Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2002 i Hawaii Fishing News

■ I was wondering if you could answer a question or put me in contact with somebody who could. It was between the hours of 4 and 5 p.m. My cousins were playing in the shore break near a beach called “Japanese School” located-between Kaiaka Park and Ali‘i Beach. In the shore break from under the sand popped out a serpentlike head. The head was yellow and appeared to have no eyes. One of my cousins dug under the sand to get under it, but its head retreated into the sand. As the water drained from the shore, once again it popped its head out. This time my cousin was successful in shoveling the creature out. Its head was yellow, and the rest of the body was gray in color…

■ By the time the year was two months old, the Kona charterboat HO‘OKELE had already tagged and released more than 40 striped marlin as well as an assortment of blues and spearfish. Some of that total came on days when Capt. Guy Terwilleger’s fish-catching Bertram 31 brought three, four or five billfish to the boat for release. “In a 12-day period, we had two days when we caught five stripes, two more when we caught four, and several others when we caught two or three,” Capt. Terwilleger said. Those were days when other boats drew strikes from as many as a dozen stripers and didn’t hook a single one.” Startling results like these draw the inevitable question, “What lure was he using?” If you know how hard striped marlin…

Tapas and Olé! ■ Tapas are antojitos (the diminutive for the Spanish word antojo), which means cravings: “Delicious little morsels of food that define a lifestyle as well as a culinary style. Tapas in Spain are almost always accompanied by wine or beer, but they are as much about the sharing of friendship, the gossip of the day, and talking as they are about eating and drinking.” (“Tapas,” by Ann and Larry Walker.) Tapas can be just little tidbits or a more substantial fare. Usually tapas are a few bites of whatever delicacy is presented, served in very small dishes. The literal translation of tapas is “lids.” These little dishes were usually served to you as little lids, balanced on top of your wineglass when brought to your table. Originally,…

■ Ulua season is upon us. There are many ways to catch Hawaii’s premiere shoreline game fish. One of the most popular ways is by slide-baiting. Though seasoned anglers have gained knowledge through years of experience, beginners often overlook some of the seemingly unimportant components. One such item is the slide-bait sinker. A slide-bait sinker, or wire lead, as it is commonly called, can make a big difference in improving your chances of catching a big ulua. Slide-bait sinkers have evolved over the years. Early designs were crude, lead shapes were unrefined, and many shapes were unbalanced. As sportfishing for ulua evolved, sinkers became more aerodynamic. The bank sinker shape became commonplace; however, it had its problems when it was cast. The bank sinker would wobble in the air because…

National Safe Boating Week Focuses USCG’s Efforts National Safe Boating Week kicked off Saturday, May 18, with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter KITTIWAKE offering tours at the Waikiki Yacht Club, a search-and-rescue demonstration featuring a U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 rescue helicopter and an auxiliarist vessel, as well as a host of other demonstrations and booths. This year’s campaign focused on raising boat safety awareness, whether by ensuring VHF radios and/or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are onboard, taking boating safety courses or taking advantage of free vessel safety checks. Recentaccidentreportsreveal recreational boating casualties are the second leading cause of transportation fatalities after highways and that seven out of 10 people involved in boating-related accidents died. Life jackets, if worn, could have saved at least 400 of these boaters. Boating…

■ Since passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, those questioning some of the draconian measures associated with its implementation have been routinely dismissed as ignorant by the radical zealots who have perverted the act’s original intent and purpose. Environmental articles appearing in HAWAII FISHING NEWS have taken hunters to task for not blindly accepting the dictates of scientific “experts” on endangered species issues, when, in fact, their real-life experiences have shown the “experts” to be wrong. Some recent revelations indicate that hunters and others may wish to increase their skepticism of the “scientific facts” flouted by environmental activists. In January, the Wall Street Journal detailed a story(1) on how seven employees from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and a Washington state agency falsely…

■ Imagine crystal clear polarized optics in purpose-built tints where you can choose how dark a lens you prefer for the conditions in which you fish, in a functional, lightweight wrapped and raked frame with maximum protection and comfort. Imagine no more. Kaenon Polarized, out of Newport Beach, California, has done just that. The Kore is a revolutionary product combining the next generation of polarized optics in a functional performance frame with an emphasis on performance and comfort. Kaenon Polarized is the world’s first sunglass to offer polarized lens technology with varying Light Transmission Levels (LTL) in purpose-built tints to allow you to customize for light and water conditions and personal preference. “The fishing world really needed a good product, and now we have it. The fact that Kaenon has…

