Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2006 i Hawaii Fishing News

Aloha e Chuck, It was recently in the news that the representative who introduced the bill on behalf of two brothers (due to your newspaper, HFN) was honored at their school because the bill has been acted on by the governor! Mahalo for all your hard work and for bringing this to the attention of the people of the state of Hawai’i! See the articles below from the state Legislature website: <http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/act067_.pdf>; and <http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/HB1982_sd1_.htm>. I’d be interested in your educational materials you are developing for the keiki of Hawai‘i to be more aware of their ocean environment and to take an active part in changing or affecting the adult world by doing their part! I could share them with staff at the elementary school and the other science teachers here.…

■ As for the Aqua Hunters, we have had some success in O‘ahu waters. The past year was filled with everyone’s first catches of pelagics and ulua. We have covered Ka‘ena Point, Waimea Bay, Kahana Bay, China Walls off of Portlock, Diamond Head buoy, and Makapu‘u and Rabbit Island and a lot of places in between. The club has been going on consistent paddles three to four times a month since the summer of last year. I have to tell you, the boys are animals out there in the ocean. We spend anywhere from four to six hours fishing. On a usual day’s journey we can cover close to 15 miles, easily. All of the members have strong paddling and ocean backgrounds that make it easier to fish. We have…

■ “Akule stay in!” exclaimed the person on the other end of the telephone line. My adrenaline began to rush with the anticipation of “loading ‘em up.” This kind of excitement is common for akule fishermen whose blood pulsates through their veins with the idea of a successful hunt. Today, fishing for akule is relaxing, exciting and almost always highly successful for me, but it was not always like that. Like all of you, I have “paid my dues” and spent many frustrating days casting over and over, only to return home with a cooler full of melting ice, a sunburn and much disappointment. Where did it all begin? In the late 1990s when the construction industry was at an all-time low and jobs for me as a general contractor…

■ For nearly a decade, the state has tried to address bottomfish overfishing in the main Hawaiian islands using a habitat-based approach. The seven species of fish managed by the DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources under the name “bottom fish” include ehu (or ‘ula,‘ula), onaga (or ‘ula‘ula koa‘e), ‘opakapaka, hapu‘upu‘u, kalekale, gindai (or ‘ukikiki) and lehi (or lehe). These fish are strongly tied to depths between 50 and 200 fathoms and special types of habitat (ridges, terraces, pinnacles, cliffs, canyons, steep slopes and other features that vary by species). No one knows this better than the fishermen who target these species and others in the bottomfish group. Bottomfish Restricted Fishing Areas (BRFAs) were implemented in July 1998, following a federal assessment that stocks of ehu and onaga were approaching a…

■ Fiji offers some exciting opportunities for the avid fly fisherman to pursue some of the aggressive fighting fish that are abundant in Fiji, including trevally, barracuda, tuna, coral trout and even marlin. There seem to be two types of fly fishermen: the purists; and the anglers who enjoy the challenge of using incredibly light tackle but may rig their outfits in a way that guarantees them a higher catch rate. For the traditional fly fisherman, the potential for a Fiji IGFA record abounds because fly fishing is a relatively new sport in these fertile waters. The first stop on a flyfishing tour of Fiji is Tavewa Island, a 2½2-kilometer volcanic outcrop surrounded by white sandy beaches on its east and south shores. It is located in the Yasawa group…

■ Finally the fish decided to make their debut. The month was crazy with a lot of different people catching some really big fish. First up was the fearsome duo of Jaime Pabalan and Frank Maniago. They landed a couple of nicesized fish, which I wrote about in last month’s “Moloka‘i Seawatch.” A few weeks after that catch, they teamed up again and Jaime was able to land a real giant of an ulua while whipping off his boat with his new custom rod and Saltiga reel. The fish was subdued after a good fight. At the weigh-in, it tipped the scales at 86.4 lbs. What a hefty fish! Frank also was able to bring in a 26-lb fish, and an 11-lb baby was escorted home with its two cousins.…

Ho‘omaluhia Catch-n-Keep Day ■ As promised, Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden Pond will be open for smallmouth bass fishing on Monday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please do not try to beat the crowd on the preceding family fishing weekend where casting and spinning will be discouraged. Any sportfishing method will be allowed, but the import of live bait will not. In this regard, night crawlers and worms are not considered “live bait.” All the fish that are caught will be disposed of humanely and hopefully consumed. No one will be allowed to leave with live fish. The best artificial baits are still surface lures and floaters. I am told that the green-colored baits with black stripes are the ones that match the current forage the most. I am…

