Innholdsfortegnelse for October 1988 i Hawaii Fishing News

■ FOR HAWAI‘I WATERS, SUMMER IS OVER ANO WINTER IS APPROACHING. OCTOBER MAY PREVIEW THE UPCOMING WINTER’S WEATHER. THERE WILL BE A GREATER VARIETY OF WEATHER, BUT THE SEVERITY OF BAD WEATHER HAS NOT REACHED ITS POTENTIAL. THE FOLLOWING ARE POTENTIALLY BAD WEATHER EVENTS, LISTED IN ORDER OF DECREASING EXPECTED OCCURRENCE: (I) NORTHWEST SWELL AND SURF (2) GUSTY TRADE WINDS (3) WEAK COLD FRONT (4) KONA LOW (5) NORTH SWELL AND SURF (6) HURRICANE. OTHER THAN THE NORTHWEST SWELL AND SURF, THE EXPECTED FREQUENCIES OF THE OTHER EVENTS ARE LOW. THE FREQUENCY OF TRADE WINDS IS GOING DOWN, BUT TRADES WILL STILL BE THE MOST COMMON WINDS. THE NUMBER OF GUSTY TRAPE WIND DAYS SHOULD BE LOW—ABOUT FOUR DAYS. NORTHWEST SURF PICKS UP WHILE SOUTHERLY SURF IS DOWN AT SUNSET…

Impressive Kona Coast Casting Club Tournament ■ The Kona Coast Casting Club recently held their fourth annual ulua tournament entitled, “The Ultimate.” Being an entrant for the first time, I was very impressed. The prizes and door prizes were the ultimate! Every entrant walked out with no less than a $15 door prize. Can you imagine walking out with a Shimano spinning reel or a Penn 6/0 reel? Well, some lucky anglers did! In fact, hardly anyone left the banquet early. At the weigh-in, free Haagen Daz ice cream and 7Up were served, and the brunch (with free champagne) at Keauhou Beach Hotel was fabulous! In this tournament, everyone felt that they had a chance to win something, especially in the largest ulua category. Prizes in that division were evenly…

■ This month we’re continuing with our basic ingredient theme and focusing on shoyu-based recipes. I’d be willing to bet there is not a kitchen in Hawai‘i without shoyu in a cupboard, on a shelf or in the refrigerator. Whether we just drizzle it on hot rice or use it as a major cooking ingredient is a matter of preference, but most of us use it. Shoyu-based recipes are similar to the tomato-based recipes we talked about last month in this way: we can alter the flavor of a basic sauce or marinade with a few ingredients that are staples in most Hawai‘i kitchens. Let’s look first at a basic teriyaki sauce: shoyu, sugar, ginger and garlic. We can add other ingredients such as sake, mirin, sesame seeds or oil,…

■ Four Lahaina Town boats entered the 30th Annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. The AERIAL, with Capt. Rick Rose, Co-capt. Mike Kearns and Co-capt. Craig Forrest, and the FINEST KIND, with Capt. Dave Hudson and Co-capt. Rick Medenwald, were included in the charterboat pool. The OFFSHORE HUNTER from Lahaina with Capt. Jim Ward, Charlie Nay, Doug Shue, Tom Soeten and HFN’s Publisher/Editor Chuck Johnston represented the Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club #6. And the Lahaina Yacht Club (L.Y.C.) fielded its very first all-member team, Capt. Bob Hartman, Steve Sears, Bill Salawich and Bear Mulligan, who fished aboard the ABSOLUTE. On day one, the L.Y.C. Team started things off when Steve Sears landed a tail-wrapped 162½-pounder on 50-lb test line with live bait. This first-day fish placed the L.Y.C. in fifth…

■ In mid-August our prayers were answered. We received some much-needed ram, which raised the water level in Lake Wilson 5 to 7 feet. The water continued rising for a week after that and covered the end of the concrete walkway at the boat ramp. The rising water and overcast skies caused the fish to abandon their predicted low-water patterns and scatter in various areas from deep, protected regions to surface waters. On August 22, a Monday, I (Russ) took my nephew, Erick Yamanaka, for another good-fun bassin’ trip. The water was still above the end of the walkway, and fishing was still difficult. We started out at about 10 a m and totally “blanked out” until noon. Things were really tough. Whenever I come across such bad times, I…

