Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2001 i Hawaii Fishing News

■ This year’s tournament started off with a great captain’s meeting, hosted by Hooter’s at the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Ninety-six teams were signed up. Everyone got to meet new friends, greet old friends and size up the competition. The meeting was standing room only. Every captain walked away with two “goody” bags of freebies donated by our sponsors: Hooters, Simple Green and Moosehead, to name a few. The crew proceeded to drink the place dry of beer by meeting’s end at 9 p.m. The First Annual Hooter’s Big Game Tournament was held three years ago, smack dab in front of Hooter’s establishment at Aloha Tower Marketplace. The state Harbors Division would not allow the tournament to be held there this year, so it was decided that the weigh-ins would be…

■ “Fishing Tales®” airs five nights a week (Wednesday through Sunday) at 7 p.m. on Channel 16 on O'ahu and on the neighbor-island cable systems. Here’s a preview of what host Mike Sakamoto has in store for you. October 1 to 5- Deepsea Fishing on Kona’s ICHIBAN Mike goes out for a day of deep-sea trolling on the boat ICHIBAN. Steve Tarbill captains the boat, and Casey Ballao of the King Kamehameha Hotel comes along to help fight fish. The guys head out and hook into marlin and small ‘ahi on light tackle and have a great time in Kona. October 8 to 12-Neck Lake’s Silver Salmon Alaska, more specifically Whales Resort, calls, and Mike heads up north and fishes with the owner/manager of the resort, Bill Fanamel. An estimated…

Dear HAWAII FISHING NEWS, Here is a photo of one of my more memorable catches. It is a 40-lb kagami that I caught while free-diving off a secluded spot on the west side of Kaua‘i. On the morning of the dive, I started off with great expectations. The spot we were at was known for having big ulua, uku and lots of sharks. We spent the early part of the morning trolling the shoreline and caught a large kahala early on. After a couple of hours in the water, my friend Paul and I had a stringer load of big uhu, and I had already speared a nice-sized mu as well as a 25-lb kahala. My father had been getting big, hook-bending strikes near the area where we had caught…

■ Majuro is the capital of the Marshall Islands, a far-flung group of bracelet atolls (coral reef surrounding a lagoon) 1,200 miles south and west of Hawai‘i. Majuro Atoll is some 50 miles around, but the connected land is mostly a strip not much more than 200 yards wide and 35 miles long. I sent some E-mail dispatches to my wife and expert fisherman Jeff Konn after each day’s fishing on Majuro. The Outrigger Hotel has Email available. My son Derek, grandson Christopher (14 years old), my daughter Denise and her husband, Steve Bennett, came along to test the waters. We brought along big LOLO lures, long rods (a new one by Joe Kimura) and reels (a new Van Staal 200 along with Penn 6500SS and the standard Shimano TSS3).…

“Ke kukui ka pili ia o ka uhu.” In traditional times, fishers spread kukui oil on the surface of the water to calm the ripples so one could see clearly to the bottom. Marjorie Ziegler is a resource analyst with Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund’s Mid-Pacific Office. She can be reached at (808) 599-2436 or E-mailed at <mziegler@earthjustice.org>. DHHL Takes on Gorse ■ Gorse is a spiny invasive shrub in the pea family. It was introduced to Maui in the late 1800s or early 1900s as a hedgerow to contain sheep and accidentally to the Big Island via seeds on sheep wool. Gorse has invaded the eastern slopes of Mauna Kea, and impenetrable thickets pose a serious threat to pasture, watershed, native ecosystems and public recreation and hunting areas. In August…

• Historic information suggests the present type of barbless hooks aku fishermen use in fishing for tuna was introduced by Japanese immigrants in the late 1800s. Also, it appears when some of the immigrants moved to the West Coast in the early 1900s to establish a pole-and-line tuna fishery, they took along the art of making their own hooks. Stories told by old-time fishermen indicate early aku fishermen first fashioned the hooks by bending spring steel wires by hand (Fig. A). After they were formed, they were dipped in molten tin to prevent rust. The hooks were then molded with babbitt alloy in a mold (Fig. B) to produce the bare hook. Fig. C is an untrimmed molded hook just removed from the mold, and Fig. D is the cleaned…

