and surfing, as many kids do out in Wai‘anae. To this day, his sun-bleached hair and dark complexion display his love for the sea and land. From mauka to makai, Bobby hunts and gathers to put food on his table. Recently, Bobby started venturing out in a kayak to fish offshore. This is where many of us in the kayak fishing community met this humble brother. His catches were impressive, considering he had no fish finder and was using a small pleasure kayak. One day on social media, I realized that Bobby lacked safety equipment. He had commented that he needed a safety whistle like the one in my pictures. Safety is always the most important factor when out on the water. Reaching out…

Fee Increases for Hawai‘i Boaters Do you moor a boat at a state of Hawai‘i harbor? Do you launch a boat from a Hawai‘i state ramp? Do you have a commercial business on the water here in Hawai‘i? If so, the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) has news for you. DOBOR recently received approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to hold public hearings on proposed small-boat fees. In “Draft Rules as of 9/18/18,” DOBOR argued for a fee increase. “It’s been nearly 25 years since DOBOR last increased fee amounts for utilities and facilities at State Small Boat Harbors and nearly 7 years for mooring fees.” Annual launch ramp decals would go from $40 to $75, an increase of 87 percent. Ala Wai Boat…

The water gently rolling on the shoreline was all that could be heard as Keauhou Bay slept. The night air felt refreshing as Jay Scrogg towed his Hobie Outback to the launch area. Jay had been ready for kayak fishing for a few days, and realization had finally come. This typical morning would eventually turn into his most epic kayak adventure yet. Steady strokes on the Hobie Mirage drive quickly propelled the kayak away from shore and into the bay. Not long after, large schools of ‘opelu (mackerel scad) were located right on the surface. The ‘opelu voraciously attacked the Big Island Bait’s Small Kines strips on Jay’s damashi rig. Within minutes, the live bait for the day was secured. Once out at a good trolling depth of 200 feet,…

Once you have attracted a swarm of “bugs” under and around the boat, the process of catching akule can begin. I start with a review of the screen on the depth recorder or fish finder to determine the depth of the akule under the boat. This bit of information is then mentally translated to relate to the premeasured handline that I am using. My lines have premeasured depth indicators attached to the mainline to help assure that the rigs are not dropped past the feeding akule or lower than the others fishing. An important tip to remember is that all lures should be presented at the same depth when fishing for the akule. The importance of premeasured lines cannot be overemphasized. They keep me in the best bite zones. My…

First Graduates of DOCARE Academy During a ceremony on November 30, 2018, six experienced law enforcement officers became the first graduates of the DLNR, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) Academy. Over the course of six weeks, the officers, all of whom come from municipal, state or federal police agencies, received immersive training in conservation enforcement. This first DOCARE Training Academy was considered a lateral academy, meaning the new officers have previous law enforcement work experience. A larger academy for recruits without previous police experience is scheduled for the spring of 2019. Acting DOCARE Enforcement Chief Jason Redulla explained, “DOCARE officers have all of the enforcement authority of officers working for county police departments or other law enforcement agencies. Given the huge volume of natural and cultural resources law…

Last month I shared a story about two friends of mine who traveled with me to Christmas Island in hopes of catching big tuna from a kayak. Their dream came true. This month I am going to share my Christmas Island fishing adventure with you. Here on O‘ahu, I put in a lot of hours in a kayak seat because of my ecotourism company and my love for kayak fishing. When I go on vacation to Christmas Island, I like to take a break from kayak fishing and spend some time lounging on a boat. On this trip I also knew that the following week I would be doing a lot of kayak fishing on Fanning Atoll, so my first week at Christmas was all about relaxing on the boat,…

I ran across some “Believe It or Not”-type fish stories from bygone years in Lahaina. Boats and crews’ names are anonymous to protect the guilty. Hooked but Unbuckled The first story is about a 130-lb blue marlin. It came in on the short-corner lure, hooked up, broke the line and got off. The marlin then started jumping around in circles, trying to spit the hooks, with no luck. The boat, with five lines still in the water, made a turn to head back to the spot. The marlin was still jumping around in circles as they caught up to it. As the marlin came up to the starboard corner of the boat, the crewman grabbed a long mahimahi gaff and nailed the fish in the tail. He then pulled the…

The 2018-2019 game-bird hunting season opened on Hawai‘i island the weekend of November 3 and 4. There are 14 species of listed game birds on the island, including three species each of pheasants, francolins and doves; two species of quail; as well as chukar, sandgrouse and wild turkey. According to hunter-reported harvest forms compiled at four public hunting area check stations, a weekend total of 333 hunters bagged 371 birds, averaging 1.1 birds per hunter. Here’s the breakdown: One would conclude that the season wasn’t exactly off to a rousing start, particularly for those who hunted at Kapapala Ranch and Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a. Opening weekend turnout was substantially reduced from prior years, but the weather was good and the dogs got a chance to work, so how could it not be…

Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou! The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) wishes all lawai‘a and their families a hana pa‘a year in 2019. This pivotal year signals the end of the second decade of the 21st century and the last year of the Council’s strategic plan for 2015-2019, which guides its activities. It is a good time to reflect upon and share with you what we’ve accomplished and ask that you help us as we formulate our plan for 2020-2024. One way to help is to provide your insights and suggestions to members of the Council’s Advisory Panel (AP). The term of the new AP members begins on January 1, 2019. Carrie Johnston, the executive publisher of HAWAII FISHING NEWS, is a new member on O‘ahu, as are Khang Dang,…

SUNDAY FISHING FORECAST OFFSHORE WATERS AHI—BIGEYE TUNA BOTTOM FISH HAPUUPUU—SEA BASS KALEKALE—SNAPPER LEHI—SNAPPER OPAKAPAKA—PINK SNAPPER ONAGA—RED SNAPPER INSHORE WATERS OIO—BONEFISH CLOSED SEASON AMA‘AMA—STRIPED MULLET (DEC. THROUGH MARCH) MONDAY Red line is a quick reference of the period of the 24 Hour day the moon is over the main Hawaiian islands, starting at moon rise and ending at moon set. (Actual rise & set times are printed for each day.) Blue line is tidal curve from High to Low for each tidaL sequence. Dark Line grid is in 1 foot High by 6 Hour wide measurements. Light grid is in 2 tenths of a foot by 1 Hour wide increments. (Actual Highs & Lows are printed for each day. In January, the middle of winter, weather can be varied—ranging from very…