Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2001 i Hawaii Fishing News

A Kona Marlin on a Father’s Antique Rod and Reel ■ Dreams don’t always turn out the way you imagine them, no matter how hard you try to envision them or how badly you want them to have a happy ending. This is especially true if the dreams involve fishing. Many of us set out on fishing excursions, expecting to come home with a trophy catch or at least some food for our table, fully ignoring the reality of the actual odds. Conviction and persistence, however, are the factors that can have the greatest influence in changing that outcome. For Kirk Heiser, an architect from San Rafael, California, and frequent visitor of Kona’s bountiful and sunny fishing grounds, everything worked out just like he imagined while on a December 30,…

MOANA KAI Burns and Sinks A Hawai'i Fire Department helicopter crew rescued a man on January 8 after a fire forced him to abandon the 40-foot fishing vessel MOANA KAI. Kapono Vannatta, a Big Island resident, was found in a life raft shortly after calling the U.S. Coast Guard for assistance at 10:35 a.m. He was transported to the HFD station on Hawai'i and released with no injuries. Kapono carried the vessel’s emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) onto the life raft to assist rescuers in locating him. An EPIRB transmits a signal that allows rescue units to identify and locate victims. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter WASHINGTON went to the scene, 13 miles off Mahukona on the Big Island’s Kona side. When they arrived, the MOANA KAI’s bow had…

Runway Pearls for Ke‘ehi ■ Two Big Island biologists want to bring a native oyster back from near extinction and raise the species in the waters of Ke‘ehi Lagoon. There, on a proposed 75-acre state lease site, they will grow between 20,000 to 50,000' oysters and harvest 10,000 to 20,000 pearls a year. Pearls at auction in Tahiti are worth as much as $50 each. Neil. Sims and Dale Sarver are the pearl farmers who since 1992 have run Black Pearls Inc. at the Natural Energy Lab in Kona. The oysters will be grown on 3- to 15-foot deep submerged nets. The area will be marked by buoys. The proposed area is 45 feet deep and at the end of the Honolulu Airport’s Reef Runway. It takes an oyster two…

Ho‘omaluhia ■ The February open weekend attracted 279 anglers with families. Actually, Sunday started out a bit slow because of the Super Bowl, but then some 80 scouts turned up in the afternoon. Fishing was slow, too, because there had been a moonlit night and the water was crystal clear. Elodea The “aquarium” weed identified as Elodea, also named Anarcharis in some places, is spreading more and more, and fishing lines are starting to get tangled in the weed. What happens next is that when the line is freed by pulling, the plant uproots, or a piece of the plant is cut, which then, of course, sinks and starts a new growth. We have watched these plants grow explosively over the past few months. They seem to be growing at…

Hunters Tell Legislature, No Snares ■ Pig Hunters of Hawaii, an East Hawai'i-based hunting and conservation group with a current membership of 365, has petitioned Rep. Eric Hamakawa of the Big Island. Rep. Hamakawa will introduce House Bill 797, which will stop snaring, poisoning and unattended trapping of Hawaii’s revered forest pig. An “anti-snaring” bill was first introduced in the 1999. legislative session, and carried over into the 2000 session as SB 858 and HB 215. The Senate bill was introduced by Sen. Chun and Sen. Oakland, while the companion House bill was - sponsored by Rep. Arakaki. The bills in both years-were not voted on. Dick Hoeflinger, president of Pig Hunters of Hawaii, called both bills, “wishy-washy from our perspective, giving Department of Land and Natural Resources easy outs.…

■ The stripers are in town! Oh, what a month it was! January of the “real” new millennium saw some great action, along the South Shore, and some boats had great billfish numbers to get the year going. This month, we have the year 2000 totals for the harbor for some of the fleet. Sometimes getting this information is like pulling teeth, so I hereby disclaim any mistakes or inaccurate information right now. Kewalo Report Walk up to any Kewalo boat that ran trips in the month of January and ask the crew about their catch, and the answer will be about the same:. “Nothing spectacular in size, but good action, lots of stripers, and pretty good mahimahi action, as well. Lots of happy customers.” Enthusiasm in the harbor was…