Dear Chuck, A few comments on Jan Tenbruggencate’s article (8/20/01 Honolulu Advertiser) on the lack of shoreline fish. Fishing is necessary to supplement the food needed by our local families who have been raised in our Hawaiian lifestyle. They should not be made to suffer by adding more regulations as to how and when they will be allowed to fish. With the proposed new size restrictions, what will the kids catch? The article identifies these fishing families “among the prime suspects for the lack of fish in nearshore waters is too much fishing.” However, the real question is “too much fishing” by whom, humans or the introduced carnivorous ta‘ape? Could it be that the real guilty party causing the reduction of fish in our near-shore waters is the ta‘ape, a…

■ Fourteen blue marlin over the “nickel” (500-lb) mark were captured off the leeward coast of the Big Island during the month. The largest of these fish weighed was the fourth “grander” this year for the “Blue Marlin Capital of the World.” Kerwin Masunaga, a Kona native, was the, lucky fisherman to catch the beast, and had to do most of the work alone. Kerwin took to the seas on his 32’ Radon HOLLY ANN in search of a porpoise school. Porpoises work together like cowboys and herd schools of yellowfin tuna together. This was the target species for the veteran fisherman on the 9th of the month. Kerwin trolled out about 9 miles offshore, to the area where F-buoy was located before it broke free of its chains earlier…

■ One of the funniest things that happened during the whole tournament occurred during the MAGIC’s weigh-in. Two 10-year-old boys paddled up in a box that looked like a kitchen table turned upside-down. As I never thought to ask their names, we’ll call them Tom and Huck. With homemade oars, these boys paddled up right behind Russell Tanaka’s towering 50-foot Pacifica. Tom got out of this makeshift boat, walked up to me and asked “Can we weigh our fish with the Hooter's Girls? Just about then, Huck took a tiny mullet out of a scoop net. I grinned and said, “Well, boys, What team are you? Tom said, “Team Turbo,” and with that, Squiddy, the emcee announced a late entry that would be lining up to weigh their fish. After…

The Summer at Ho‘omaluhia ■ The pond enjoyed brisk summer activity-with about 4,000 family members and anglers visiting the venue, and the fishing was reasonably acceptable. The problem with the Elodea still exists, but I am told that finally a fair amount of grass carp were introduced, albeit a bit late. Let’s face it: progress is better than nothing. It is also rumored that another group of grass carp will be added at a later date. The various waterfowl that inhabit the pond seem to like the increase, in insect population that the Elodea is providing, so there is a silver lining on the problem. In the last issue of HFN, we mentioned the youth problems connected with the unauthorized access through the dam tunnel. I have been advised that…

JARVIS Hosts Japanese Training Vessels ■ The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter JARVIS, a 378’ high-endurance cutter home-ported in Honolulu, held a picnic and softball tournament on Sand Island for the crew members of the Japanese Maritime Academy Training Ships GINGA MARU and KAIWO MARU on August 10. The day began with a traditional American picnic that was followed by competitive softball games. The KAI WO MARU is a four-masted square-rigged sailing vessel. The training vessels were on the final leg of their trip with Honolulu being their last port call before they return to their home port of Tokyo, Japan. Ask the U.S. Coast Guard Q: How much extra fuel am I allowed to carry on board my vessel? A: According to Lt. Cmdr Guy Theriault, Coast Guard Marine Compliance…

Mahimahi a la CocoMac ■ This recipe by Capt. Deal Crooker won 1st place in the Island Seafood Recipe Contest held at Michel’s restaurant in Waikiki in 1979. This recipe was published years earlier in SUNSET magazine as “Mahimahi a la HBGFC” (Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club) and later in “Fish Dishes of the Pacific” by Shirley Rizzuto Capt. Deal Crooker was a respected Hawai'i fisherman, who was well-known for his “Blue Water” column that appeared for many years in HAWAII FISHING NEWS. 2 pounds mahimahi fillets ¼ cup butter¼ cup flour1 cup half-and-half cream cup1 coconut milk¼ cup dry white wineSalt and pepper1 3½-ounce jar chopped macadamia nuts Parsley (garnish) Lemon wedges (garnish) PREPARATION Rinse fish; pat dry. Arrange fillets in a single layer in a greased baking dish…

