Innholdsfortegnelse for February 4, 1980 i Hawaii Fishing News

SPEAKING OF RULES: FISH FLAGS I recently spent some valuable newsprint shooting off my mouth (typewriter?) about the problem of lack of rules in the yearly marlin count. It’s a problem, no doubt about it, if only because claims and counter claims make various people upset. There is another area where the lack of definitive rules often angers the purists, and that is in the etiquette for the flying of fish flags. Now, Kani Evans has done a marvelous job, through his Flag Lady Brand company, of developing a flag for virtually every gamefish taken in Hawaiian waters. Ideally speaking, if you catch a black marlin, you should fly the officially recognized black marlin flag, which is a black marlin shape on a yellow flag. Unfortunately, many offshore fishermen can’t…

Beginners (and some experts) often have problems with their knots, even when they know what knots to tie and how to tie them. Here are ten rules to keep in mind, regardless of what knots you tie. (1) Before tying any knot, examine your line for fraying and scrapes. Cut off any suspect line and start with a fresh section a few feet (more if necessary) above your old knot. (2) Examine the eye of the hook and swivel for rough spots before you tie your line or leader to it. Rough spots can scrape the line or leader as you tighten the knot. This scraped and weakened section lies hidden under the knot itself, where it remains undetected. (3) Use plenty of “working line” when tying a knot. The…

CHANGES IN IGFA ANGLING RULES As the result of suggestions from all over the world, the International Game Fish Association has made important changes in the rules governing qualifications for world record fish. In as much as your club follows IGFA rules, you should be aware of the changes. Here they are: EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1. Backing: If backing is attached to the fishing line, the line closest to the hook or double ine (if one is used) must be a minimum of 50 feet (15.24 meters) in length. 2. Lengths of double line and leader: a. The double line (if one is used) oh all weights of tackle up to an including the 130-lb (60 kg.) line class shall be limited to 30 feet (9.14 meters). b. The leader (if…

“It is probable that the Hawaiians of Captain James Cook’s time knew more about the fishes of their islands than is known today.” W.A. Gosline and Vernon E. Brock (former Director or State Fish & Game) made this statement in their classic “Handbook of Hawaiian Fishes in 1960.” They added, somewhat sadly “Most of the information has now been lost.”1 Ancient Hawaiians were dependent on the sea for their very survival and, thus, had plenty of motivation to learn about the biology of Hawaii’s marine life. Although every Hawaiian probably had a good, general knowledge of the sea, there were specialists in the Hawaiian society with detailed knowledge of certain subjects. The kahuna advised the Chiefs and the konohiki regarding fishing seasons and methods. They probably relied upon information from…

The fish, tourists and even the weather cooperated in January, giving the Lahaina fishermen a run for their money. It was the full day charters to the backside of Lanai and the North Shore of Molokai that were bringing home the bounty. The month, to say the least, was broken up by the Big Kona Storm of 1980. Before it hit the second week of the new year, five marlin were brought to the scales, all taken off the backside of Lanai between Kaumalapau and Ka’ena Point. At 11:45, the morning of the 3rd, the first marlin of the year was boated aboard the HINATEA. Captain David Welker was eight miles off Kaumalapau when the 90-pounder hit. The FINEST KIND and ISLANDER II also flew marlin flags into the harbor…

In the last issue I discussed the increased number of bends cases treated in Hawaii during the past few years and, in particular, the record number of cases treated last year. Although more and more people don scuba gear and plunge into the clear, warm Hawaiian waters each year, the apparent rising incidence of decompression sickness is disturbing. It is hard to find a “disease” that is more preventable than the bends. Proper training in the use of scuba gear and diving techniques and adherence to established safe diving practices should prevent the vast majority of bubble trouble. Nonetheless, whenever there are as many divers doing as many types of diving as is done in Hawaii, there is always likely to be some diving accidents. Since these casualties often occur…

That morning Al and his helmsman, Bobby Smith, left the Lahaina Harbor aboard Henry Ahsam’s 16’ skiff. They headed towards Shipwreck. Their destination was an ulua hole that had been productive for Al the past six years. The spot is called Stonewall, one of the black coral reefs the divers frequent. The hole is located between Lanai and Lahaina in 140 feet of water. Al went down by himself that day. The visibility was bad and the currents were treacherous. Little is known of the battle that went on below, for Al is a quiet fellow and doesn’t talk much about these things. By noon, Al was back on his boat with a monstrous ulua. When brought to the scales, all those who saw the fish couldn’t believe such a…

Many people have said that there are more fishermen than fish. Some might say it in a joking manner, while others will definitely think that it’s true. I guess the serious ones gave up before they really even tried. As for myself, I have to disagree on this, saying this may be due to the fact that the majority of the fishermen that I’ve come across have some things in common. Most of them either have never had the opportunity to fish on a boat or the outer islands, and many have still to learn the most important factor involved in any type of fishing … and that’s PATIENCE! An experienced fisherman knows that without patience you will never make it. This one word want to have a guaranteed catch…

Volume VII of Sir Peter H. Buck’s extensive work on the arts and crafts of Hawaii begins with the statement, “Fishing was the most varied and extensive food procuring occupation of the Hawaiians.” It’s easy to see then that the development of fish hooks by the early Hawaiians was extended to a fine art. Not only were the hooks used by the old Hawaiians extremely diverse in size, shape, construction, material and use, there were a number of superstitions regarding the hooks which were intensely honored. One tradition held that “fishhooks made from the bones of people without hair on their bodies, who were termed ’olohe, were more attractive to fish than hooks made from normal bones. Thus the “olohe individuals ran the risk of being permanently dispatched to supply…

Do Hawaii’s fishermen pay enough attention to water temperature? Three things prompt the question: some comments by skippers at the genera! membership meeting of the Hawaiian International Billfish Association, reports of research on temperature preference by the National Marine Fisheries Service and a trip a few months ago for chinook salmon in Lake Michigan. During the 1979 HIBT, the boats FOXY LADY, JUN-KEN-PO and NO PROBLEM did take readings of surface temperatures, getting results between 84° and 86° according to the HIBT. Next year NMFS will attempt to do some billfish tracking in June and “will try to relate movements of fish and their relationship with the environment”’ according to testimony by Heeny Yuen of NMFS. Among the most important of these environmental relationships is water temperature preference, or so…

COUNCIL ACTIVITIES The regularly scheduled first Tuesday of the month meeting fell on January 8th which was the first day of the big “100 year storm.” Naturally, the meeting was cancelled and rescheduled on the Executive Board meeting date of January 22nd. While we are on the subject of meetings, HCDC now has a new meeting place which is more centrally located. Since Aloha Tower is now being used as a Marine Center, it was a natural evolvement for the Council to hold its monthly meetings there. We will meet in the Ninth Floor Conference Room oh the first Tuesday for the regular meeting and the third Tuesday for the Executive Board meeting. All divers are welcome to attend. Parking is in either Irwin Park which is metered parking or…