Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2001 i Hawaii Fishing News

■ “Fishing TalesⓇ” airs five nights a week (Wednesday through Sunday) at 7 p.m. on Channel 16 on 0‘ahu and on the neighbor-island cable systems. Here’s a preview of what host Mike Sakamoto has in store for you. January 2 to 7–South Kona Beachhouse Here’s a shorefishing show with a great bunch of Hilo Guys. While camping at a beachhouse in South Kona, they first do some shoreline light-tackle spinning for reef fish. Then, when the sun goes down, it’s time to whip spinning tackle for menpachi and ‘aweoweo. These guys eat well-there’s prime rib for dinner. January 9 to 14–King Salmon at F.l Capitan It’s time for king salmon fishing off of one of the aluminum boats at the El Capitan Lodge in Ketchikan, Alaska. Mike and the guys…

■ Mike “Freebird” Crosier and I have been chasing the International Game Fish Association’s(IGFA) 6-lbtest world record for giant trevally (a.k.a. GT, ulua, mamulan) at Midway. We have been three for 17 up to this point. You know that “catching” and “boating” are very different. Catching is when the mate or someone on the boat holds the leader, or the leader touches the rod tip. We lost several “caught” fish after they took massive runs-which is the norm for GTs. Pound for pound, they are one of the toughest fighting fish in the ocean. We figured the only way to beat one of these epic fighters was to fish in the sandy shallows of the atoll, where they could not go deep and cut the line on the numerous coral…

Dear Chuck, Thank you for your generous contribution to the Marine Option Program Silent Auction held on November 18. Your kind donation of 25 cookbooks was a huge help toward the success of the first MOP Miracle fundraiser. We are delighted to welcome you into the family of MOP supporters joining Oceanic Imaging, which sponsored the fundraiser. Although we did not reach our goal of $50,000, we did raise over $30,000, which will allow MOP to partially restaff and continue to provide services to undergraduates for this fiscal year. More importantly, the fundraiser increased public awareness of the plight of the Marine Option Program, which has been providing Hawai’i’s undergraduates a taste of the ocean and hands-on scientific research for the past 30 years. As supporters of Hawai’i’s marine education…

Double Ugly Double Delicious Double Dose of Castor ■ How deep is too deep to fish? You’d be surprised at what’s on the bottom in the deeper depths of Hawai’i. Snapper, grouper, ulua and amberjack, to name just a few, can be found swimming at depths of over 1,000 feet. In 2,000 feet, you’ll find that more snapper, grouper, rays, sharks and tako are some of the local residents. What will you find at 3,000, 4,000 or 5,000 feet? What could possibly live in such an oxygen-deprived and cold environment where pressures exceed 2,000 lbs per square inch? There is life down there. Most of the fish at that depth are small, but there’s at least one giant fish down there called a black grenadier. It grows to over 14…

Dear Chuck, While trolling the Ma’ili Ledge on Saturday, August 26, 2000, I caught this frigate mackerel (oioi), which was larger than any that I have ever seen before. As the fish was coming in, I thought it was an aku. After getting it into the boat, I thought it was a kawakawa, but there were no spots on the belly. I put it next to a 3-lb kawakawa, which we had caught earlier, and there was no mistaking the identity of this large oioi. To insure a positive identification, I took this fish to the Waikiki Aquarium, and Jerry Crow there sent me to the National Marine Fisheries on Dole Street because the person familiar with tuna was not available at that time. At the National Marine Fisheries office,…

■ When I was a kid learning how to fish, each of the Boys’ Clubs in my hometown sponsored competitive target casting teams for youngsters. The events focused on accuracy instead of distance because pinpoint casting usually makes a greater difference in an angler’s ability to catch fish. When you have the casting skill to hit your marks, you can work water more thoroughly with fewer bad casts. After all, you can’t catch fish if your cast tangles in the rocks or weeds, spooks the school you are shooting for or lands too far from the fish to be noticed. The procedures we used for practice and competition way back then could make you a better caster and provide a lot of fun in the process. As targets, we set…

Reel Values and Information Sources ■ Pricing information on old fishing reels is pretty hard to find. You are not likely to find a weekly or even monthly price guide at your local magazine rack as you would for coins and baseball cards. The reason for this is that reel collecting is relatively new, whereas among the collectible coin and sports card fields, the pool of collectors is substantial and national exposure is well-established. Another major factor is that there are literally thousands of different reels and often several more variations within each model. Most books on collectibles that also provide pricing information become outdated quickly. They tend to be general and try to cover a broad subject range in a few pages. Many others are just coffee table-type books.…

