Innholdsfortegnelse for August 1998 i Hawaii Fishing News

■This month, we’ll answer some questions both frequently asked (FAQs) and recently asked (RAQs) about hooks. 1. “I know I’m supposed to keep my hooks sharp, but my problem with that is keeping my file sharp. Files rust very quickly when exposed to saltwater fishing conditions. And a rusty file won’t work up a good point on a hook. How can I keep my file from being destroyed?” Keep it at home in your garage. Take a honing stone or a diamond file with you on fishing trips. Because they aren’t metal, they won’t corrode. Yes, they will clog with rust particles, but the stone, itself, will be as good as new with a squirt of WD-40. Over long use, the stone will wear away a bit from stroking the…

■ Our entire fishing party slowly gathered at Honolulu International Airport, and we greeted one another with high expectations of having a fabulous trip to an absolutely remote destination. The group consisted of eight veteran fishermen who all had experience in various types of fishing from fly fishing to blue-water trolling. Veteran fisherman Peter Dunn-Rankin, author of “Fishing the Reefs” and inventor of the PILI, LOLO and SUPER LOLO foam-cored resin-based lures, was with us on this pioneering trip. Also, super fisherman Gary Au from KAKU lures would be making the trip with fellow fishermen Wesley Wilson from Manoa and Ken Wilson from Kailua-Kona. Fishing buddies Ted Teramoto, Haruo Higuchi, Yoshio Yoshimoto and yours truly rounded out the group. Our destination for this trip was Rotuma, which lies in the…

Five species of Pacific salmon. These are the King (Chinook), Silver (Coho), Sockeye (Red), Chum (Dog), and Pink (Humpback). Except for some isolated landlocked populations, all five species are anadromous, meaning they’re born in freshwater, migrate out to sea to feed and grow, then return to freshwater to spawn. Using their acute sence of smell, salmon make their way back to the stream they were born in by following a scent trail of trace minerals found in the waters of their home stream. Unlike the Atlantic species, where individuals may return to spawn several times, Pacific salmon spawn just once and die shortly thereafter.…

■ Some people will try to tell you that juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna are difficult to tell apart. This statement is completely false and is usually perpetuated by fishery scientists and fishermen who have not seen enough fish of both species to qualify them to make any statements on fish identification. The two fish are “similar” in appearance but have several distinguishing internal and external characteristics that will allow the careful observer to identify each species in a range of conditions from fresh to frozen. The tiny larval and early juvenile stages are, of course, difficult to positively distinguish without DNA analysis, but external characteristics are sufficient for fish larger than approximately 1 lb in size. The difficulty is that both bigeye and yellowfin progress through several developmental stages…

Catch and Release Lands at Lake Wilson ■ As of June 1, 1998, Lake Wilson in Wahiawa became a catch-and-release fishery for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and tucunare. This regulation change was made in response to the decline of fishing conditions at the reservoir. This new rule means that any largemouth or smallmouth bass or tucunare (peacock bass) caught must be immediately released back into the lake. In the 1997 Legislative Session, the Hawaii Freshwater Fishing Association (HFFA) and the Association of Freshwater Sport Anglers (AFSA) proposed amendments to Administrative Rules, Chapter 13-62, entitled, “Wahiawa Public Fishing Area, Oahu,” to establish a new catch-and-release fishing program and to amend certain other provisions. Bill Devick, acting administrator for the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR’s) Division of Aquatic Resources said,…

Ohikilolo U Aloha no! Maika‘i keia kauwela! No ka mea, nunui ka ‘olu‘olu aka eia no, nunui na ahi ‘ai honua nei. Pono no ‘a‘oleepa‘ani i keahipelea me keahi kao i ka heleana! Eia kekahi, ina e lawai‘a ana, ho‘omana‘o kakou i ka ‘opala a ho‘i i ka home. Eia nei, i keia mo‘olelo ‘uhane e pili ana i ka ‘aina kokoke, ‘o ‘Ohikilolo, o ka moku o Wai‘anae. Eia ho‘i, mahalo a nui na hoa aloha a me ka ‘ohana no na mo‘olelo. Greetings! The summer is just fine! There is an abundance of pleasant conditions, but also there has been a rash of brush fires. We shouldn’t play with matches or fireworks on our outdoor excursions. Further, when fishing, we should think about our trash and return home…

Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) Program ■ In March, we reviewed the laws and regulations regarding the U.S. Coast Guard’s overall objectives on the high seas. The Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) program is responsible for oversight for the enforcement of U.S. laws and treaties in three primary mission areas: drug interdiction; living marine resources; and alien migrant interdiction. Here is a layman’s, not a technical, view of the marine resources segment of the MLE program. Program Overview The U.S. Coast Guard is the nation’s leading maritime law enforcement agency and has broad, multifaceted jurisdictional authority. The specific statutory authority for the U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement mission is given in 14 USC 2, “The Coast Guard shall enforce or assist in the enforcement of all applicable laws on, under and over…

■ Enjoy summer in Hawai‘i waters. August is the warmest month over land and in the water. No Kona storms or cold fronts are expected. Replacing these two wintertime storms could be storms born over the warm tropical waters-tropical storms and hurricanes. August is the favored month for these storms. Over the past years, these storms have appeared in Hawai‘i waters so it will be prudent to listen to the National Weather Service marine forecasts before venturing into the water. Weather satellite pictures spot these storms. Trade winds will be the common feature as they persist through the month. Expect about five to 10 days of gusty trade winds that can make the waters too rough. Northwest swell and surf activity is at the minimum, but southerly surf could be…

Conserving Game Fish Via Boycott ■ At regular intervals, the popular press seems to pick up a new cause and there’s anxious talk of boycotting some form of seafood or another to conserve that species. This time the media attention and boycott discussion are focused on Atlantic swordfish. Efforts to protect various marine life that are also popular seafood have taken various routes over the years. For instance, not too long after Chef Paul Prudhomme had popularized blackened redfish and it began to show up on menus across America, a hue and cry went out for the need to “save the redfish” from overconsumption. Thanks to the discovery that virtually any other fish was just about as tasty when blackened to the Cajun specifications of the plump New Orleans chef,…

Licenses, Rules and Regulations Reminders Hahalalu (Juvenile Akule)- It is unlawful to take akule under 8½ inches with a net during July through October. This regulation was established in 1968 to protect the young akule during the peak of their recruitment into the fishery. During the rest of the year (November through June), hahalalu may be taken by nets with a minimum mesh size of l½ inches. Akule may be taken year-round by nets with a minimum mesh size of l½ inches. Moi and Moi-li‘i-The season for these fish is closed between June 1 and August 31. These animals spawn during the summer months, so let’s give them a break to help us increase their numbers. Spiny Lobster, Slipper Lobster and Kona Crab- The season for these crustaceans is closed…

Hi Chuck, This is a picture of John Quiroga at the 21st Annual Easter Seals Fishing Tournament held on Kaua‘i. He is testing an ulua for ciguatera. We would like to extend a huge mahalo to the sponsors of this tournament! Everyone had an incredible time; it was a spectacular event. We had a chance to talk to a lot of fishermen and tested tournament entries with our Cigua-Check test kit. Of the 12 fish tested, two read slightly toxic. We were reminded of the big hearts Hawai‘i’s fishermen have by the impressive act of the fisherman who caught one of these slightly toxic fish: even though it was a prize-winning fish, he chucked (sorry, Chuck) it because of the possibility that his family or friends would come down with…

Didn’t I tell you it would be insane? Didn’t I tell you il would be informative, educational and entertaining? Didn’t I tell you that it would be the closest thing to blue-water spear fishing without getting wet? On July 10, Hawai‘i’s spearfishing enthusiasts were treated to what could be hailed as the “Spear Fishermen‘s Film Festival” of the decade! Two icons, Jay Riffe of Riffe International and Dr. Terry Maas, author and world-record holder for Pacific bluefin tuna (398 lbs), tool* Honolulu by storm. They brought with them the stories, the adventures, the hunts-incredible footage and slides unlike anyone had seen before. Sonny Tanabe (coordinator of the event) officially kicked off the evening by introducing the Riffes (Jay, Jackie and daughter Julie, a two-time Womens National Team Champion and winner…

Free-Diving, a Growth Industry ■ Diving in Hawai‘i takes a variety of forms. Most of us begin as snorkelers. This is a popular way to look for shells and reef fish. After a while, deeper waters beckon and the ability to stay at depth longer is a powerful incentive to become a certified scuba diver. Today, on a weekend it is hard to find a reef around O‘ahu where you won’t find a boat dive or a group of shore divers. If you look at the number of dive shops and dive tour operators, it would be hard to miss the fact that scuba diving is a tremendously popular sport in the islands today. When I began scuba diving here in the late ’60s, we all carried a Hawaiian sling…

