Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2008 i Hawaii Fishing News

Halawa Valley on Moloka‘i has seen many communities, cultures and people, some very powerful, pass through its jungle wilderness. Each of these people has their own experience and story to share. For better or worse, they leave a piece of themselves there in the valley. This year, a Tahitian chief, Miko, found himself in this enchanted place and entered the stories of the locals. Uncle Raymond, who lives in a very traditional manner and runs a Hawaiian Cultural Center on Moloka‘i, told me that he had first seen Miko at a hula event five years ago. Miko is tattooed from head to foot, an impressive sight that made a lasting impression. At the time, Uncle Raymond had been having reoccurring dreams centered on a wa‘a, or traditional Hawaiian canoe. These…

Growing up in Kohala in the ’40s and ’50s on a sugar plantation and in multi-ethnic camps and towns was a unique experience. People looked after one another. With low wages and large families, putting enough food on the table was difficult for the breadwinner of the family. To augment meals, people went fishing, hunting, raised chickens and pigs and grew large vegetable gardens. The unique plantation envi-ronment set aside areas for the workers to raise vegetables and livestock, mainly pigs and chickens. Additionally, most homes had their own small gardens and everyone shared. My dad, like the head of many Kohala families, took up fishing to bring enough food to the table. I don’t know exactly how it originated in our family, but my dad and uncles all learned…

Striking Differences On a smooth, calm morning, we pulled the RIZZUTO MARU up to one of our favorite deep-water ulua spots at the edge of the ‘Alenuihaha Channel. Between the surface and the bottom 35 fathoms down, the fishfinder showed a lot of interesting marks. My fishing partner, Arte McCollough, and I saw a dense blob between 10 and 20 fathoms—probably a school of ‘opelu. Bigger marks, more scattered than the ‘opelu, dotted the screen down to the bottom. From past experience, we knew these were kahala, ulua, ‘omilu, kaku, uku, rainbow runner: the usual gang of deep-water, bottom-oriented predators. The trade winds had relented, leaving light and variable winds of 5 to 15 knots. With no strong winds to push us off our marks, we knew we would be…

Slow and steady is how I would describe the month. The fishing wasn’t red hot, but it wasn’t horrible either. Considering that the charter excursion numbers have dropped significantly, the fish numbers are actually decent. The economy is definitely taking its toll on everyone (an obvious statement, of course). The economy is negatively affecting the fishermen, commercial and charter alike. Although we are seeing a decrease in fish numbers, that’s not necessarily negative. The numbers are the way they are because of the charter and commercial fishing slowdown. No one wants to spend money on charters, and commercial fishermen are finding that the risk is not worth the loss. This September, the marlin numbers were lower than last year’s. There were 67 blue marlin reported, 46 of which were tagged…

Catfish Session at Nu‘uanu Reservoir This session has produced some spectacular results for some anglers. Because of the paucity of water, almost anything that was offered as bait eventually produced fish. As the session progresses. there has to be a time when the current population of catfish diminishes to a point where it will be discernible. However, so far so good. Each daily session produced a better-than-average amount of catfish brought to the scales. Line Slack Beneficial? Observation of the techniques of various seasoned anglers seemed to indicate that a little slack in the anchored line produces more fish. Too often one sees the tip of the rod give energetic tugs and then the bite fails to set. There is a probable reason for this. The natural food that is…

Ko ‘Olina Public Boat Ramp Victory The billion-dollar leeward O‘ahu real estate development, Ko ‘Olina Resort, must live up to its word and build a safe public boat launch ramp. The State Land Use Commission voted 6-to-0 to give Ko ‘Olina six months to draft plans for the new ramp. The two-year contested case was brought against Ko ‘Olina by fishermen and boaters. The Office of State Planning represented the fishermen. Briefly, they allowed fishermen the use of a resort marina ramp. Then in 2005, they reneged. The case began when the resort decided to close their building permit stipulated ramp. Resort Marina Operator Mike Nelson said Ko ‘Olina thought they were fulfilling rezoning requirements when they booted fishermen from the marina’s state-of-the-art ramp. Using bait-and-switch tactics, they offered fishermen…