■ At the end of a successful summer of ulua fishing, my friend Jason Castro and I decided to do some ‘o’io fishing. Jason is an accomplished slide-bait angler and had landed eight ulua during the season. Now he wanted to land an ‘o’io. I told Jason that I knew of a couple of spots that were productive and not too far from where we live. Some of the best spots I know are on the hot white-sand beaches of Nanakuli and the sand-duned North Shore. The beaches of Nanakuli are great for ‘o’io, but the recent "beautifying” of the beaches on the stretch where we fish has made things difficult for the shoreline angler. Coral walls were built that block automobile access to the beach. We now have to…

‘Olelo Hou: Ha‘anui-To boast, brag, exaggerate. Ha‘awale-A flatfish. Ha‘awe-To carry a burden on the back, like an ulua pack. Ha’awina ho‘omau-Life pension. Something everyone who fishes wishes for. Ho‘ohaehae-To decoy uhu (parrotfish) by tying another uhu to a line. Hae Hawai‘i-The Hawaiian flag. Ha‘ele‘ele-Blackish, as in dark night. Haha-Trap made of twigs and small branches for capturing freshwater fish. Haha ka ‘upena-Net spacer or mesh stick, gauge used in making meshes in nets, made of wood, turtle shell, bone, bamboo, whale rib, coconut shell or metal. Hahalalu-Same as halalu, young akule fish. Hahalua-Manta ray. Hahamau-To catch fish with hands, as in crevices.…

■ The Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club had its annual Frank Costanzo Memorial Juniors’ Tournament on October 8 to the delight of 50 children. The action started four minutes after HBGFC’s President Robby Engelhard announced, “Start fishing,” when Steve Fassbender, skipper of the TERESA, called in a hookup. Steve might have been a little overwhelmed by the energy level of his keiki team. It consisted of Shane O’Brien, son of skipper Fran O’Brien, who has skippered boats all over the world, notably Guatemala’s famous FINS & FEATHERS; C. J. Cintas, son of Dennis Cintas, skipper of the INTREPID; Ryan McGuckin, son of Rob McGuckin, skipper of the LADY; and Corey Powers, son of an electrician and probably pretty proud of it right now! These boys might have only been 12…

Dear Fishermen, As anticipated, the environmentalists’ goal of banning fishing in Hawai’i is gradually becoming a reality. First, by bogus propaganda, the environmentalists were able to convince the Legislature of the state of Hawai’i that fishermen were overharvesting the shark resources although fishery scientists knew scientific statistical data suggested otherwise. Second, the federal court banned swordfish fishing by Hawai’i’s longline fishermen although fishery scientists knew the ruling would not affect other fishermen taking the same resources in the same area and the ruling made no rational sense. And now, through Executive Order by the U.S. president, the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) fisheries have been completely taken over by the federal government, negating the authority that was provided by Congressional Order under the Magnuson Act that created the Western Pacific Regional…

■ Shibi was the fish of the month. Late in the year, they were in abundance around the LL and MM FADs. Reported fish weights varied from 3 to 91 lbs. Lots of 15-pounders were thrown into ice boxes, and they were really good-tasting fish. Mark Wildman on the AIGLE DE MER had a great week around the FADs when he caught the 91-lb shibi and a bunch of smaller fish. A few boaters even spent the night out around the FADs doing the ika-shibi technique or variations of it. They did quite well with some 300- to 400-lb catches. Staying overnight at the FADs requires a lot of time and preparation. You need to make sure your gear is in top shape for the long night. Weather conditions have…

■ Winter is here! High surf, strong trade winds and cold nights make for some interesting fishing trips. Remember that during the winter, the weather can change in a matter of minutes. As a cold front passes through the island chain, there might be light south-easterly winds with calm conditions. The backside of the cold front, however, is an entirely different story. Strong, cold north winds await the boater. The surf can be deceiving, also. The waves in a set may average 5 feet, and then all of sudden, a 10-footer will roll through. This happens because constant winds blowing in one direction create swells. However, we all know that winds very often do not blow consistently; there are gusts of wind. These gusts create the larger than average waves…