■ The weather outlook in Hawaiian waters for June is good except for gusty trade winds and higher-than-normal southerly waves and surf. It is unlikely that strong Kona winds, thunderstorms and heavy rain will occur. Although it is possible for a tropical storm to appear in Hawaii waters as the warmer months approach, the odds are against it. Gusty trades have made their presence felt since March and are expected to continue in June. With trades on almost all the days of the month, gusty trades are expected on 5 to 10 days. Their occurrence may be more frequent if this pattern for stronger trades persists into June. Although refreshing for their air conditioning effect on land, surface water conditions, especially in the major channels between islands open to the…

Chuck, I thought you might enjoy seeing these pictures. If you will remember, on the wonderful trip that I made with you and Brad to Whale Island fishing about 10 years ago, 1 brought along Harry “Court” Vernon from Miami, Florida. His father was the famous Capt. Harry, who passed away about five years ago. Harry’s family owns the premier big-game tackle store in South Florida, Capt. Harry’s Fishing Supply. Anyway, 1 am sure that you and Brad remember Harry from our trip together. This is the second year that they have had a Raft Tournament in Miami, and these are pictures of Harry fishing. He is still as funny and nice to be around as always. Best personal regards, Carl Huffman ELEC-TRA-MATE Aloha Chuck, While the Hawaiian islands were…

■ When people think about the state of Hawai‘i, they often think only about the eight southernmost islands, known as the main Hawaiian islands, which span from the Big Island north to Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. These islands, however, comprise only a small fraction of the Hawaiian islands. The vast majority of the archipelago-approximately 1,200 miles of the 1,500-mile island chain-lies in the waters northwest of the main islands. These islands, atolls, banks and seamounts are known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are a unique and special place. They are the breeding grounds for 96 percent of the world’s black-footed albatrosses and 99 percent of the Laysan albatrosses. They are also home to the majority of Hawaiian monk seals, one of the most endangered marine mammals in…

■ The black marlin have been moving in throughout northern and western Fiji since April, and the early sailfish arrivals are close behind. The area has also been teeming with schools of large wahoo and the usual large schools of ‘ahi and aku with a slight showing of mahimahi. A “boat ride” is a rare occurrence in Fiji right now with every boat coming in with at least a handful of yellowfin and a couple of ono after a half-day or less of fishing. However, the marlin have been particularly feisty and coming out as the victors against the anglers. Our old friend Capt. Pat Nelson, formerly of Kona, operates out of nearby Vanua Levu Island. He recently hooked the largest black marlin he has ever seen in his life.…

■ The spring run of mahimahi was a rousing success. From all over the island, we received reports of great fishing for this tasty fish along with some catches of large ono. Many fishermen know that the coming of large open-ocean ono signals that the ‘ahi, or yellowfin tuna, are not far behind. We did get a report of ‘ahi being caught off Kane‘ohe by two boats that got blind strikes. Let’s hope those tuna were leading a large group of friends. Jon Aguiar had a great Sunday aboard the YELLOW BIRD II when he caught more than 600 lbs of mahimahi, lots of ono and even a small marlin. Jon told us he cannot wait to get back out there because it was so much fun to be fishing…

■ I would like to dedicate this month’s column to Richard Murakami, a great fisherman whose life was cut short in an unfortunate two-car accident on Kamehameha Highway in April 2006. He was a good man who did not know how to say “no” to anyone who needed help. If he were in the middle of fishing and heard someone in distress with engine trouble on the seas, he would stop fishing and see if he could help out, whether it be towing them in or just giving them support. I knew Richard from the Waialua Boat Club. Richard was one of the original club members, and he loved fishing on his boat, the MURA MARU, moored in Hale‘iwa Harbor. Whether trolling or bottom fishing, Richard knew how to catch…

Alexander “Zander” Grow Budge Jr. November 28, 1923-March 19, 2006 (Retired Big Island charter captain Alexander “Zander” Grow Budge Jr. of Waimea, South Kohala, died suddenly at the age of 82 in a tragic accident while walking along Kalanianaole Highway in ‘Aina Haina during a visit to O‘ahu on March 19, 2006.) ■ Skipper Zander Budge was always way ahead of his time. Already a crackerjack fisherman as a kid in the 1930s, he became an innovative pioneer in the 1940s, a legend among small-boat fishermen in the 1950s, and a world-record holding big-game fisherman in the 1960s. I met him in the late 1960s, soon after he started chartering the SPOOKY LUKI, a classic Bertram 31, out of Kawaihae. The fishing methods and tackle techniques he taught me right…

For letters, with photos, received during June we’ll send you HFN’s Holoholo embroidered cap with HFN logo & KAPU STICK-Fish Regulations Sticker…our way of saying thanks for sharing your catch! …Hana pa‘a, Chuck ‘ Send to: P.O. Box 25488, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96825 Aloha Chuck, I hope you can find a place in your Hilo Seawatch of the Holoholo Style sections for this fishing tale. We left Hilo in my 20-foot Kevlacat TAKEKO at first light on April 9 and trolled the coast to Hawaiian Paradise Park. We then decided to head out to fish around the QQ-buoy but rough seas forced us back. Good thing, because 10 minutes later we hooked up this 75-lb (unofficial), 5’ 2” ono just off Kaloli Point in about 300 feet of water. Pictured from…