■ The Hilo Casting Club’s 2002 members-only Spring Classic was held from April 12 through 14, 2002. The weigh-in was held at the HCC Scalehouse located on Hinano Street from 1 till 1:30 p.m. This year’s Spring Classic was chaired by Rody Dasalla. Classic categories consisted of largest fish, first through fifth places. There were two optional jackpots: largest fish, winner take all and first through fifth place. A total of 23 members participated, and nine ulua were brought to the weigh-in. We were fortunate to be blessed with exceptional fishing weather; marine conditions were perfect for fishing. This year’s top honors went to Kahana Itozaki for his 89¼-lb ulua. He fished the South Kona shores and scored his winning catch using a live akule for bait. Josh Takayesu’s 48½-lb…

Children’s Fishing Derby ■ With National Fishing Week during the first week of June 2002, HO‘Omaluhia will host a Children’s Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 1, 2002. All children age 4 to 17 years are invited. The derby will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No permits are needed, just bring a fishing pole and some barbless hooks and white Wonder Bread. If you do not know what that is, just come with any of cheap, sticky, white sandwich bread. The tilapia and the other fish do not particularly like the brown healthy type of bread. Prizes will be awarded in three age groups: 4 to 7 years; 8 to 12 years; and 13 to 17 years. WalMart sponsored some of the prizes, but a few other patrons…

■ Have you ever studied an open tide pool and witnessed so many different species of fish that it looked more like an aquarium? Colorful hinalea, kupipi, aholehole, jumping jacks and slow-moving creatures like crabs and shrimp are often part of the environment. For the avid shoreline angler, all of these creatures mean one thing: bait. Old fishing buddies like Guy Nakamoto, Jay Tabata and Glen Yamamoto all rely heavily on live bait when going after papio and ulua. Guy was “the man” when it came to catching bait and turning a hinalea into a succulent piece of green meat fillet that no ‘omilu could resist. There were times when Guy would cast out a live 4-inch saddleback hinalea and check it an hour later to find it still flipping…

Hawai‘i Granders and Tag-and-Release Record ■ The recent International Game Fish Association’s publication, International Angler, was excited to report that in 2001 four 1,000-lb Pacific blue marlin were caught off Kona. Even more impressive than the grander catch was that 1,000 Pacific blue marlin were released off Kona. The previous year’s release totaled 220. Total Hawai‘i billfish releases, including spearfish, sailfish, blue marlin, black marlin and striped marlin, tallied 1,500. In 2000, only 450 billfish were tagged and released. Three Pacific blue marlin released off Kona wore Tag-A-Billfish (TAB) satellite pop-off tags. TAB efforts are continued by Dr. Barbara Block, Rick Gaffney and IGFA trustee Stewart Cambell, who keep Hawai‘i a leader in billfish science. Longliner Chutes Kill Bird By-Catch Hawaii longline fishing industry representatives say there may be a…

■ Brown trout fishing guide Peter Warren once told me that 90 percent of the food eaten by trout is taken on the bottom or in midwater. Just a small portion of trout food is taken on the surface, so if you’re serious about landing a fish, then you’d better stick to using a wet fly or a weighted nymph. When fishing with a knowledgeable guide who’s landed tons of brown trout, you’d better do what he says, so that’s what I did. I tied on a weighted nymph that he gave me and started fly fishing on the bottom. “Yeah, but what if I hook the bottom, Peter?” I asked as we walked to the stream. “If you don’t hook the bottom once in a while, then you’re not…

Hale‘iwa Trolling-Now You See Them, Now You Don’t ■ The whales were here for an extra-long time this past winter. Everywhere you went to fish, the whales would show up. But now they are all gone and the fishermen are relieved that they can fish in peace. The trolling is good with lots of mahimahi being brought up. Many of the commercial fishermen are loading up on mahimahi but are not getting much money for them at the auction block due to the abundance of this fish. Sizable aku and shibi are being picked up around the buoys. The most productive is the X-buoy. It seems as though whenever a buoy is showing productivity, it ends up breaking loose and disappearing. I wonder why. I hope no one is tying…

“Ke kukui ku piliiaokauhu.” 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. Survival of the Fittest ■ A member of the Big Island hunting community recently questioned the efforts of those who are trying to prevent native Hawaiian plants and animals from going extinct. He wrote, “What could possibly make someone believe that man’s puny efforts will have any significant effect on species not adapted to survival in earth’s continuing evolution?” This troubling assertion is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of Hawaiian natural history. It implies that native species are weak and ill adapted to their environment. It dismisses the beauty and importance of Hawaiian plants and animals. And it reveals a sense…

