Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2006 i Hawaii Fishing News

■ This year we broke a lot of Ahi Fever Tournament records and astounded onlookers, workers and volunteers over and over as the scales weighed bigger and bigger ‘ahi and the boats came in with more and more fish onboard. The crowd at the harbor ran from one scale to another as big fish were weighed and applauded. Unbelievable fish captures kept everyone watching and cheering during this two-day tournament. The winning team this year, fishing on the SWEET KIMI II with Capt. David Von Hamm, won in three categories and took home a $ 13,500 pot. The first category was the largest ‘ahi for Sunday-a record-breaking 224.2-lb ‘ahi worth $5,000. They also won a second category, grand-prize winner of the tournament, for another $5,000. Finally, they took the total…

■ We went down to the harbor to see the boats come in. I like to meet the captains or mates and see what they have caught before I go out fishing. I do this because it’s important to know that you get along with the people you are going to fish with. After striking up a conversation about the fishing with Steve Sahines, we talked for quite some time. I had never been fishing in Hawai‘i before-mostly just in Florida and Mexico. Steve showed us around the LONG RANGER, which was quite impressive. We planned on a long day of fishing on June 1. We packed plenty of food and beer. The day started off early at 5:30 a.m. I couldn’t believe the sun comes up that early in…

Wahines Rock the Reef ■ It’s no secret that women are doing it on the Big Island-making waves, that is. Since the opening of Big Island Spearguns in Hilo, we have received more than 100 photos and Emails from local gals sporting all kinds of fish, tako and food harvested from our waters. Spear fishing and free-diving are nothing new for most of these women, but gaining acceptance in a male-dominated sport certainly is! For decades, we have enjoyed the fruits of our mothers, grandmothers and sisters who have gone into the sea as hunters, gathering fish, seafood, lima and shellfish, but little has been said about them. We appreciate our uncles and brothers who have included us in this journey and the fishing stories and fishermen’s warehouses that have…

The Red Sea Crossing ■ Between Africa and Saudi Arabia lies a body of water that is abundant in life. Noted for some of the best diving in the world, and fishing, too, the Red Sea challenges the sailor more than the fisherman. The entire distance of some 2,000 miles is dotted with dangerous reefs, that, as in Kaneohe Bay, are only visible with good overhead light. Striking a reef in a 15-ton yacht is very different than striking a reef in a small skiff. A friend of ours did-and then turned back and headed home. The majority of the wrecks are along the African coast, and the occasional rusty hulk of a ship is often visible, looking oddly out of place high atop some reef. Of course, this was…

Hale‘iwa Trolling ■ After one year of rest, the North Shore Hanapa‘a Jackpot Tournament returned to Hale‘iwa this year. It was a small event, with only 17 boats entered. Because of the small amount of boats entered, there were some changes in the distribution of the winnings. The fishing conditions were perfect for trolling with moderate trades and sunny days. But the fishing was slow. So if any team caught a big fish, they had a good chance of placing. When the boats came into the harbor to weighin their fish, the crowd tried to figure out how big the fish were and if they would be in the running for a prize. It was exciting to watch all of the boats come in to weigh their catches one after…

For letters, with photos, received during August we’ll send you HFN’s Holoholo embroidered cap, KAPU STICK-Fish Regulations Sticker & MAXIFLEX Sample pack…our way of saying thanks for sharing your catch! …Hana pa‘a, Chuck Send to: P.O. Box 25488, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825 Aloha from Maui, My husband, Jeff Wong, was so bummed out when he broke his foot. After a few weeks and a new cast, the doctor said he could start walking with crutches as long as he didn’t get the cast wet. Surfing was out, so he put a plastic bag over the cast and went fishing with our friend Glenn T. He came home with a 12-lb ‘omilu and a 4-lb white papio. He was so proud! So, I had to tease him, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, but what…

O‘ahu’s Premier Family Event ■ The Atlapac Fishing Club wrapped up their Weighmaster’s Classic 2006 premier shoreline fishing tournament on June 25 with great success due to the diligent, hard-working co-chairman’s tournament committee and its club members. It was touch and go in the beginning, and some members started to panic because there were fewer than 79 entrants as June started to creep up on us. The thought was, are we going to pull this off or go bust? Thank God for our supporters and the friends of Atlapac Fishing Club! They really came through for us. After all the procrastinating, we had a total of 208 entrants that included 17 wahine and 20 keiki from 4 to 12 years old. We had a tournament! Since the inception of this…

