Innholdsfortegnelse for December 1995 i Hawaii Fishing News

■ Ulua anglers are always looking for better ways to hook and land their quarry. The operative word here is hook. Many die-hard ulua anglers throughout the years have considered the Tankichi brand as the ultimate ulua hook. Without a doubt, Tankichis are great hooks; but with skyrocketing costs, many of the larger sizes are out of range of most angler’s pocketbooks. Enter Kenneth Kimura of Island Rod Wrap, who is an avid ulua angler. Kenneth, being a world-class rod builder, is always thinking of ways to improve fishing, so he formed a relationship with the VMC Fish Hooks’ design team to develop a new hook. Out of the synergistic relationship (synergy is like 1 + 1 = 3) came what Kenneth considers the best ulua hook around. Working with…

AH TINA Triumphs Again ■ The 19th Annual Lahaina Jackpot Fishing Tournament saw the smallest showing of teams since 1988 hit the waters around Maui County. The 134 teams were fishing for $67,000 in jackpot money and Fenwick rods in the tag-and-release division. Because of last year’s poor showing of billfish, the 10 largest flag fish brought to the scales were eligible for jackpot money in 1995. This year’s winning team was no strangerto the scales. The team on the AH TINA from Ke’ehi, O’ahu, weighed in a 508.6-lb marlin on the second day to take home the $25,000 first-place prize. On the day of the catch, Capt. Matt Kahapea headed to the deep waters off the North Shore of Moloka’i. About 20 miles outside of Wailau Valley in 2,000…

■ On November 14, 1995, the Public Works and Environment Committee of the Honolulu City and County Council passed a motion to send Resolution 95384 to the full council for a final vote. Resolution 95-384 supports the draft of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan and, in effect, supports the whale sanctuary. This resolution was introduced by council members Steve Homes, John DeSoto, Donna Mercado Kim, Duke Bainum and John Felix. At the time that Resolution 95-384 was introduced, I don’t believe that these council members were aware of the large anti-sanctuary mood of the general public on O’ahu. Let me make it very clear that the public is not antiwhale. Everyone loves the humpback whales. Rather, the public is unsure of what the sanctuary is…

The Attack of the Whale People ■ Approximately 10 years ago, I was taking a boatload of divers to Molokini. On the way there, we crossed paths with a pod of whales. The whales were friendly and curious. As the whales came closer, I cut power to the engines and drifted as the whales played near us. Everyone had a great time whale watching until a crazed maniac drove a Zodiac boat through the whales at high speed. Suddenly, the whales disappeared, and a young lady, about 20 years old, who identified herself as a “whale researcher” drove her Zodiac in circles around us and screamed at us, telling us that we were harassing the whales. She threatened to have us all arrested and our boat impounded. This same kind…

■ To say that we, the Hawaii Fishermen’s Foundation (HFF), were inspired to write this article as a result of an article that appeared in last month’s issue of HFN would be an understatement. We were thoroughly caught up in the fine, deliberate and surreal way that the article, written by Robert Schroeder of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WESPAC), regarding bottomfish management was thought out and put to paper. It is unimaginable that an article so twisted and so full of shibai could have been done any other way, unless a great deal of imagination and time was involved. For Robert Schroeder and WESPAC to even try to convince the readers of HFN of their holier-than-thou position regarding bottom fish takes WESPAC to a new low of…

■ There were 39 teams participating in the 18th Annual Lahaina Yacht Club Wahine Jackpot Fishing Tournament. In all, 146 wahine fished for $6,900 in prize money during the two-day event. On the first day, two blue marlin, five striped marlin and one ‘ahi over 100 lbs made it to the scales aboard 36 boats. The second day saw five blue marlin, two striped marlin and one ‘ahi over 100 lbs weighed in by 33 teams. A spearfish was also tagged and released. This year’s winning wahine was Bernadine DeCoite. Bernadine was fishing aboard the 25-foot Force KAUI KAI from Kahului with Capt. Mike Souza. Their 226.2-lb blue marlin earned them the $3,450 first-place prize. They were fishing in area “Quebec,” about 8 miles off Kahakuloa Rock, on the second…

■ ‘Ahi continued to bite throughout the month, even though there were fewer boaters out there trying to catch them. A new pile of yellowfin seemed to be wandering around, waiting for something to happen; maybe it’s time for the fish to drop eggs and move on to wherever they go. They have been feeding on squid and going for lures that look like squid. Jimmy Fernandez and crewman Moses Aiana on the MAUI MAIDEN tried every lure in the boat until they got to an ugly solid rubber squid that Jimmy ran way back. Pow! They got an ‘ahi. After they got the fish into the boat, Jimmy told Moses, “That’s it. We are going in to keep this fish on ice.” Rick Soares, Jamie Tripoli and Mark Kam…