Hi Everyone, Good news! We have a winner! Fishermen have prevailed! At a recent meeting at the LUC, a Decision and Order was voted on and approved by the commissioners to find Ko ‘Olina Development LLC in non-compliance with the Finding of Fact. Ko ‘Olina Development LLC was ordered to build a boat ramp open to the public inside the Ko ‘Olina Marina. The decision and order also stated that Ko ‘Olina needs to appear before the LUC six months from now to present the plans for the ramp including its location, governement permit requirements and the construction schedule including when the ramp would be open to the public and boating community. Fishermen in attendance included me, Warren Von Arnswaldt, Ronald Tam, Abuti and Rodney Ajifu. We also had some…

Kalapana Aloha pumehana! I keia mau la aka nei, ua wala‘au me ko‘u hoaloha, William Punapaia‘alaikahala Kenoi o Hilo nei, e pili ana i kona manawa kamali‘i mai Kalapana. Ua hoihoi loa kona mau hali‘a aloha i laila a pela no i ke kumu i keia mo‘olelo. He mai no e heluhelu ana e pili ana i wahipana ‘o Kalapana o ka moku o Keawe. Warmest aloha! Not too long ago, I spoke to my dear friend, William (Billy) Punapaia-‘alaikahala (Puna, where fragrant pandanus blows from its enclosures) Kenoi of Hilo, about his childhood days in Kalapana. Fascinating were his many cherished memories there and, thus, the idea for this story. Come then, and read about famed Kalapana on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. I get lots of E-mail correspondence…

Aloha, On behalf of the participants and the P&R Ohana Fishing Committee, we would like to express our sincerest mahalo for your generous contribution. Without the kokua we receive from sponsors such as you, this event would not attain the level of success that it has over the past 12 years. Our goal remains to provide the families in our communities with a quality and wholesome event that introduces our youngsters to the great outdoor sport of fishing. From our start 12 years ago with 67 participants, to servicing over 300 participants today, we see the impact of our goals as many of the keiki of the ’90s are bringing their own keiki and enjoying this event. Again, much mahalo! We hope that you will be able to continue to…

Howzit Chuck, My brother Andy and I took up kayak fishing early this year and wanted to share some of our lucky catches. We recently completed 40 days of fishing in the inaugural Aquahunters Makahiki Kayak Fishing Tournament. The Makahiki is set up to show a fisherman’s consistency and versatility over the course of a season. In the end, Hawai‘i’s best kayak fisherman is crowned. We’ve fished all of our lives and wanted to see how we matched up against the big boys. Competition was fierce with four sponsored professional kayak fishermen in the tournament. These guys are Hawai‘i’s best and had some great catches. Andy and I actually entered the tournament later than the rest of the competitors and had a sizable lead to overcome. We showed we were…

“Let’s Go Fishing” is broadcast on KHON-TV Sundays at 5:30 p.m., cablecast on digital channel CW 93 Saturdays at 5:30 p.m., featured on IPTV, and available for viewing online at <http://www.benwongtv.com>. This Month on ‘Let’s Go Fishing’ Sunday, November 2, on KHON; and Saturday, November 8, on CW 93 Kalaupapa on the island of Moloka‘i is one of the most beautiful places in Hawai‘i. We spend a weekend there courtesy of Harry Arce. E.J. Bukowski, Tiana Wong and Keith Nishioka are the lucky guests who get to see how very special island life is here, on this shoreline stretch of the Friendly Isle. The ‘oama are in season. The ‘omilu are chasing and catching the ‘oama, and we are chasing them and hooking up to some terrific ulua action. Don’t…