Aloha Chuck, Attached is a letter Bill Devick sent out earlier this year to Big Island aquarium fish collectors and others regarding proposed amendments to Hawaii Administrative Rule 13-60.3. This rule created a system of Fish Replenishment Areas (FRAs) along the West Hawai'i coastline. Both aquarium collecting and fish feeding are prohibited within FRAs. Along with areas already prohibiting collecting (e.g. MLCDs & FMAs) approximately^ percent of the coast is off-limits to collecting. As outlined in the letter, the amendments are motivated by management and enforcement concerns, which arose during the first year of the rule implementation. Although directed primarily to aquarium issues, I believe much of what is contained in the letter will be of general interest to your readers and all those concerned about our marine resources. Thanks…

Pu‘u Wa‘a Wa‘a Wildfire Fuel Abatement ■ Big Island hunters have recently joined with a fire coalition to form the Pu'u Wa‘a Wa'a Ka'upulehu Wildfire Fuel Reduction Program. The goal is'to reduce risk of wildfire in the western area of Pu‘u Wa'a Wa'a Ranch. The area consists of approximately 600 acres mauka of Highway 190. The land is in the Pu‘u Wa'a Wa'a Cooperative Game Management Area and has been identified by the North Kona Fuels Management Group as “one of the last unburned areas of native forest.” Being close to the highway, it is a wildfire risk. The North Kona Fuels Management Group is composed of the Hawai'i County Fire Department, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the…

Hawai‘i at Aussie Marlin Symposium ■ Kane'ohe’s Richard Shiroma, head of WESPAC’s Sportfishing Recreational Task Force, sent “Splash!” an E-mail on his observations from attending the Third International Billfish Symposium held in Cairns, Australia, on August 19 to 23, 2001. Over 110 marlin fans from 25 nations participated. The sponsors were The Billfish Foundation, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, NOAA Fisheries and Blue Water Boats and Sportfishing magazine. Richard said, “I had a great time at the symposium listening, talking and meeting the leading folks that do research on the billfish. As the symposium was hosted by The Billfish Foundation, the take-away message was save the billfish for future generations. The presenters were all respected researchers that focused on billfish from genetics to physiology, from stock assessments and data…

I’m holding a 63-lb great barracuda that was caught on July 6, 2001 on my 17-foot light-tackle charter boat aptly named the KAKU. Jack Nilsen, who owns Accurate Fishing Products in Los Angeles, California, landed the big ’cuda off Mahukona on 12-lb test Izorline monofilament using an Accurate model 197 Boss Magnum reel and a Calstar 197 Grafighter rod. The fish fell only 15 ounces short of a new International Game Fish Association’s men’s world record for the 12-lb line class. A 6.3-lb 15-oz great barracuda caught on September 4, 1983 off Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia has held that line class record for close to 20 years. For Big Island charter information, you can contact me by calling Hook, Line & Sinker Light Tackle Sportfishing at (808) 885-4527. Aloha, Kevin…

Aloha Chuck, He did it again! Dan Meheula has been pounding, all year long and his persistence finally paid off. On June 16 at 3:30 in the morning, his Jigmaster reel baited with fresh tohei bait took a hit. After a brief fight, he landed a 13.5-lb ulua. But, instead of being satisfied and going to sleep, he continued to work his poles since he had a strong feeling that something bigger might come along. Sure enough, at 4:20 a.m., that same pole took a huge strike. He fought the fish for close to 30 minutes and eventually landed this 38-lb ulua! Looks like the fish are really biting on the northeast shore. I caught this 43-lb ulua at a spot close to where Dan caught his fish. Hopefully, they…

HAWAII FISHING NEWS STATE SALTWATER RECORDS…

■ The picturesque backdrop of the majestic Ko‘olau Mountains was breathtaking and in itself worth the 20-minute hike from our car. Today was family day. I had left the ulua rods hanging and swapped them for tiny 2-lb ultralight outfits that my kids could handle with ease. I stepped back and eagerly watched my son Tyler pinch a piece of bread on his barbless hook and quickly make a cast into the placid lake waters. As Tyler engaged his reel, the tiny red stick floater he had just cast bobbed and dipped on the surface. “Bruddah! Get ready. Something biting ’im!” I said as Tyler gripped his rod even tighter. The stick floater suddenly stood up in the water and zipped beneath the surface before I could yell a second…