■ The month of October got off to a good start with lots of blue marlin, ‘ahi, mahirnahi and even a few sailfish catches. The fish report reflects mostly marlin catches, but there have been a lot of mahirnahi captured, too. I see mahirnahi flags flying, but don’t see the fish very often because the captains often cut them up for the customers before the boats reach the harbor. Capt. Marlin Parker of the MARLIN MAGIC took the lead for the largest blue marlin brought into the Fuel Dock during the month. The fish weighed in at 765 lbs and was angled by Jeremie Isam. Two 600-plus-pounders were captured, also. The first was caught by Michael Takemoto, Kristie Okasaki, Kellie Souza and Brian Souza. I’ll let Brian, a sales representative…

■ Fishing off the Garden Isle has been great for mahimahi and ono fanatics. These two species have been coming up in abundance. Almost everyone I talked to scored at least one per trip. The fishing wasn’t by any means hot, but most of the trollers returned with at least enough fish to satisfy their desire to hear the reels scream and to pay their expenses. Charlie Porter from Oakdale, California, had a great time fishing for ono and mahimahi with his stepson Keith Silva and me aboard the 28-foot Lightening HUSTLER. Keith and I love it when Charlie comes over because he’s so good-natured and he loves to fish. He owns a bass boat back home but has never experienced the explosive power of saltwater big game. Last year…

■ 1. At one point in “ancient” history, if you saw a gold big-game reel on a Hawai’i boat, you knew it was a Fin-Nor and you probably couldn’t af ford it. However, over the past several decades, other manufacturers have jumped into the luxury market with high-end reels at more competitive prices. Penn, Shimano, Daiwa and Shakespeare are the most prominent. Now it is Fin-Nor’s turn to respond. “Fin-Nor’s introduction of its AHAB series of saltwater reels captured the spotlight at this year’s American Sportfishing Association’s 1995 International Sportfishing Expo in Las Vegas,” according to a report in the “Sportfishing Industry” newsletter. This “Limousine” reel company is emerging as a mainstream player in the rod-and-reel marketplace, the report said, with big-game trolling reels, saltwater fly reels and new heavy-duty…

■ After hearing that the ‘oama were running hot and heavy on Kaua’i, I just couldn’t refuse an invitation to visit and fish with my cousins Wes and Diane Masumura, who live on the Garden Island. Wes is an avid ulua fisherman with tons of knowledge; he knows everything from ulua fishing to the intricate techniques of ‘oama fishing. Diane is just as avid; she’s one of those people who just can’t stay still. Changing baits, whipping the shore or looking for baits, she is always busy. Diane could easily have been named Ms. Hustle. We arrived at our spot to find a cooler filled with live ‘oama. Wes and Diane had been catching ‘oama, and the big cooler was serving as a holding tank for our live bait. We…

March 4, 199 Ms. Trudy Coxe, Director Office of Coastal and Ocean Resource Management National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Washington, D.C. 20235 Dear Ms. Coxe: Thank you for your letter of February 10, 1992, following-up on our chat at the Pacific Basin Development Council reception. Unfortunately, there is a misunderstanding as to your perception of my alleged position that a single-species marine sanctuary would not be the most appropriate course of action for Hawai‘i. I am of the opinion that a Congressional mandate to designate a sanctuary to Hawaiian waters is the only way that such a sanctuary can expeditiously and appropriately be effectuated. More importantly, perhaps, I am also convinced that a single-species Hawaiian Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is the only kind of sanctuary that can be designated…

■ We want to introduce readers of HAWAII FISHING NEWS to the Maui Trailer Boat Club. It has its headquarters at Kahului, Maui, and has been in existence since October 17, 1978. Its purposes are as follow: to bring together and unite in common association the many persons in the county of Maui who are fishing and trailer boat enthusiasts; to promote their general welfare; to develop and improve the facilities for the mooring and launching of boats; to create greater public interest in the development of the fishing resources of the county of Maui and the state of Hawai’i; and to promote adherence to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard regarding boating and any other rules and regulations toward safe boating. Membership in the club is…

Charter Services Report Due to the limited space available and the large number of fish caught, catch reports are limited to tuna over 100 lbs and billfish of any size, any species. (S) = Striped marlin and (B) = Black marlin. Tag and Release Report Marina Seafoods Report…

■ Weather in Hawai‘i waters will play a more important role in any marine activity during winter. Mariners are advised that the change from good to bad weather can be fast. The severe weather events that can occur, in decreasing order of frequency, are: gusty trade winds, high northwest swell and surf, cold front with Kona winds, and Kona low. The strongest trade winds are the winter-type trades that can occur in December. The number of trade wind days will be low—only about half of the days of the month—but gusty trades can occur on about a fourth to a third of the days in December. High northwest swell and surf will be frequent along the exposed northern shores. Expect about 20 days with surf greater than 6 feet high,…

