Innholdsfortegnelse for July 1992 i Hawaii Fishing News

■ On Saturday, March 14,1992, at 5:30 a.m., Fred Collins, Kelly Collins and I motored out of our slip aboard the 20/20, a 34-foot sailing sloop. We were looking forward to a nice boat ride, and, if we were lucky, maybe we’d catch a nice mahimahi or ono and possibly win a prize in the sailboat division of the Hawaii Yacht Club’s Spiring Fishing Tournament. Not in our wildest dreams could we ever have imagined what was in store for us. We headed out the Ala Wai and steered a course of 205, heading for the HH-buoy. We were hoping we’d get lucky at the buoy. At 7:15 a.m., a small but fat little flying fish jumped right into the cockpit. “Good luck,” we thought. Into our fish bag it…

■ “Hana pa‘a! Hana pa‘a!” I shouted as the furious clicking of the 9/0 reel awoke me. As my Dad gave the boat full throttle to set the hook, the 12/0 reel suddenly joined the clatter. We had a double strike! Both rods were bent over, and 100 yards back two marlin were airborne. Our luck had improved in a major way. How would we handle these fish? Could we? Editor’s Note: Tony Barcia is 14 years old, a sophomore at ‘lolani School, and the ninth of 10 children. He is interested in nature, the ocean, the world, computers and other topics. He enjoys fishing with his father, Dr. Peter J. Barcia. Dad and I have been trolling on weekends in our 12-foot Inflatable boat for about a year and…

■ On a beautiful, calm, Kona wind day in March, my good friend Frank and I were aboard the 17-foot RE ANN, heading out of Hawai‘i-kai, O‘ahu, with two full main tanks of gas. Our destination was the O-buoy grounds off the north shore of Kalaupapa, Moloka‘i. We knew that something special was going to happen; we could feel it in our bones. We got a rush of adrenalin and excitement as we reached our destination some 37 miles across the Moloka‘i Channel in an hour and a half. The water was calm and glassy all around the O-buoy, and the boat’s reflection dahcetf off-’the-clean, deep, dark blue depths of the ocean. Frank was the first to put on his gear and get ready to dive. I soon got my…

■ It is not the most exotic or expensive piece of equipment on a boat, but it certainly could be the most important one—the drain plug! We have all heard about the boat that sank in the launching ramp area because someone forgot to put the drain plug back in. This is a graphic example of how important a function it performs for the average fisherman or small boat owner. Now, an innovative manufacturer has developed a floating drain plug with a number of design features which address problems that have always plagued the typical drain plug, the type that has been used for years. First of all, it floats, so if it’s accidently dropped overboard, the day won’t be ruined (and the boat won’t sink) while a replacement is…

The term “weathering” encompasses several problems that can appear In gelcoat, usually after the boat has left the showroom. Mike Weber, director of research at Cook Composites and Polymers (Kansas City, Missouri), offers some basic definitions: Chalking is evident when a whitish powder develops, changing the color of the surface and causing dullness and loss of gloss. Chalking is actually an oxidation/degradation of polymer and pigment. Usually it is Just a surface condition, and the finish can be restored. Fading is any change in the original color of the gelcoat. It is most often related to the pigment rather than the polymer vehicle. Fading may result from water, sun or chemical exposure and may even appear as a darkening rather than a bleaching. Certain harsh cleaners may cause fading; some…

■ The Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) will begin issuing Commercial Marine (fishing) Licenses for the Fiscal Year (FY) 1992-93 on June 1,1992. All current licenses willexpire June 30, 1992. Fishermen who participate in a fishing activity in which any part of the catch is sold must purchase their own license. The fee is $25 for Hawai‘i residents and $50 for nonresidents. To renew your license, visit the DAR office nearest you. Licensing hours for all DAR offices are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays. DAR offices will also issue Bait Licenses and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) Taking Permits for FY 1992-93. Bait Licenses and NWHI Taking Permit fees are $1 each, i J Current Aquarium Permits also expire June 30, and FY 1992-93 permits…

305 Hahani Street, Kailua, Hawai‘i 96734 Looking Back ■ When I first started analyzing the problems facing our fishery and got involved in its management, in my wildest dreams I never thought that it would turn into a full-time project. It takes this type of effort just to stay on top of the issues that we must face every day; and, if you doubt that for a minute, just ask those who have been active in fisheries management. Just when you think you can move ahead with programs that will enhance fishing and the fishery, another fire gets started that needs to be put out first. Initially, the issues revolved around longliners arriving from the mainland and ways to prevent overexpansion of that fishery. Once a solution was found, then…