Dear Chuck, I just picked up my copy of HFN (granted, I was a little late this month) to find the centerfold filled with threats of lawsuits by Hawaii’s longliners. As retailers and distributors of fishing supplies here in Hawai‘i, my husband and I are dependent upon recreational fishing for our living, and, therefore, have a great interest in issues such as this. We chose this business because we have a great love of the sport, be it from shore or from a boat. There are many wonderful benefits to recreational sport fishing, and one of the strongest is its ability to bring together friends and families, fathers and sons, uncles and cousins and, yes, mothers and daughters. Undoubtedly, the “sour grapes” evidenced by the Hawai'i longliners’ threats of lawsuits…

■ The most heavily fished marine environment in the state of Hawai'i is the area surrounding the main Hawaiian islands (MHI), especially those waters around O'ahu. Although fishing does occur to some extent in the waters of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), fishing pressure there is only a fraction of fishing pressure around the MHI. It is a fact that fish populations of heavily fished habitats have declined from their original state, but did exploitation negatively impact the ecosystem? I think not. However, fishermen of Hawai'i today are faced with a government that seems to believe fishing is harmful to the ecosystem. The government has closed a huge area of Hawai'i’s fishing grounds in the NWHI due to this misguided belief. I believe fishing can be detrimental to the marine…

■ The meeting was called to order at low tide on the 21st. Uncle Weke-'ula, keeper of the largest coral head, spoke first. His speech set the tone of the 2001 Convention of Indigenous Occupants. “We, the indigenous fish of Hawai'i, have had a peaceful, subsistence lifestyle, working and sharing with our brothers and sisters, who are all the indigenous Hawaiians, who have lived here for many, many generations. Those who live up on the surface, above high tide, label us as the real ‘indigenous occupants.’ In other words, we have been here an even longer time than the surface occupants have and they appreciated this fact and they enjoyed us on their table. “But, since the arrival of that stranger, Capt. Cook, things have been, unfortunately, quite different. We…

■ Lure making, Kona-style, graduated in 1950 (give or take a year) when Capt. Henry Chee looked at the future and said, “plastics.” Capt. Chee, an innovative Kona charterboat captain With years of marlin fishing to his credit, was intrigued by the possibilities presented by the development of catalyzed resins. Wooden trolling heads had already proved successful for billfish, arid Capt. Chee realized he could copy these prototypes in resin if he could find a suitable mold. His “eureka!” moment came when he saw drinking glasses at the Ocean View Inn, a family restaurant overlooking the fishing boats moored in Kailua Bay. The glasses were the right size and shape. Better yet, their sides were tapered and the top edge was formed without a bead. Both features were important because…

■ Summertime is fishing time, but it’s also ciguatera season in Hawai’i. More than 60,000 people get ciguatera poisoning each year worldwide. Now you can make sure mullet, papio, ulua and other tasty reef fish are safe to eat. Oceanit, the maker of the world’s first and only field test kit for ciguatera, is offering free informational workshops on ciguatera and how to prevent this disease by using its Cigua-Check® fish poison test kit. Fishing and diving clubs, science clubs, schools and anyone who enjoys catching or eating reef fish will benefit from this workshop. Many people have never heard of ciguatera fish poisoning. The ciguatera toxins are produced by the marine micro-organism Gambierdiscus toxicus, more commonly known as a “dinoflagellate” that lives on seaweed and is eaten by reef…

For Hawaii waters, summer is over and winter is approaching. October may preview the upcoming winter’s weather. There will be a greater variety of weather, but the severity of bad weather has not reached its potential. The following are potentially bad weather events, listed in order of decreasing expected occurrence: (1) northwest swell and surf (2) gusty trade winds (3) weak cold front (4) Kona low (5) north swell and surf (6) hurricane. Other than the northwest swell and surf, the expected frequencies of the other events are low. The frequency of trade winds is going down, but trades will still be the most common winds. The number of gusty trade wind days should be low-about four days. Northwest surf picks up while southerly surf is down at Sunset Beach,…