■ After completing a lighting project in Southern California, 1 slipped down to San Jose De Cabo (next door to Cabo San Lucas), Mexico, with my good friend from California, Rick Ruzzamenti. We wanted to do some surface fishing in the surf and a little trolling out at the Gordo Banks. Rick only had time to fish for two days, but I had three days, and we got into some great fishing thanks to Capt. Modesto. My tackle box held some of the best surface plugs I had ever seen in my life, and I was looking forward to testing them in the normally productive surf. The lures were designed by Peter Dunn-Rankin, a world-class reef and surf fisherman from Hawai‘i and the designer of PILI lures. El Nino had…

Hand-Caught 174-lb Ahi ■ Charles Barenaba had just finished playing volleyball with the customers who were on a snorkel/picnic sail off Kane‘ohe Bay. He was about to take a short swim to cool off while the customers started their barbecue lunch when he saw a swirl in the water. A large dark conical shape moved out of the deep channel and raced into the shallows. It was a fish, a very large fish, and it was doing doughnuts in the shallow water, trying to get back into the deep channel. A knife! “Jarett, bring me a knife!” He called to his fellow crewman as he kept an eye on the big fish he knew was an ‘ahi, or yellowfin tuna, that had wandered deep into the bay known as Kane‘ohe.…

On Wednesday, June 17, 1998, Eddie Carvalho Jr. and partner Jay Palacol left home to go fishing and to participate in the Big Island Casting Club’s 10th Annual Invitational Ulua Fishing Tournament. Prior to reaching their final destination, Eddie noticed some dark clouds. It looked like it was going to storm. But, when they reached their fishing spot, they were met by only minor drizzles. The water conditions were perfect for shorecasting for ulua, also known as giant trevally. The guys quickly unpacked their gear, set up two rods each and cast them. They then proceeded to slide down some fresh tako baits. At 12:30 p.m. after Eddie had just called his wife, Edlyn, on his cellular phone, he registered the first strike of the trip on his Lamiglas rod…

Summer’s here. 1 he trades are blowing, the south swell has subsided arid the kids are out of school. It feels like summer, but something is amiss. Where are the fish? Otaru are out, marlin are missing, and ‘ahi have been shy. The only fish that are right on schedule are the skirt-stealing, line-cutting opportunistic ono. A few big blues have been caught, but not in the numbers usually associated with summertime fishing. The big aku that normally provide summer graduation parties with delicious poke have skipped the summer session so far. Enough ‘ahi are being caught to keep fishermen going back for more, but there hasn’t been an ‘ahi bust yet. The lack of great ahi action hasn’t kept the old-timers or newcomers from trying Earlier this month, Tracy…

■ The 1998 fishing season opened a month early (February) this year, with a group of fly rodders who said they were willing to brave anything to get out of the Portland, Oregon, winter. The group landed over 40 trevally on flies in four days of chilly water (by Midway standards) fishing. The offshore season was launched on March 1 when Mike Sheeder landed a 697-lb mako shark, a Midway Sport Fishing first. The battle lasted for over two hours and included a series of spectacular jumps some estimated to be over 20 feet off the water. The mako left its mark on the transom of the 38-foot Bertram YORKTOWN as its last great act of defiance. Two days later, the first giant trevally for the 1998 season was caught…

The Great Molokai Ranch Adventure ■ The 54,000-acre Molokai Ranch is second only to the Big Island’s vast Parker Ranch in size and encompasses over one-third of the west end of the “Friendly Isle.” For decades, rumors of great shoreline fishing opportunities on the west end of Moloka‘i have echoed through the Hawai‘i fishing fraternity, but access to those waters has always been limited to those who knew someone at Molokai Ranch, or had access to a boat. With the opening of The Great Molokai Ranch Trail, a marvelous new ecotourism adventure opportunity, the rarely fished shorelines of the west end of Moloka‘i have been made accessible to kama‘aina, malihini and visiting fishermen alike. The Great Molokai Ranch Trail is an ecotourism experience that is based in a growing series…