Aloha Chuck, Well, it happened on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1992. That evening, my friend Kevin Pongasi and I headed out to one of our favorite spots on the west side of Kaua‘i. When we got down there, the water was looking pretty nice; there was a little swell coming in that made it good for ulua fishing. We got our poles set up, cast out and got ready for the evening. At about 8:30 p.m., I made my first slide. Not more than 15 minutes later my pole went off. Hana pa‘a! I fought the fish for about 10 minutes and brought up a 50-lb ulua. I recast my pole and then waited. At about 10:30 p.m., Kevin’s pole went off. After bringing up his ulua, he got a…

■ Just when we thought it could not get worse, the fishing fell off so much even the sharks wouldn’t bite. Not really-the sharks were still biting, but the fishing really suffered. More specifically, the trolling almost came to a standstill. Many boaters covered a lot of ocean and found it very difficult to catch bait, much less mahimahi. El Nino appears to be the culprit. The fish have gone somewhere, and we hope they return soon. Kalaheo High School student Bill Bowers and his dad, Ralph Bowers, were 30 miles straight out on their 30-foot Banana Patch, the NAIA, when they landed a 317-lb marlin. They had just left a rubbish line and lost a marlin that they had brought to within 50 feet; but in the glassy, flat…

■ A white mist of salt spray lingered in the air indicating that rough surf was pounding the shoreline nearby. I carefully drove my four-by-four up to the rocks and watched huge sets rolling in from the open ocean. It was like watching an episode of “Hawaii Five-0.” The sets moved in slow motion and broke with a thunderous roar. White water erupted like steam from a volcano as each passing wave crashed into the protruding reef and shoreline. My buddies and I decided to fish off the higher rocks because it was relatively dry there and safe from the big surf. We slowly unpacked our gear and anticipated a rough and wet outing. Because casting was impossible from the lower ledges of the reef, we decided to make our…

■ Some of the characteristics of a good ulua hole are obvious, but others are hidden. For example, a good slide-baiting spot would be a place where deep water, 100 feet or more, comes close to shore and allows big fish to move into the shallows from ambush. That’s obvious. But an unseen feature may be even more important. We discovered it many years ago while exploring South Kona ulua spots from our boat. Each time we came upon a place where shoreline signs showed past or present encampments used by ulua fishermen, we found something else significant. Near each spot, our fish finder showed an ‘opelu school in 20 to 30 fathoms. There were no exceptions. Ulua and ‘opelu seemed to be linked. Since then, whenever we wanted to…

Dear Chuck, Recently I lost a friend and nearly lost three others to spearfishing accidents. The purpose of this letter is to educate fellow freedivers of the severity of the problem that all freedivers face every single time they enter the water. That problem is shallow water blackout. Shallow water blackout is what someone experiences when he hold his breath while submerged underwater and expends the available oxygen within that breath of air in his lungs. A diver does not “feel” a blackout coming as there are no physical warnings precluding onset. He quietly loses consciousness prior to reaching the surface. A direct consequence of being knocked unconscious underwater is asphyxiation, brain damage, then death. Shallow water blackout can occur regardless of the water depth. Shallow water blackout usually happens…

■ Smoked salmon! What do those words conjure up in your mind? The resident fisherman and I are reminded of our exciting fishing trip to Alaska a few years back where we competed in our usual “Guess which Rizzuto catches the most fish on a vacation?” contest. We were both winners (believe that?); and, to prolong the memories, we brought home impressive amounts of salmon, which we smoked and enjoyed for months afterward with family and friends. Because catching salmon (and halibut) has become increasingly popular with island residents, and because eating smoked fish is common in Hawaii, three experts in the fish smoking arena share recipes and tips with HFN readers this month: Juan Waroquiers, renowned captain of the charterboat ILLUSIONS; Al Sullivan, owner-operator of Tanaku Lodge in Alaska…

Letter #1 WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL Dear Mr. Johnston: As a reader of your publication, I am writing to let you know that I, other members and staff of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council are concerned about the tactics one of your writers, Bob Endreson, has been using in his dealings with the Council and its staff. I am sure that you would want to assure that inflammatory or irresponsible statements do not appear to reflect the position of the HAWAII FISHING NEWS. I can understand your wanting to have the HAWAII FISHING NEWS cover Council activities. Indeed, the Council wants them covered. But, we would like them covered in a professional and objective manner rather than by someone who has a vested interest in the…