ROYAL CONTRACTING EMPLOYEE INVITATIONAL June 15, 2002 Jan or Verna-O‘ahu (808) 839-9006 NORTH SHORE HANA PA‘A JACKPOT June 19 & 21,2002 Haleiwa Fishing Supply-O‘ahu (808) 637-9876 6TH ANNUAL KONA CLASSIC TOURNAMENT June 29 & 30, 2002 Tropidilla—Kona (808) 327-1440 P.O. Box 2158, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 <info@konatoumaments.com> PEARL HARBOR FISHING TOURNAMENT June 29 J.D. Okamura-O‘ahu (808) 473-8000 ext 3541 E-Mail <okamuraJD@phnsy.navy.mil> WORLD CUP BLUE MARLIN CHAMPIONSHIP July 4, 2002 Jim Hardie-Miami (305) 559-8485 P.O. Box 2476, Miami, FL 33159 FIRECRACKER OPEN July 6 & 7, 2002 Tropidilla—Kona (808) 327-1440 P.O. Box 2158, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 <info@konatournaments.com> HBGFC 4TH OF JULY TOURNAMENT July 6 & 7, 2002 Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club—Kona (808) 883-8302 P.O. Box 3106, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 SKINS MARLIN DERBY July 12, 13 & 14, 2002 Tropidilla—Kona (808) 327-1440…

■ The date was April 3, 2002. It was a beautiful sunny morning; the ocean was calm, and the trade winds were down. I was sitting in my chair at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, greatly anticipating class to finish so I could go fishing! My girlfriend, Ivy Tsukayama, and I were ready for a good two days of fishing at our favorite spot along the Kapoho Coast of the Big Island. As soon as I got home, we packed up the truck and headed to S. Tokunaga’s Fishing Supply store to pick up a small tako for bait. Because the water was so calm and the moon phase wasn’t that great for ulua fishing, I left my big-game poles at home and brought along my 13-foot Nitro graphite…

■ We had 13 strikes and lost all of them at Bankrupt Point. Masa Maebo and I had fished at this point for 10 years. Catching a big ulua was our biggest challenge, and we nearly went bankrupt trying, as the name of the point implies! Let’s look at some of the cost factors: The cost of the mainline, broken pole, lost gaff, gas and oil and natural wear and tear on the Jeep were not included. Most casters slide two rigs before recasting. I’m lazy, so I slide three to four rigs. If a big ulua or a moray eel eats my bait and goes into a cave, I lose $10.20. Thirteen lost strikes cost $132.60. No wonder my wife offered to treat me to a seafood dinner at…

AOL Chief’s Critical Habitat ■ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USF&WS) proposal to designate 4,193 acres of KauaTs Koloa-Po‘ipu region as critical habitat has drawn fire from landowners. Included in this landowner list is Grove Farm, owned by AOL-Time Warner Chief Steve Case. Grove Farm owns 50 percent of the land being proposed as critical habitat. The Koloa-Po‘ipu habitat is for two cave insects: the Kaua‘i cave amphipod; and the Kaua‘i cave wolf spider. Moioka‘i Critical Habitat Fourteen plant species have been added to critical habitat designation in Moloka‘i. The revised critical habitat proposal also triples the designated critical habitat land to 43,532 acres. The USF&WS, which drew up the proposal, decided not to designate lands in MO‘Omomi. The USF&WS argued that these lands are already being protected by…

■ Salmon over orange, and white over plum 9-inch skirts tied to a strawberry Shiroma jethead rigged on 300-lb test Ande and anchored with a pair of 10/0 open-gap stainless Mustad hooks. Blue-purple over purple-pink tied onto a mirrored, slant-nosed jethead adorned with the same 300-lb test Ande leader and 10/0 Mustad hooks. These were two of the lures that I was pulling behind my boat, the KAIPII, on a beautiful light trade wind day in late March. I had my boat up for sale and was trying to keep myself from using it to keep the hours low for the next owner. After much prodding by my friends and mechanic, I decided it would be better to use it than to lose it. Contrary to my knowledge, a boat…

Howzit Chuck, Pictured is Pomaika‘i Vierra (age 14) with his 17.1-lb kahala and 18.3-lb ulua. The fish were caught an hour apart from each other. The ulua was hooked using he’e (tako) for bait and white eel was used in landing the kahala. This is Pomaika‘i’s first ulua catch and I am sure that he will hana pa‘a more ulua nui in the future. Pomaika‘i is also a good skin diverand has the “squid eye.” He often dives with his Grandpa Bernard and Uncle Michael to get he’e for eating or for bait. Pomaika‘i’s dad, Edward, is a good shorecaster and is happy for his son. Edward prepared the fish by frying it with Panko. Was broke da mout, ‘ono (very delicious)! Mahalo to Brian Kimata of Brian’s Fishing Supply…