■ Aloha to all. I need to apologize to everyone who read last month’s column. In the July issue I announced that Pete and Kelly’s fifth annual kayak fishing tournament would be held in August. That part was correct, but my dates were off. The tournament will be this month, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the 18th, 19th and 20th. I hope this hasn’t interfered with anyone’s plans to enter the tournament. If you want to know more about the tournament, you can call Soshie’s Sauces and Propane in Honoka‘a at (808) 775 8081 or go to <http://www.screamnreelvideos.com>. A few people have asked if I’ve entered the tournament yet. This year, because I’m helping with the tournament, my wife, Cindy, and I are not going to compete. We just want…

O‘ahu Public Hearings ■ Lay gill net public hearings in O‘ahu drew relatively small numbers of oral testimony. In Wai‘anae, where only restrictions on lay gill nets are proposed, about 20 adults attended with those in favor slightly fewer in number than those against. In Kane‘ohe, where a ban is proposed, voices of opposition drowned out those in support. In Honolulu, where a ban on lay gill nets is proposed on the South Shore between Kawaihoa Point (Portlock) and Keahi Point (Pearl Harbor), 60% were in favor and 40% opposed. Public hearings have a tendency to draw out those who are most affected by the proposed rules, so it was not surprising to hear from those who are against the regulations. However, a statewide public opinion poll on the issue…

Clouds and Wind ■ The next day, Friday, we started out at about the same time, and as I was told, there was a different driver and boat. I forget the name of the boatman, but I was told by Napono that he is normally a guide for the Captain Cook Hotel. I found his English to be better than my guide’s as well as most of the people I had met at the island, except for Erl of the Mini Hotel. That morning it was cloudy and windy, and it stayed that way all day. We went to a flat opposite Motu Tabu and tried that. The fishing was pretty slow because the clouds made it difficult to spot the fish unless you were right up on them. Still…

■ The anticipated fireworks did not explode at the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) public hearing about lay gillnets on July 18 at Lihikai School in Kahului, Maui. But the sparks were there, smoldering beneath the surface for most of the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, kept in check by a strictly enforced two-minute time limit for all testimonials. Even greater than anger, the pervading feeling was one of sadness that it had really come to this: recommending a total ban on lay gillnet fishing in waters off the island of Maui. Close to 70 people testified, with an overwhelming majority (approximately 80 percent) speaking in favor of the ban. A handful of fishermen were among those in favor, but most were environmentalists, Sierra Club members, ocean experts, concerned citizens and…

■ Oh yeah, we’ve got ‘ahi off Kane‘ohe. We haven’t seen a lot, but a few have been caught to spread the fever that overcomes the fishing public at this time of year. The ‘ahi were of varying sizes, but all were well over 100 lbs and all were caught on blind strikes. I recently spoke with a longline fisherman and he mentioned that the fleet was catching more yellowfin this year than in past years in proportion to bigeye, which is their preferred species. How this will affect the trolling mosquito fleet is unknown, but it is a change from the normal situation. Overall, this summer is looking really nice. Some heavy rains may affect the shoreline fishing, but that’s normal. Water quality appears normal, and we have not…

High and Dry ■ First the bad news. The 40-day deluge affected Ho‘omaluhia Garden, as it affected most other places. One day there was a dramatic surge in downpour and the water level rose and exceeded the normal outflow tolerance. As a result, the weed clipper was washed high and dry and got stuck when the water receded. Now the good news. Sometime this month the weed clipper will be refloated and the weed cleaning will start again in earnest. The goal will be to reduce the Elodea to the point where perhaps a new addition of small hungry grass carp can keep the growth in check. Maybe we can then get back at the smallmouth bass. Pocket Tackle Box? Don’t throw away round plastic medication containers. They are excellent…

■ Enjoy summer in Hawaii waters. August is the warmest month over land and in the water. No Kona storms or cold fronts are expected. Replacing these two wintertime storms could be storms born over the warm tropical waters-tropical storms and hurricanes. August is the favored month for these storms. Over the past years, these storms have appeared in Hawai‘i waters so it will be prudent to listen to the National Weather Service marine forecasts before venturing into the water. Weather satellite pictures spot these storms. Trade winds will be the common feature as they persist through the month. Expect about five to 10 days of gusty trade winds that can make the waters too rough. Northwest swell and surf activity is at the minimum, but southerly surf could be…