A recent collision involving JJ-buoy and a barge illustrates a point Debra Newton of DLNR would like to make: it’s not vital to be against the buoys to catch fish. According to Newton, fish respond to FADs up to two miles away, and anglers within half a mile of any buoy will catch fish that are attracted to the area. Newton emphasizes that anglers who hookup near the buoy stand a real chance of losing their fish, favorite lure and a lot of line when the fish breaks off on the buoy’s mooring line. The buoys are already under great stress from ocean currents and wind and wave action. Additional strain or damage caused by someone’s line sawing across the mooring can weaken it and shorten the length of time…

Marina Seafood Catch Report Due to the limited space available and the large number of fish caught. catch reports are limited to tuna over 100 lbe and billfish of any size, any species. (S)=Striped marlin, (B)= Back marlin and (T) = Tag and releases, weight estimated. Kona Marlin Center Report…

■ The billfish count was up during the month, with blue marlin accounting for one-quarter of the catch. Out of the 55 fish caught, 13 were blues, five were stripers, and 28 spearfish hit the deck. There were nine fish tagged and released. Some 50-to 150-lb ‘ahi even showed up for a couple of days off the backside of Lana‘i. The south and west sides of Lana‘i saw most of the action, and lures were responsible for snagging 95 percent of the fish. Bass fisherman Jerry Blackmon finally hooked his big one while fishing aboard the REEL HOOKER. He weighed in a 660-lb blue marlin, the largest marlin brought into Lahaina Harbor since January 1991. Capt. Mark Davis and crewman Rusty Bergantino had their early morning strike off Manele Bay,…

■ The ‘ahi are coming! The ‘ahi are coming! It began slowly at first, with a blind strike here, a hookup in a porpoise school there. Soon there were several blind strikes each day, and toward the end of the month several fishermen had taken multiple strikes. The marlin action was only so-so, but no one was complaining because everyone had ‘ahi fever. A little disappointing was the absence of otaru piles. A few 30-pounders did some great ‘ahi imitations by slamming down some outriggers and making short blazing runs. Most of those strikes, however, were taken in the blind. Traditionally, the last weekend in May signals the start of the ‘ahi season off of Wai‘anae. If the action on that last weekend was an indicator, then we should have…

■ With a marina just across the street from HFN headquarters and Penguin Banks for a backyard, it sometimes becomes necessary to make a field patrol for research purposes. After convincing HFN Publisher Chuck Johnston that gathering info for an area rundown would increase the results of his constant patrolling, he declared that an East Honolulu catch report was vitally imperative. Call 395-2510, and give us the news. If you get the answering machine, be sure to include in your message exactly where you made your catch and how you caught it. You know we won’t tell anyone. In May, many East Honolulu boats pull duty escorting various canoe and kayak racers. Mike Miranda’s water work on the WAIHANA included hooking angler Mike Buck up to a nice 49-lb bull…

■ Elwood K. Harry, president and chairman of the board of the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), died of a heart ailment at his home in Pompano Beach, Florida, on Wednesday, June 17. He was 78. Elwood dedicated most of his life to promoting ethics and conservation among recreational anglers throughout the world. He will be missed by sport fishermen everywhere. In his role as IGFA president, Elwood served on various fishery advisory committees throughout the world. He was in constant contact with recreational fishing organizations and offered advice and consultation on international matters relating to the sport. Elwood was bom in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and grew up working in the family merchandising business. In his early days, he fished the streams and lakes of Eastern Pennsylvania. Later, he spent…

Todd Tyau Enters the Elite Via Free-Dive ■ Just when you thought the Maui gang, headed by Brian Yoshikawa, had closed the book with the story of the year, softball and dive buddy Todd Tyau added yet another chapter. While many of us are still in awe over Brian’s record ono, which graced the front cover of HFN’s June issue, the gang, this time without Brian, came home with a story of the one that didn’t get away. This is their story as told by Todd. Here’s the scenario: On May 16, Capt. Randy Sasada got a call from a relative who said, “We need some fish for a lu‘au. Can you help us?” With that, Randy replied, “We can try.” So after a few telephone calls, the gang, which…