Keith’s Biggest Catch ■ On July 15, Keith Shiigi and Derek Nakamoto set out for their favorite spot in Puna. After they arrived they immediately put their tent up and got their poles ready Keith cast out two poles while Derek cast only one. At 7 p.m. that evening, Rocky Ishida and Wesley Masuda arrived and quickly “put it to the lead.” Three hours later the ratchet and bell sounded on Derek’s pole Then suddenly everything became quiet. When Derek checked his pole, he found that the line was slack and there was no fish on the other end. Hoping to get that strike again, Derek quickly got his line back into the water. The night wore on. The four fishermen worked their poles, chatted and waited, but the fish…

↶ With few exceptions, August’s catch report is the result of an intensive fishing effort within a 2-mile radius of R-buoy. This serves to remind us just how valuable the buoys really are. Were it not for the buoy and the marlin action associated with it, many commercial fishermen would have been hard-pressed to make ends meet this month. A few fish were caught by fishermen trolling, but those made up only a small percentage of the total catch. The overwhelming majority was caught with live bait, near the buoy. Due to the lack of fishing action elsewhere, many fishermen tried their hand at live-baiting. On the first day of the month, Ed Watkins caught an aku and sent it down. Also on board the IHU NUI with Ed that…

■ I paddled past the surfers with my fishing rig attached to the deck of my surfboard despite the grins, chuckles, and curious stares, and headed out for an afternoon surffishing session. Since I am a surfer at heart, I took my whipping setup out with me just to see if I could catch small papio between better waves. As I passed the surfers farthest out, I stopped, searched the horizon for waves, then clicked the bail on my trusty Penn 250GR for a couple of quick casts. The first few casts were aimed toward shore into the white water of the waves that had already gone by. I then turned out to sea, casting my 3-inch gold twister tail 20 yards into the setting sun. I used heavy, jerking…

Scientists Track Third Marlin ■ “NOAA’s Arc” tracked a third marlin off Kona in August. They stayed with the billfish for 48 hours before declaring “mission accomplished” and returning to Honokohau Harbor. Dr. David Grobecker of the Pacific Gamefish Research Foundation told us the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) research vessel hooked the Pacific blue marlin, estimated at 350 lbs, northwest of Keahole Point on the “grounds.” After subduing the fish, scientists aboard planted a sonic tag, revived the marlin and released it. As the piggybacking ultrasonic transmitter pinged out a signal, the marlin swam ten miles offshore, and then turned south and headed toward TT-buoy for the next two days, Grobecker said. The research vessel pursued at a leisurely pace, recording information on the marlin’s location and depth. Earlier…

■ Last August, what was potentially one of the most important events in big-game fishing history took place in Kailua-Kona. It was called the International Billfish Symposium, and it was the first time in 16 years that experts involved in the science, legislation, management and conservation of ocean fish gathered under one roof to discuss billfish around the globe. The symposium had its high points and proved to be a great meeting of the minds, but it was apparent to many in attendance that few positive steps had been taken since the gathering 16 years ago. Many of the same complaints about lack of management, declining stocks, lack of viable data necessary for species preservation and general government inactivity in the matter were voiced at the symposium 16 years ago.…

■ There are many obsessions in this world that can suck a person dry of all reasoning ability. People get hooked on money, cars, power, and a host of other material objects. With all these acceptable passions, then, why oh why did I have to catch FISHING FEVER? And why is it the case that most grand obsessions have such innocent beginnings? Cap’n Bob has been our guru; the person responsible for exposing us to the disease. We were new employees at the time, so Bob was just being neighborly when he invited us to take that first boat ride. But to his invitation came the last minute addition, “Bring your fishing stuff.” The twin powers of circumstance! and fate could not have picked a more perfect time to weave…