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For letters, with photos, received during the month of March we’ll send you HFN’s New ‘Embroidered Logo’ Fishing Cap, a Hoiohoio Style Koolzie and an Official HFN Sticker …our way of saying thanks for sharing your catch! …Hana pa‘a, Chuck Send to: P.O. Box 25488, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96825 Hi Chuck! This is a photo of our current broadbill swordfish state record holder with his latest catch. Kona resident, Bill Graham was at it again with Capt. McGrew Rice and Co-Capt. Jason Holtz on the charter boat IHU NUI. This time it was only a small blue marlin but that day they had four marlin and one tuna bite their lines. Bill is an excellent angler and sure can pick the right days to fish! Mahalo, Amber HudnallThe Charter DeskKailua-Kona, Hawai'i…

■ Spring is approaching according to the calendar, but in Hawai'i waters winter-type weather can still appear in March. But there will be more good weather days than bad weather days. There is always the possibility of the occurrence of any of the following severe weather events: cold front with strong Kona winds, upper trough with heavy rain, gusty trade winds and high northwest wave and surf. Trade winds should be present on more than half the days in March with the possibility of about eight to 14 days of gusty trades. Northwest swell activity should be noticeably less. There may be about five days of high surf greater than 10 feet along the north shores. There’s still a chance of surf greater than 25 feet high at Sunset Beach,…

These tips are meant for beginners and for learning fishermen to help them catch more fish. Wahoo Are ‘Ono To Eat, Part 2 ■ Last month’s tips were about some of the how-tos. This month’s tips are about rigging. I’ll share some small tricks that I’ve picked up over time. The first trick is to keep the lure from sliding up the leader when the ono runs. Why do this? When the ono runs forward, the lure will slide backward up the leader to the swivel. The chances are quite high that the hooked ono’s partner will get excited and bite the lure, cut the line and cause all of your tackle (and your fish!) to be lost from below the swivel. You will get only a cut mainline back.…

■ I had caught over 50 prawns by the time I came home. It took me an hour and a half to catch them because the water was a little dirty and the rocks were very slippery. The prawns were all big, alive and ready to attack whoever put their hand in the bag. “Be careful! ” I yelled to my friends. “The prawns are mad. I think they know they’re going to be eaten.” My friends were curious to know how I had caught the prawns and wanted to know my secret. I couldn’t tell them because of my “Hawaiian custom.” Hawai-ians believe that if you tell someone your secret, the ‘uhane (ghost) will be listening and will cause you to have bad luck. “OK,” I told them, “come…

Q: How can I get one of the free damage control kits pictured in last month’s issue of HAWAII FISHING NEWS? A: The District 14 Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Team is distributing damage control buckets to commercial fishing vessels that successfully complete a dockside exam. The dockside exam carries no fees or fines. Examiners will only recommend corrections. The program was developed to help reduce the number of casualties in the commercial fishing industry. The bucket and its contents are for temporary repairs only and are to assist a vessel in minimizing damages from flooding. The buckets contain the following: 1. Oil-absorbent sock (use to soak incidental spillage of oil in bilge system; dispose of in accordance with all federal and state laws); 2. Damage control wedges and plugs (useful…

Rigging Single for Safety and Effectiveness ■ Tandem hook rigs are double trouble, but not just for the fish. If a lure is rigged with two hooks, the second hook can be a major hazard to the fisherman, especially when a wild and crazy beast is attached to the first hook. The threat is great enough to make many experienced anglers give up on two-hook rigs and switch to singles for safety. That’s the bad news. The good news is that doing so doesn’t mean giving up chances to catch fish. Capt. Dee Bradford operates the Kona charterboat HIGH NOON solo, without a deckhand. With no backup crew to assist with leadering, gaffing and boat handling, Dee takes every step he can to minimize the risk to himself and the…

■ This; month ‘ahi, mahimahi and hapu'upu'u as; well as ‘opakapaka and onaga are-still plentiful around our shores. I seem to be collecting more recipes for ‘ahi than any other fish, so I guess it continues to be the most popular fish for cooking. I have provided an ‘ahi and snapper selection for you to choose from this; month. I hope, you try them both! Onaga (Red Snapper) Escabeche Escabeche is a classic dish in Latin American countries. lit is made by first sauteing, then marinating any firm white fish overnight in a flavorful vinaigrette. It makes a wonderful luncheon dish but must be prepared in iadvance, so plan ahead. 6 snapper fillets (about 2 libs total), skin removedSalt and freshly ground pepper3 tablespoons olive oil2 garilic cloves,, sliced thiin8…