Using Frozen Fish Thaw out frozen fish, and smoke it fast, said Al. “Cut brining and smoking time a bit because the frozen fish has already dried out some, so it will absorb more brine and will dry out faster in the smoker.” Smoke Flavoring Mike smokes halibut and other lean fish for a short time to get a smoky flavor, and then he finishes it off in the broiler or frying pan. “Use the lightest smoke possible-one pan maximum. When the chips turn black, remove the fish,” he advised. Remember, the fish is not cooked. It is only flavored, so be sure to cook it before serving. Cool-Smoking Juan sometimes slows the temperature and cooking by letting the first tray of chips smoke and then unplugging the smoker to…

■ “Exposure to the elements affects gelcoat just as it affects skin,” says Noel Searles of S & S Specialists (Salisbury, Massachusetts), “but the human body keeps producing new skin. When gelcoat gets dried out, there’s no way it can restore itself.” What makes good gelcoat go bad? The main culprit is ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. It degrades gelcoat, causing a chemical reaction—oxidation—to take place. This usually appears as chalking, though yellowing and fading are related cosmetic problems (see accompanying story). Additional weathering can occur when water penetrates the gelcoat and leaches out degraded materials. Pollutants ranging from pollen to acid rain can also stain surfaces. Heat, too, affects composite parts, causing them to soften slightly, undergo additional cure, and become more susceptible to chemical attack and water…

Dear Mr. Johnston, Enclosed is a news release concerning our licensing requirements for marine radios. Any publicity you can provide In your paper will be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Annette Platt FCC Public Affairs Specialist Marine Radio Licensing Requirements ■ Marine radio is a vital communications link for the boating public. The Federal Communications Commission is’ continuing efforts to increase compliance with the Maritime Radio Service Rules. Following is information on licensing requirements.: Ship Radio Station License • You must have a license to operate the radio on board a vessel. • Use FCC Form 506 to apply for a five-year license. • You may use FCC Form 506-A for immediate operating authority, for 90 days after you mail in your application. • The license is NOT transferable from one vessel…

WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL May 1,1992 Dear Bob: The Council thanks you for your hard work as a member of the Select Committee on the Resolution of Gear Conf lict and Longline Area Closures. Although you did not reach consensus, your insights contributed to clarifying the problems and suggesting possible alternatives. We appreciate your efforts. In March, the Council voted to recommend a modification of the Main Hawaiian Islands long-line area closure. The modified closure will continue to minimize conflicts between longliners and small boat fishing, but will allow longliners to gain access to more of the bigeye tuna grounds during the months of October through January. During February through September, the current area closures remain essentially the same as those in effect now. The action proposed by…

■ It all started the night of May 29, 1992. The scenario was normal: load the boat, a 21-foot Alii Kai named the DIRTY HARRY, and then vote where to launch. One-third of the crew wanted to go south to Lana‘i’s MC-buoy. One third wanted to go north to HO-buoy. The captain, Harry Perreira, wanted to stay home and sleep. The problem was solved when the captain realized he could sleep one hour more if he launched from Kahului and headed to the North Shore of Maui. The ride to the buoy is two hours long, and the trio got there at daybreak only to find nothing but small aku to catch. At that point, Austin (who had wanted to go to MC-buoy) started with, “I told you there were…

Hilo Casting Club’s Family Picnic ■ On May 3, the Hilo Casting Club held a family picnic and a casting-for-accuracy contest at Wailoa State Park. About 30 people attended this event. There were two separate divisions, one for anglers with casting rods and one for anglers with spinning rods. For the casting event, a tube was placed about 40 yards out in the river. For the spinning contest, the tube was placed out about 30 yards. In each event, each participant had three tries to place their cast in the tube. Fifteen men and one woman participated. The prizes were a Penn 6/0 reel, a Penn extended 4/0 reel and a spinning reel for the winner of the spinning event. If no one put their lead into the tube, then…

For fetters received during the month of July w haw a spedal gift 4 oz can of Corrosion Block from; Pacific Corrosion Control; The miracle lubricating metal protectant of the 90’s… our way of saying thanks to sharing your; catch!’ …Hana & pa‘a, Chuck; Send to: P.O. Box 25413, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96825 Dear Chuck. Aloha! Just thought I’a drop a jew hoes to let you know the Wetghmaster’s Classic IV Shoreline Fishing Tournament is coming along fine. Being a volunteer on the committee of the Weighmaster’s, and an officer of the tournament, I hope to see you and your fellow ATLAPAC Fishing Club members help support the tournament by being participants and also to kokua your free time at the tournament weigh-in. After all, isn’t ATLAPAC Fishing Club hosting…