A‘u Ano‘ai me ke aloha. Hu! Ka wela i na la apau loa. ‘A’ole mana‘o au i ka ‘ino mai ka lani mai. Hoka no ho‘i! Ina, ‘a‘ole loa‘a i ka mikini anu. Eia kekahi, ke kakau nei au i keia mo‘olelo e pili ana i ke a‘u. ■ ‘Greetings. Boy! Is it hot nowadays. I can’t remember when the weather was so bad. Too bad if you don’t have an air conditioner. Anyway, my story this month is about the a’u, or marlin. The marlin is a popular fish among Hawaiians and kama’aina alike. According to the HFN “1995 Tide, Moon and Hawai’i Fishing Almanac” and “FISHING Hawaii Style” volumes 1, 2 and 3 (great Christmas gifts), the winter months of November and December are definitely the best time…

Kayaking Under Thresher Pressure ■ I live in Northridge, California, but was born and raised on O’ahu. I visit yearly and look forward to my stay in the islands. During this last Labor Day Weekend, Sunday, September 3, I went fishing off my sit-on-top style ocean kayak and was taken for a ride I will not soon forget. The model I used is made by Ocean Kayak Inc. It is the “Scrambler XT,” designed by Tim Niemier. Ocean Kayak Inc. has several models to choose from, but I settled on this particular style because of its ease of use, durability and stability, I added a few personal touches that enable me to troll with two poles while I paddle, I mounted two Roberts Rod Holders onto a stainless steel bracket…

The Bible of Bluewater Hunting. Incredible photos, an valuable source of information on techniques, equipment, photography, gamefish profiles, safety and ethics. “A must for anyone interested in spearfishing”, Terry Maas. Phone orders accepted 1-800-994-0011 Dealer Inquiries Welcome Dear Editor, I often hear about fishermen taking lobsters in Hawai’i with three-prong spears while night diving, despite the fact it’s against the law, and for good reason. Consulting experts in marine biology, I came up with some facts and statistics. The main reason for letting a female lobster go unharmed using net or catching them by hand (often a rather frustrating undertaking) is that each female has the potential of producing up to a million eggs per year starting with around 150,000 eggs in the sixth year of her life cycle and…

November 16, 1995 Dear Mr. Johnston, We have noted with interest your coverage involving the whale sanctuary proposed for Hawai‘i. Our December issue touches upon the difficulties you are facing and relates them to a similar problem we are facing with a sanctuary in the Florida Keys that includes provisions for numerous no-fishing zones. Due to the lack of scientific baseline of data to support the zones, we are opposed to them. The opposition to the no-fishing zones is quite heated and divisive, which unfortunately is obscuring the other benefits that the sanctuary might provide. I noticed in your November 1995 issue on page 15 under “Rejected Alternatives” item 3, that “…A marine reserve, where all fishing is prohibited permanently, would be very unpopular (e.g., Kaho’olawe).” My question is: What…

■ I always try to write my articles as close to deadline as I can so that I can include the last-minute, up-to-date, honest to goodness happenings way up here on the North Shore. As you may well know, this is a very special place. The weather isn’t always the greatest, the wind does blow pretty hard most of the time, and we do get the big surf we are so famous for during the winter months. But the big surf has no effect on the fishing-once you get out of the harbor. It’s just getting back in the harbor that might cause a little concern; occasionally it’s a full-blown, whiteknuckle, sweat a gallon, all over panic, E-ticket back down the harbor channel slot, six-man Olympic bobsled-type slide into your…

■ With the onslaught of the winter months, few places in the world have a less dramatic change in sea and fishing conditions than Hawai‘i. Although the waters around Hawai‘i remain fairly user friendly when it comes to fishing offshore, there are still a few things most of us do a little differently. Out of curiosity, I did a minisurvey among several friends of mine who are charterboat captains on Maui, O’ahu and here in Kona to see how they alter their approach as we go from summer to winter. On the Kona Coast of the Big Island, I talked to captains Dennis Harris and Mike Hasbrouck of the charterboat HUNTRESS. Dennis leans toward smaller, but not necessarily lighter, lures. Mike’s first suggestion was to put on bigger stern lines…

Hilo Trollers Wahine and Keiki Tournament ■ On September 24, the Hilo Trollers held their Wahine and Keiki Tournament. The weather report indicated there would be a few morning showers and trade winds blowing 5 to 15mph. At 5:30 a.m., the 15 participating teams headed in all directions to look for “the big one.” As the day went by, teams reported hookups and some of those lost their fish. Capt. Itsuo Kitamura of the PINK LADY reported that he had hooked a marlin weighing over 500 lbs. it took almost all of the line from a Penn 130 reel. The crew tightened the drag slightly, and awhile later the mainline cut. The fish had won. The winning catch was taken aboard the SLASH. Capt. Ben Marantan and angler Eileen Fukushima…