■ Every once in a while, I’m lucky to end up fishing with an angler that I consider a real “natural.” He or she just has the knack to hook fish very consistently and in a very easy, almost casual manner. Some people attribute it to talent or luck, but I think such a person is in tune with the ocean, knows his prey and truly knows exactly what he’s doing and what it takes to hook and land the fish he’s going after. A lot of this comes from practice, practice and more practice. Many fishermen are very focused on one target fish, be it papio, akule, menpachi or ulua. They concentrate all of their efforts on that one fish, and they study and learn all that they can…

How to Submit Your Fish for State Record Consideration 1. Have fish weighed and measured in the presence of a witness who signs the official entry blank or other acceptable weight slip. 2. How to weigh: Fish must be weighed on an accurate scale which is subject to verification. 3. How to measure: Measure from the tip of the jaw to middle of fork of tail (this is length). Measure around the fish where it is thickest (this is girth). 4. Entry should include clear side-view photograph of fish. 5. You will be notified upon acceptance and verification. For an application, contact HFN at P.O. Box 25040, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825, E-mail fishnews@pixi.com or call (808) 395-4499.…

■ Hal Osburn, senior marine fishery policy manager for the state of Texas under Governor George W. Bush, will be a guest speaker at the second annual Hawaii Fisheries and Ocean Forum to be held 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, January 13, at the Ala Moana Hotel’s Garden Lanai. Osburn will describe the workings of the Texas system and what Hawai’i might expect under the administration of President-Elect Bush. The intent of the forum is to find consensus on ways to address the issues affecting fisheries and ocean use in Hawai’i that can be pursued when the Hawai’i Legislature convenes. The forum will include panel discussions on major nearshore management challenges, legal issues impacting our ocean resources and solutions. Panelists include representatives from the fishing, ocean tourism, lifeguard, enforcement,…

This grading system is from the Old Reel Collector’s Association and is used only as a guideline. Many additional considerations must be taken into account when evaluating a particular reel such as combinations of different types of defects and their severity. Although collectors may disagree, other factors having a bearing may include relative age and/or scarcity of the reel. Mechanical Condition GRADE M10-All functions work perfectly, no wear M9-All functions work well, though some wear apparent. Spool fully adjustable strong click; strong brake; smooth level wind. M8-All functions work well, though complete adjustment may not be possible. Slight spool dinging; some click wear; brake pressure may not be maximal. M7-Normal use and wear; spool sloppy; click weakening; level wind slight wobble. M6-All functions work, but some may be fairly worn;…

Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Alert ■ The 14th U.S. Coast Guard District Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Alert Program was developed to provide timely safety related "lessons learned” information to mariners. This program is part of an ongoing effort to apply Prevention Through People (PTP) principles to improve maritime safety. Incident A 40-foot commercial fishing vessel with five persons aboard was 390 nautical miles west of O’ahu when the master experienced severe stomach pains. At 6:35 p.m. the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Hawai’i received a distress signal from the vessel’s emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB). Radio contact was established with the vessel at 6:50 p.m. JRCC diverted an assist vessel to provide medical assistance. The vessel stated that the master had fallen due to stomach pains and he…

■ It was a quiet month for the Kona fleet, yet two boats managed to bring in rare black marlin. The first and largest of the two was landed by Capt. McGrew Rice’s IHU NUI on the 15th. Fishing freaks Bruce Berger and friend Mike Barschig from the Golden State returned to the island of Hawai’i and chartered the 35’ Bertram for two full days. On the first day, McGrew decided to go south at the green buoy. At the umi ko‘a they caught two skipjack tuna and rigged them-one on the surface, and the other on the downrigger. At around 9 a.m., a black marlin engulfed Capt. Rice’s downrigger bait and decided it was not enough. After getting rid of the first tuna, the fish came up and hooked…

Lahaina Jackpot ■ The 24th Annual Lahaina Jackpot Tournament saw 97 teams hunting the waters around Maui County for elusive blue marlin. Not since 1981 have there been fewer boats fishing the three-day event. The lack of fish also made every strike count. Only nine blue marlin, five striped marlin, two spearfish and one sailfish were weighed. Only one blue marlin was released during the event. The first-place prize of $25,000 went to the team on the 27-foot Force GYOTAKU with Capt. Dewitt Lickle at the helm. Del Kawamura angled a 446.51b marlin on the second day and held onto the lead through the final day. They found their fish on the 1,000-fathom ledge off Halawa Valley. A short corner strike almost spooled the 14/0-class reel. The marlin ran for…