Aloha Chuck, It was July 2, 2006, and a beautiful Sunday for fishing with my family at Hamoa in Hana Maui. I had decided to take just my spinner, and leave my ulua poles at home when my brotherin-law Juan said, “Nah, take ‘urn. At least one of ‘urn.” When we arrived at the beach, I rigged my Roddy Hunter with a Penn Jigmaster reel and 60-lb Suffix line, and at noon, I cast into the sea. I then joined my family fishing for nenue. My mother, Lehua, caught a couple of goodsized ones, so I thought I’d use one and slid it down the line of my ulua pole. At 3 p.m. my reel started playing my tune. The fish fought hard, and it was my very first big…

A Grand Experience ■ It’s funny how things come together. I was sitting at the picnic table in the shade of the structure behind the boat of our next-door neighbor. I had parts and tools spread out on towels, and the first of five 130s was ready for me to replace its rollers. I’d spent the morning going to all the tackle stores to gather enough parts to do the job. Now, a cool breeze picked up through the harbor, calming the intense heat of that hot Kona morning. “Summer’s coming,” I thought. I couldn’t wait to get in the season of fishing every day. It’s a grind, but it seems to be when Lance and I are most happy. There had been a little marlin action recently, but it…

■ I believe that Father’s Day is about dads doing things with keiki (children), and this tournament, titled Diving With Dad, is a fun way for that to happen. Afterward the whole family can enjoy a picnic together. Although this enjoyable experience can be hectic, just think of it as a gift from dad that will be remembered for a long time. The Alii Holo Kai (AHK) dive club holds this event annually. This event also occurs simultaneously on the island of Maui, and there it is huge. Brian Yoshikawa, owner of Maui Sporting Goods is the major Maui sponsor and originator. On O‘ahu, the participants gathered at Kokololio Beach Park between Hau‘ula Park and Lai’e Point, just off Kamehameha Highway, an ideal place for the keiki to play and…

■ As the ‘oama swarm the shores this time of year, huge schools of papio are on the hunt for this annual delicacy and are eager to grab one, even if it’s on a hook and line. That makes it fun for anglers who are out to catch a few papio for food or catch them for fun and tag and release them. Of the papio that eagerly strike a live bait, ‘omilu are the most abundant. There’s no wonder why this blue streak is tops on the Hawaiian anglers’ list. It’s beautiful, fast, strong and good eating, too. It’s no secret to seasoned papio anglers that the best times to catch ‘omilu in a frenzied mode are at the crack of dawn and at sunset. Though I’ve had good…

■ For a while now I have been hearing about the controversy surrounding the salmon fishing season this year in California and Oregon. Water from the Klamath River is being redirected for agriculture in the Klamath Basin. Thousands of salmon swim up this river to spawn every year, and this reduces flows critical to them. The remaining water is contaminated with blue-green algae and natural and agricultural nutrients. It also becomes overheated by reservoirs in the upper Klamath area. This problem was brought to the government’s attention in 2002 when more than 70,000 mature Chinook and countless coho salmon were found dead. Since then, the salmon population has continued to decrease drastically due to both poor river conditions and overfishing by commercial boats. This year, the Pacific Fishery Management Council…

■ There is only one problem with the fishing in Fiji: not very many people know how incredible it is. There are no real seasons. Granted there are times that packs of various game fish are on a serious run, but all year-round the big-game fishing is great in the hot spots of Fiji like Taveuni in the Northern Territory and Kadavu and the surrounding areas. On a half-day charter, an angler usually will see more action and raise more varieties of fish than possibly anywhere else in the world at any given time. The added incentive is that the angler experiences this great day of fishing from a South Pacific paradise where people are friendly and speak English, and they can drink the water and have nice accommodations. It…

Fishing Offshore Was Enough to Blow You Away! ■ Aloha from the Friendly Isle of Moloka‘i. I hope everyone is getting their share of all the very blustery weather that we’ve been experiencing here on Moloka‘i. Whew, when the weather reports say 10-to 20-mph trades, they really mean 10 plus 20 mph. Oh, well, for every day that one can’t venture out, the fish only get bigger-at least that’s my perspective. I just hope that I get to catch the fish when they get bigger. Everyone eventually gets a chance at the fish of a lifetime, if they continue to fish every chance they get. Keli‘i Mawa‘e and some friends from Kaua‘i, Steve Layne and Dawne Morningstar, were able to land three nice-sized ono from Steve’s 19’ Boston Whaler during…