The Realms of Possibilities John Kurahara, Jon Yoshihara and good old Allan Yoshimoto couldn’t get enough. They returned to Taveuni with new recruit Rick Suzumoto. Whenever they grace the tropical seas of Taveuni, Fiji, they have the uncanny ability to pull off some kind of epic adventure. They usually arrive with a few loose goals in addition to Rule Number One, which is to have fun. They always come ready for battle and prepared for any eventuality with bulging bags of fishing toys. On this trip, their first objective was to beat Rick’s previous record of a 35-lb ulua on whipping tackle. They also thought it might be fun to try to pop up all of the species required for a grand slam. No one knew if it had ever…

Game Bird Season Opens Statewide on November 1 The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announced the opening of the 2008-2009 game bird hunting season on Saturday, November 1, 2008. Department biologists are predicting an average to below-average season of bird hunting with ongoing dry conditions in many parts of the state. The fall game bird hunting season will run through Monday, January 19, 2009, with legal hunting days on Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays. Due to a December 31, 2007, appellate court ruling, game bird stamps and fees are waived, and only a hunting license is required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands. Specific details on open areas, bag limits and conditions are provided in HAR 13-122, “Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting.” Additional information…

Subject: Commercial bottom fisherman loses 80 percent of fishing income due to mismanagement of bottomfish resources by state and federal management agencies. To DLNR/DAR and NMFS and Hawai‘i residents: My name is Greg Holzman, and I have been a commercial bottom fisherman catching 80 percent of my catch for 20 years in the bottom fishery including the most important fish we have in Hawai‘i, which are known by the public as Hawai‘i’s premier fish: ‘opakapaka and onaga. I have been lucky enough to be part of finding ways to help in the effort to keep the fishery healthy and sustainable for the long term. I have been involved in surveying the deep reefs in all the islands except the Big Island for DLNR and NMFS. I have invested a lot…

Presidential Action Ensures Recreational Fishing in Federal Waters On September 26, President George W. Bush signed an amendment to the 1995 Executive Order on recreational fishing. This historic amendment ensures that Federal agencies must maintain recreational fishing on Federal lands and waters, including marine protected areas. Once implemented, this policy will provide access to places where men, women and children can enjoy fishing now and in the future. The Executive Order revises Executive Order 12962 signed in 1995 by President Bill Clinton. Over the past two years, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the Center for Coastal Conservation and its members the Coastal Conservation Association the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Shimano American Corporation worked together to secure recreational fishing and boating access. President Bush’s amendment…

I remember when I was younger, my grandpa use to give us the word: “Let’s go get us some dinner.” We’d pack up the old Willys Jeep and head down to the ocean. 1 always use to be “shame” to ride in the Jeep, because the gearing was so low that whenever we would go fast the engine would whine. Sometimes it looked as if there were a parade going through Kohala Town and we were leading the pack. Once we reached the beach, that Jeep could go anywhere. My family fished with very old-school methods. We called it “hang-bait,” or “pound-pound.” Back in those days, we all used to go fishing. Sometimes our group would include my grandpa, my grandma, my uncles, my aunties, my dad, me, and a…

Aloha Chuck, I was featured in the May 2008 issue with a 108-lb ulua. Since then, I bought my fiancee (Marisa Randles) an ulua pole and she got her first one. Here’s her story and some pictures. Hopefully she can get in the magazine. If she does, can you please let us know what month? Thanks,Erick AcideraKahului, Maui Like One Big Déjà Vu It was a Friday, July 11. My fiance, Erick, and I decided to go fishing. It was the night before his sister’s birthday, and his family was going to be celebrating at the beach on Saturday. So we offered to save the spot in the morning. The night started out like any other. After setting up our poles, we started to settle in for the night. One…