■ The scenic beauty and abundant waters of the Kona Coast are a fisherman’s paradise. First-time catches and memorable fishing trips are often made on Kona’s magical coast. Recently, a first ulua catch made in the abundant waters of Kona led to a new way of presenting a mounted fish. The afternoon sun was low in the sky, and the scenic beauty of the ancient Hawaiian shores of Miloli‘i was ideal for hooking a hungry ulua. Miloli‘i is a special area for one family in particular. Paul Macatiag was fishing with his fiancee, Iris Sato. Iris’ family are descendents from the ali'i, or early kings and queens, of Miloli'i. Knowing this, Paul and Iris have great respect for the area and often place offerings on the rocks before venturing on…

■ During the month of January 2001 (Saturdays and Sundays only), the Pu'u Wa'awa'a Ranch mauka lease area and the bird sanctuary was opened for “fall” turkey hunting. Members of the Pacific Paradise (O‘ahu) Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) volunteered their services to operate the' hunter check station for the first two weekends -and volunteers from the Volcano Island (Big Island) Chapter worked the third (final) weekend. With the commitment from these dedicated volunteers, an excellent opportunity to experience fall turkey hunting at its' finest was made possible for all to enjoy. Traditionally, fall turkey hunting in the continental states is done by locating the flock and busting or scattering the turkeys. Then, you sit secretly in the shadows and call the lost or bewildered birds back…

■ Momi Smith just loves fishing, especially for big fish, but even awaawa are fun game for her and her friends. A recent trip on the POPO TOO celebrated a good year at the pool where Momi and her friends work teaching swimming and survival in the water. The fishing had been great, and it promised to be a fun day for everyone as the POPO TOO made her way to the MM FAD. For the past five weeks, the FADs had been very productive, and everyone aboard hoped the trend would continued that day. Momi was joined by Julia Fox, Nicholas Wonde, Philip Oguma, George Smith, Justin Willis, Walter Van Horn, Walt “Pacheco” Muramoto, Stanley Ching and Butch Ching. The captain of the boat was Mike Chung, who enjoys…

■ January proved to be a very productive month for our winter fish off Kona, Hawai'i. Seventy-one shortbill spearfish with weights varying between 20 and 56½ lbs were recorded at Honokohau’s fish dock. Four of these billfish weighed over the 50-lb mark. Capt. Billy Ross’ ECLIPSE boated the largest spearfish on the 30th. The PACIFIC BLUE and her owner Rex Crosland came in with a fish that weighed only ½lb less than the ECLIPSE’S fish. Rex angled the very first spearfish of 2001 in the annual New Year’s Day Tournament put on by The Charter Desk. Out of 121 striped marlin recorded this month, Capt. Chuck Haupert’s CATCHEM 1 captured the largest. David Carskaddom angled the 108-lb fish for 30 minutes. The majority of these fish recorded by the Kona…

■ A great way to spend this Memorial Day weekend, May 25 to 27,2001, will be to attend the Hawaii Boat Show and Ocean Expo at the new Ko Olina Resort and Marina. The weekend will be filled with a variety of activities for the entire family. Certain to be the largest boating activity to take place on O‘ahu in 2001, the expo will bring together many elements of the boating and ocean community. The producers have designed an educational and entertaining weekend at a beautiful venue that will appeal to all ages and experiences. For Hawaii’s active and would-be boaters, there will be, for the first time, in-the-water displays of vessels for sale and show. Boaters interested in showing their boats in either category are invited to participate. Entry…

The Ultimate Bamboo Pole ■ I am going to start this article by explaining how to cure bamboo poles for the following reasons: 1. This was the Hawaiians’ favorite pole for mu fishing. 2. When cured properly, bamboo can be made into aku poles, spinning poles and casting poles. 3. Bamboo will last for 10 years with good care. I have several poles that I have used for 15 years, and they are still very strong. Several months ago, Henry Okamoto mentioned aku bamboo poles in his series of articles regarding the history of Hawaii’s aku fishery. The bamboo he mentioned is a species that is growing in Hakalau on the Big Island. He was correct when he said this bamboo originally came from Japan. This bamboo is growing in…

Dear Chuck, The best letter I got in a long time was from my old friend John Lind on O'ahu. I’m going to quote some of the letter, but only a portion, as the letter is quite long and John explains more than the fishing experiences. John and! spent many hours together over the past 20 years fishing on his boat NADU-K2, a 29-foot double-wall plywood hull, a boat built originally for Duke Kahanambku, the world’s first long board surfing champion and a good friend of John’s. John writes a great story, and he writes me about twice a month. Nothing you ever read about or from John (88 years old) would surprise you. But, you have to believe all he says, as this man does not know how to…