■ Like most fishermen, I have a lot of fish stories, but this story is about a dream come true: the day I caught a 100-plus-lb ulua! On the morning of July 2, 1998, my fishing trip started like many others. After working some long hours at my job, 1 hurried home to pack my fishing gear and my dog, Kuma. Believe it or not, Kuma is my watchdog and my alarm when we go fishing. He wakes me up when it’s time to check my line and especially when a fish strikes. Upon reaching my fishing spot, I couldn’t believe how crystal-clear the water was. I could see every little hole and crack in the shallow bottom. After casting my three extended 6/0s packed with 80-lb test tournament Maxima…

■ Tell anyone in Hawai‘i that you are on your way to Christmas Island, and they immediately assume you’re going to jump on Aloha Airlines and fly two and a half hours south to the Line and Phoenix Group, in the Republic of Kiribati, to fish a shallow, 140-square-mile lagoon famous for its prodigious numbers of ‘o‘io, ‘omilu and ulua. There Is actually another Christmas Island. To get to it, you have to fly 15 hours to Singapore, then fly another two hours over the Indonesian island of Sumatra (you can also get there via Perth in Western Australia). The other Christmas Island has no lagoon and no bonefish, but it does have plenty of big ulua (which they call turrum, or G.T., short for giant trevally). The other Christmas…

Nu uanu Catfishery ■ The first season of the year was a huge success. Many a family took home catfish dinners. The weather was partially responsible for some of the more dismal days, but as it has been said before, howling wind and rain do make the fishing better at Nu‘uanu. Originally, 3,251 angling permits were issued, and out of those, 1,962 hopefuls showed up. There were at least 2,000 catfish (trust me) at the beginning of the session, and 1,384 catfish were caught. Considering that many of the permit holders were immediate family or group members, there were amazingly few adult anglers who walked away without some fish. Well done, DLNR, and kudos to the staff who sacrificed their weekends so that the public could enjoy the fishing. Ho‘omaluhia…

■ It was another hot fishing month on Lana‘i. The fish continued to cooperate with the fishermen; offshore and inshore fish were caught in abundance. By this point, maybe Lanaians are getting tired of eating fish! Offshore Action Trolling was the most effective style of fishing for hungry schools of ono, mahimahi, marlin, aku and ‘ahi. Even papio, ulua, uku, kamanu and kaku were biting the lures and plugs. Wanner currents, moderate trade winds (5-to 15-mph) and southeast swells were the right combination to land all of these fish. Usually the most productive trolling months are May through August, as most boaters know. Adolpho, CB handle “Roadrunner,” landed a goodsized marlin and a couple of aku and ‘ahi while trolling. His usual summer trolling trips rewarded him with a couple…

Dear Chuck, As I am writing this to you, I am breathing a great sigh of relief. The last time I had a fishing tale to tell you was in 1995, and it was my husband’s first ulua catch in 11 years. This time, it has only been three years and I am back to tell a tale. On Sunday, June 7, my husband, Alex, his brother, Alan, and friend Joshua left in the afternoon for the Big Island on a five-day fishing trip. Alex’s cousins George and Raymond had left earlier that same day to reserve their campsite. This was the first time fishing there for most of the guys, as Alan and Joshua live on Kaua‘i, and my husband usually takes his annual fishing trip there. This year,…

Response to Glen: HAWAII FISHING NEWS has always sought to serve as the "Voice of Hawaii’s Fisherman,” and as such, must continue to do its part to educate its readers with regard to the political realities of the world they live and fish in. Those who choose to ignore the world of politics should simply ignore the comparatively few articles and editorials that dwell in that realm. In any event, you can be sure that HFN will continue to cover the many nonpoliticai aspects of the world of fishing in Hawai‘i and the Pacific. Politics don’t happen in a vacuum. They impact almost everything that happens in the state of Hawai‘i, including your ability to simply “get your pole and go out fishing.” What happens at Ma‘alae‘a can have an…

■ Honolulu Fire Department Captain Donald Watanabe pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawfully possessing a poisonous substance (chlorine) off Kapaliokamoa Point (between Queen’s Beach and Makapu‘u Point on O‘ahu) last January. District Judge Leslie Hayashi fined Donald $500 and has required him to perform 100 hours of community service. As part of his plea bargain agreement, Donald agreed to testify against Henry Rosa, who is scheduled to go on trial July 20 on the same charge. Henry faces $1,000 in fines and a year in jail if he is convicted of the same crime. Some conditions of his plea agreement are that he will do as follows: • Speak publicly about his use of chemicals while fishing; • Provide information that will be useful in the state’s case against…