On Sunday, September 28, 120 spear fishermen checked in at Pinky’s Pupu Bar & Grill in Kailua, O‘ahu, to take part in the annual Fall Shootout Freedive Spearfishing Tournament. The diving rules were standard, and so were the boundaries: diving was allowed anywhere within the area from Makai Pier in Waimanalo to Pat’s of Punalu‘u. Diving on any military base was off-limits. Because safety was the key concern, it was each diver’s responsibility to know where his or her diving partner was at all times during the dive. Also, good conservation practices were stressed, which limited the fish catch per diver. The honor system came into play as divers declared their catch at the weigh-in. Coordinator of this event and manager of Maui Sporting Goods Kurt Taguma said, “This event…

35th Annual Lihue Fishing Supply Shoreline Tournament The three-day event was blessed with good weather and excellent fishing. This year’s tournament saw 490 entrants. NOAA Fisheries and the Division of Aquatic Resources had booths set up, informing anglers about the use of barbless circle hooks and the ulua tagging program. Ben Wong from “Let’s Go Fishing” and J.K. from “The J.K. Show” were filming for upcoming episodes. Following the well-run weigh-in, Jean (the owner of Lihue Fishing Supply) started handing out raffle prizes that ranged from hats to custom ulua poles. There were so many prizes that almost everyone got something. For sure, each entrant received a free lunch and a great time. As you looked at the leaderboard, it was evident that the results were close. The time had…

Aloha from the Friendly Isle of Moloka‘i. Wow! It’s almost the end of 2008 already. Where did the time go? I guess when you’re having fun, the time flies on by. I was also told that the older you get, the faster time flies by. I guess I fit both categories. Hey, it’s all good. The main thing is the “attitude of gratitude.” Just be thankful for everything that life offers. On a recent outing with a few very happy fishermen, thankfulness was the order of the day. Robert Comstock, Ryan Goodreau (the birthday boy) and Kimo Potter, all good fishing buddies, wanted to try their new, handmade surface popping lures out on some giant trevally. They had spent some serious time shaping, sanding and painting their creations so that…

▪The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i has recognized Malama Maunalua, a community group working to conserve and restore Maunalua Bay, with its 2008 Kako‘o ‘Aina Award. “Malama Maunalua is arguably the most successful community-based conservation effort we have seen in Hawai‘i,” said Suzanne Case, executive director of The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i. “The group’s ability to garner community support has been remarkable.” Suzanne noted that the group has established a modern-day version of the traditional Hawaiian ahupua‘a natural resource management system applied in an urban setting. “This is an exciting model,” she said. “It charts a new, yet ancient, course for Hawai‘i.” In early times, konohiki, or caretakers, carefully managed land divisions that extended from the mountains to the sea. Likewise, Malama Maunalua uses a holistic approach in managing the resources…

It’s election time. Let me look into my crystal ball and predict the outcome: same names, same faces, voted in on the same empty promises. You remember, the ones to fix the problems that never go away but instead grow bigger every day. Sure, some will have different titles in front of their names, but they are the same folks with the same failed policies and all of the same nonsense. Talk about recycling our waste. As Stephen R. Covey stated in his book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” “if you wanna change the fruit, you gotta change the root,” and to change the root, you have to become educated about a candidate’s history. After all, have you ever met a politician whose mouth agreed with his or…

Send to: P.O. Box 25488, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96825 or e-mail: <fishnews@hawaii.rr.com> Wassup Chuck, Just wanted to send a picture of my girlfriend Jennifer Lopez (no really, that’s her real name) and her first ‘omilu caught on the North Shore. After a short little battle on her spinner, this fish weighed in at 5 lbs. She has recently took up fishing and has been pretty productive with her catches. I’ve been fishing for years and I wish I could say the same for myself, fol. I guess I found me a new fishing partner. Keep ‘um tyte! Jason Cabilao Mililani, O‘ahu Aloha Chuck, Attached is a picture of my son Travis Castillon (age 21) who caught this kumu on Saturday 8/9/08 at the Larry Libres Memorial Fishing & Diving Tournament on…