■ There are now many types of resins available in our marine industry, By far the most common are polyesters. Many new boats are made and repaired with “hybrid” resins. These include DCPDs, vinylesters and epoxies. While exotic, these resins can be very costly and uneconomical when used improperly. Epoxies are becoming very popular in the marine industry. Epoxies allow boat manufacturers to produce parts that are lighter, stronger and stiffer. These resins are also more resistant to water absorption. These qualities far exceed those of polyester; the most commonly used resin today. The physical properties of epoxies also exceed those of polyester resins. Epoxies are more water, abrasion, chemical and blister resistant than polyesters. They are also more flexible, stronger, harder and more adhesive,, Epoxy is also less chemically…

■ The weekend before the Super Bowl, trucks were loaded and fishermen were heading to their favorite fishing grounds. On this weekend, the big event was the Kakele na Ulua Kickoff Invitational Slticnre-casting Tournament. Starting time was noon on Friday, and the tournament was scheduled to end at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The fishing boundaries were from ‘Ewa Beach Park around Ka'ena Point to Mokule'ia Beach Park, A total of 80 anglers of all ages put it to the lead. Good weather was in their favor, and the high surf was coming down. It looked like it was going to be a fun weekend. Traditionally, this tournament hosts a lot of baitcasters, and on this weekend the beaches were lined with “choke" rods and families all trying to catch that…

■ Hearts pounding, we jumped off the dive boat into shark-infested waters. Twenty to 30 feet below, several Galapagos sharks glided over the reef in lazy figure eights, but scattered as we dove for a closer look. Topside, the blue water outside Midway’s protected lagoon was choppy, but below the surface, the scene was tranquil. We were weightless, floating, in a vast, watery version of inner space. The pockmarked reef reminded me of the moon’s desolate surface, and the sharks looked like DC-10s coming in for a landing, one after the other, at a busy airport. Ten of us had come to Midway to study sharks through the University of Hawaii-Hilo sponsored summer class, “Biology of Sharks at Midway.” Now halfway through the week, this was our first encounter. Up…

Hale‘iwa Fishing Still Slow ■ If you go to the buoys early, you might have a chance to catch some good-sized shibi and some small mahimahi. The whales are back in full force again this year. It looks like there are more whales than last year, so be careful out there. Hale‘iwa Harbor Cleanup Special thanks to four students from Mililani Middle School whose school project over their winter break was to clean up Hale'iwa Harbor. Janeen Nabu, Tracy Kobayashi, Christine Mariana and Corey Tashima came down to clean up Hale'iwa Harbor by picking up all the ‘opala left behind. They also passed out information on fishing regulations and rulers to all the people and fishermen at the harbor. These four students put 100-plus percent into their project and did…

■ Early Sunday morning for many people is a time to lie back and relax. But, on the Sunday in January lodged between playoffs and Super Bowl each year, the quiet in Ala Wai Harbor at Hawaii and Waikiki Yacht Clubs is shattered by expectant young anglers: eagerly waiting to go. to sea and bring back “the big one.” The kid fishers were not only from the two yacht clubs. They came from all over O'ahu. A group’ came from Palama Settlement, and several Boy Scouts were working on their merit badges. One boat, skippered by Chris Boyles, came all the way from Kaunakakai, Moloka'i, so his kids and others could participate. At 6:15 a.m., when HYC Tournament Director Dave Young and other tournament volunteers were just enjoying their first…

OFFSHORE TOURNAMENTS ROLEX/IGFA OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIP March 25 through 31,2001 Mike Leech-(808) 329-7371 or 1-800-442-4665 74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy. #1, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 KBC PURE JACKPOT April 14, 2001 Sonny Dalde-Oahu (808) 841-7271 4 Sand Island Access Road, Honolulu, HI 96819 SENORITA’S TOURNAMENT April 21 & 22, 2001 Hawaii Yacht Club-Oahu (808) 944-9666 1739-C Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815 RAINBOW BAY MARINA MAHIMAHl TOURNAMENT May 5 & 6, 2001 Pearl Harbor Trailers Club and Rainbow Bay Marina-Oahu (808) 473-0279 AHI FEVER IN WAIANAE June 16 & 17, 2001 Waianae Boat Fishing Club-Oahu (808) 696-3399 P.O. Box 821, Waianae, HI 96792 5TH ANNUAL KONA CLASSIC TOURNAMENT June 22, 23 & 24, 2001 Tropidilla-Kona (808) 327-1440 P.O. Box 2158, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 FIRECRACKER OPEN June 29 through July 1,2001 Tropidilla-Kona (808) 327-1440 P.O.…