■ I, too, must pull myself from bed each morning and prepare for that terrible deed called “work.” What made this Tuesday morning even harder to face were the facts that the fishing had picked up and that the water conditions were a kayaker’s dream. With a giant cup of coffee in hand, I plodded down the hall to my office, dropped down in front of the computer and began to check my E-mail before heading off to work. As I scrolled down the list of unread E-mail, one subject title, “Makapu‘u Madness,” caught my eye. The message was from Ed Kawasaki on O‘ahu, and it was obviously about kayak fishing. Such information takes precedence over things like world news. I clicked the file open and began to read the…

Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a ■ The state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua‘a, officially lost its state fish title more than 10 years ago. HFN took action. A bill was passed in the Legislature reinstating the humuhumunukunukuapua‘a. Rest easy tonight, the squarish-shaped triggerfish, known affectionately as the “humuhumu,” is once again the state fish. Kolea’s Flight to Bird Flu Experts think the kolea is a likely suspect to introduce bird flu to Hawai‘i. The brownish striped sand piper-like birds make an annual migration to Alaska. They have just left Hawai‘i for their northern summer. But Alaska is also a landing area for birds from Europe, Asia and North America. It is likely that kolea will be exposed to bird flu from different continents. The intensity of the kolea’s migration is a cause for concern. The birds…

Lift Off From Honolulu ■ Tuesday finally arrived, and I caught my Robert’s shuttle to the airport. The driver was really interested in what was in that large PVC tube I loaded onto her bus. After telling her about my destination, she told me she had relatives on Christmas Island that she had never met but would like to go see. She said her family was from Tuvalu and they had migrated to both Hawaii and Kiribati. She wished me good fishing and dropped me off at the airport at the Air Pacific check-in, which was in the main terminal. Air Pacific, as of October, runs a weekly flight from O‘ahu to Christmas Island to Nadi, Fiji (and reverses that itinerary on the way back). The check-in was a bit…

■ The Wai‘anae Coast is getting ready for the Ahi Fever Tournament, and excitement has filled the harbor. This tournament has been full with 200 boats entered since May 12, 2006. The tournament list is attached and will aid those who did not or cannot look up this helpful information on the Internet. Small amounts of ‘ahi have been caught, but anglers have been keeping quiet about those catches. The Waianae Boat Fishing Club had its monthly tournament, and the biggest fish caught among the eight participating teams was a 24-lb mahimahi caught by Jay Swift on the HIKI NO. Second place went to Vernon Kim on the LAWANA K with a 21-lb ono. Third place went to Abraham Leedy on the NINA L with a 20-lb mahimahi, and fourth…

Four youths, members of leading Honolulu families, were safe at home today after spending the night crossing the rough Moloka‘i channel in a flimsy 10-foot canvas rowboat. They were forced to take to the small boat when their 36-foot fishing sampan sank five miles off the Moloka‘i coast about 5 Monday afternoon. The boys are: Bill Budge, 18 and Zander Budge, 15, sons of Alexander G. Budge, president of Castle & Cook, and Mrs. Budge. Pete Russell, 19, son of John E. Russell, president of Theo. H. Davies & Co. and Mrs. Russell. Johnny Robinson, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Robinson. None is injured. None of the boys was injured although the entire quartet was dog tired and bathrobe clad when interviewed today. The near-tragedy occurred apparently…

AHI FEVER FISHING TOURNAMENT June 17 & 18, 2006 Waianae Boat Fishing Club (808) 696-3399 P.O. Box 8221, Waianae, HI 96792 Norman Swift E-mail <nswift9005@msn.com> NORTH SHORE HANAPAA FISHING TOURNAMENT June 21, 22 & 23, 2006 Haleiwa Fishing Supply (808) 637-9876 10TH ANNUAL KONA CLASSIC TOURNAMENT June 24 & 25, 2006 Tropidilla—Kona (808) 960-0978 P.O. Box 2158, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 <jody@konatournaments.com> PORT ALLEN FISHING CLUB (KAUAI) JUNE 24, 2006 Ed Horner (808) 634-6852 (days) or (808) 337-1701 (eves) Jim Horner (808) 639-2508 days or (808) 332-8213 (eves) Willie Abara (808) 335-5080 18TH ANNUAL FIRECRACKER OPEN July 1 & 2, 2006 Tropidilla-Kona (808) 960-0978 P.O. Box 2158, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 <jody@konatournaments.com> WORLD CUP BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT July 4, 2006 Jim Hardie-Miami (305) 551-0320 P.O. Box 52-6806, Miami, FL 33152, E-mail <scribemia@aol.com>…