■ Not all of that legislation; that can affect Hawai‘i fishermen happens at the state level. Fishing regulations are a complex combination of; state and federal rules. Many times they overlap jurisdiction, and sometimes they even contradict each other. One person at the forefront of issues affecting fishermen is Hawaii‘s only Republican in Congress, Representative Pat Saiki. At a recent 40-minute meeting with Saiki and her chief aide, Floyd Takeuchi, at her Honolulu office I questioned her about some of the issues like deep-sea mining that have received attention in the past year. She spoke knowledgeably and proudly of her own efforts on this important issue. As a member of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee (and the Fisheries, Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee) Saiki is in a…

■ When Robert saw me approaching his boat, the CUTTY SARK, at Ma‘alaea Harbor, he said, “Hi, Mr. Tau’a.” He then got off his boat to put a ramp from his slip to the CUTTY SARK so that I could join him aboard to talk story about his fishing career. I have known Robert Gomes for 18 years, ever since he was a seventh grader at Waimanalo Intermediate School. Both he and his wife, Sharane, were students in my Hawaiian culture class. Like most healthy young students from Hawai‘i, they were a pair of kolohe (rascals) who were eager to learn. It was truly a joy to work with them at that time, but it lasted for only two years because I transferred to another school. It was a pleasant…

■ The early morning stillness left the water flat and glassy as I peered across the loch, watching for any surface movements. A large wake appeared several hundred yards offshore, moving in a small, tight circle. I guessed it to be rolling ‘awaawa or maybe a hihimanu (sting ray) basking in the early morning sun. All of a sudden, a large triangular dorsal fin cut the water. “What the…,” I couldn’t believe my eyes. I scurried out of the shallow water and safely perched myself high atop a large boulder. The dorsal fin disappeared into the murky green water, but I kept an eye open for it. Then I realized my big tilapia bait was out there, attached to my half bamboo ulua rod, waiting to be zapped. I began…

■ The State Department of Land and Natural Resources announced today that the Nu’uanu Reservoir No. 4 is scheduled to open for weekend fishing by anglers with valid State of Hawai‘i FY 1988-89, Freshwater Game Fishing Licenses and Entry Fishing Cards beginning Saturday, November 12, 1988. Thereafter, fishing will take place on consecutive weekends (Saturday-Sunday only) until all anglers with assigned times have been accommodated. Prospective anglers may pick up application cards which are now available at the main office of the Division of Aquatic Resources, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, and from various license agents. For this opening, the deadline for submitting applications is 4 p.m. on Friday, October 21. 1988. A drawing will then be held on Wednesday, October 26, 1988. to assign each card holder’s fishing date…

■ Rumors circulated throughout Kewalo on the eve of August 17. Capt. Pastor Pax (spiritual leader of Kewalo) held an old fashioned revival on the KU‘U HUAPALA. Yes siree! Some say the Pastor reblessed the rods, reels, and lures and performed a baptismal rite by dunking mate Karl Adams in the harbor. Others claim they saw 7 the Pastor scattering Hawaiian salt while shaking a ti leaf to invoke the akua to bless him with an unlimited bounty of fish. Whatever he did, it worked! On August 18, the Pastor successfully landed two blues that weighed 176 and 126-lbs. The marlin hung from the scale of the GOLDEN EAGLE, and a crowd of onlookers gathered, awed by the beauty of the fish. The following day, Pax returned with three more…

■ A coalition of volunteers coordinated by the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Litter Control will launch a massive statewide clean-up effort of Hawai‘i’s beaches Saturday, October 22, 1988, from 8:30 to 12:00 noon. The clean-up, themed “Get the Drift and Bag It!,” is part of a national clean-up campaign involving 22 coastal states which calls attention to the problem of marine debris and its adverse impact on aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. The program is now in its third year in Hawai‘i. Plastic litter, while obviously an eyesore on our beaches, can also be dangerous to fish, seabirds, marine mammals, and turtles. Throw-away items such as plastic bags, styrofoam cups, plastic lighters, rubber balls, balloons, and plastic packaging materials are often mistaken for food and swallowed by these unsuspecting victims. Lost…