Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2010 i Hawaii Fishing News

Aloha Chuck, I'm a keiki o ka aina who now earns a paycheck in Florida. Before my father passed away earlier this month, he would send us copies of the Fishing News that we enjoyed and passed around to all our friends-many who left the islands to work in Florida. So many of the haoles were amazed at the summer issue featuring the huge puhi and the Big Island guy who fishes off of his wave ski! And here, they just use 'em to bounce off the sturgeon. I'm also an accomplished writer and as such was wondering if you'd be interested in periodical items involving locals who now call Florida home and fishing. My husband and I fish out of the town of Suwannee on the mouth of the…

Ulua Discovered at Papahanaum okuakea ■ Deep-dive mixed gas divers discovered huge ulua schools at the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The NOAA ship HI'IALAKAI hosted NOAA, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and Bishop Museum divers. They dove to depths of 250 feet. At the 200-foot depth, they discovered 15 new fish species. “Splash!” contacted Dr. Randall Kosaki, the expedition’s lead scientist and deputy superintendent of the NOAA Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument: “We’re seeing reefs that no human has ever laid eyes on before.” Dr. Kosaki got together with HFN to share a “few highlights of our observations that involve popular sport/food fish. Because the waters are cooler on these northerly reefs, deep-water fish seem to come up shallower. For example, butaguchi ulua and hapu'upu'u are…

Hunters Paradise! ■ My friend Mike Richard, a Los Angeles firefighter, travels to Hawai'i each fall, primarily to hunt game birds. In years past he has also harvested pigs, sheep and goats. This year he brought his son David along to share Hawai i’s rich game bounty. Son Matt and I decided to provide David with a full hunting experience during his week on the island. On Saturday, we did the obligatory tour of downtown Hilo, stopping at the Farmers' Market and other points of interest. It was a beautiful day, so we spent the afternoon snorkeling at the Kapoho tide pools before returning home to pack the next day’s lunch and get a good night’s rest. The hunting week got off to a start on Sunday at Parker Ranch,…

■ Saltwater recreational fishermen have long expressed concerns about the data used to estimate the effects of recreational fishing on ocean resources and the nation’s economy. The National Saltwater Angler Registry helps address that concern by providing a comprehensive list of the nation’s saltwater anglers that will be used to improve surveys of fishermen. These surveys are used by NOAA scientists to assess the health of fish stocks and to estimate the economic contributions of anglers. Many saltwater recreational fishermen were required to register before fishing in 2010. The registry opened for registrations starting Friday. January 1. But if you have a state saltwater fishing license, you may already be part of the registry. “By registering, recreational anglers will make their catch count,” said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator…

Catfish Program at Nu‘uanu ■ As of this writing, it has been impossible to extract any further information about the future and status of the catfish program at Nu'uanu. It looks as if it will not be resurrected at any time this year. We are pretty sure that there are negotiations going on between the Board of Water Supply and the Department of Land and Natural Resources; but, as far as status and progress, it is anyone’s guess. It is still early in the year, and we still believe that there is room for negotiation. Ho‘omaluhia Catch-and-Release Program Last year’s tally is in. It appears that 9,314 anglers, 5,895 of which were children, participated in the program. So far this year, participation by anglers and their families has been far…

■ They say that in Florida, you can fish year-round. But the state is large, and the air temperatures vary widely. For example, today’s outside temperatures in North Central Florida are hanging around the mid-30s. In Key West, it’s currently 59 degrees. So unless you have a really cool seaplane to take you to warmer climes, you have to improvise. I knew my fishing buddy was really serious about me when for our first Christmas, he purchased me an insulated rain suit. I was so excited about it that we went out that afternoon. We were the only ones on the water. The outside temps were hovering around 25 degrees. Logic and reason soon prevailed, and we realized that if the boat-motor failed, we would be on our own. Since…

■ Hau ‘oli Makahiki Hou! I ka mea heluhelu o ka nupepa lawai‘a Hawai‘i. Mahala no ko ‘oukou kako‘o mau loa in ka makahiki ma hope. ‘O keia mo‘olelo nuhou e pili ana i ka ‘opelu. I ka makahiki mamua, ua kakau i ka mo‘olelo no ko‘u hoaloha o ka pepe a me ku‘uipo. ‘O Mr. Francis A, "Papa" Nobriga kona inoa. He aloha no ia i ka ‘opelu malo‘o. Aka, ua hala ‘o ia, e ho‘oheno mau ia i ka ‘ohana i ka pilialoha. Hali‘a aloha makou ‘oia. Nui ka pu ‘uwai. Pela no, i keia mo‘olelo e ho‘ola‘a ana ‘o ia. Happy New Year to HAWAII FISHING NEWS readers. Thank you again for your continued support and to the year ahead. This story is an updated story about…

Dear Chuck, I love reading HFN and look forward to it coming in the mail every month! I wanted to send you some pictures of my wife, Charise, with some of the fish she caught. The first picture was taken at the end of a trip to Alaska we took with some friends in July. Charise had been fishing with me at home here and there throughout the years, but none of that would prepare her for what Alaska had in store for us. Instead of the popular and comfortable Alaskan cruises, we decided to rent an RV and “chase the fish” wherever they were on the peninsula. Needless to say, it was definitely an “experience” living with five people in an RV for a week, with no showers (especially…

Dear Chuck, My name is Corin Thornburg. Lately, my father and I have been feeding pigs that are located across from the Kapa’a Quarry transfer road. I am writing to express my concern about illegal hunters in Hawaii. There have been people that have been hunting the pigs that we have been feeding. As you know, it is illegal to hunt pigs in an area that is not labeled as hunting grounds. Since we have been feeding these pigs, they are now not as afraid of people than they were a while ago. So, there is no sport in hunting these pigs. It is like fishing in an aquarium. It is not right and it is also unsporstmanlike. A loha, Thought you would like to see a very humble and…

■ With Hawaii’s humpback whale season underway, NOAA is reminding boaters and other ocean users to stay safe and legal. Endangered humpback whales are protected in Hawai'i. If you’re on or in the water and whales are in the vicinity, Federal regulations require you stay at least 100 yards away from them, and 1,000 feet away when operating an aircraft. The “approach” regulations apply to all ocean users-power boaters, sailors, jet-skiers, kayakers, paddlers, windsurfers, swimmers and divers-throughout the Hawaiian islands. “Everyone must be particularly cautious during whale season,” said Naomi McIntosh, superintendent, Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. “If a humpback whale is sighted, you’re advised to stay well outside the 100-yard approach area. Keeping your speed down is also very important in helping us protect these animals.” In the past…

Howzit Uncle Chuck, My name is Makaio Ganitano, and I am 11 years old. The last time I wrote you about my first moi and tohei. This time I am pleased to write you about my first ulua. On Saturday, February 7, my family and I decided to go to the beach for a night of bait casting. On this day, my dad had to work. When he got home from work, we loaded the truck and headed for the beach. When we finally got to my favorite spot, we set up camp and got our poles ready. Our baits of choice for the evening were tako and ika. The poles were silent for a while, so we rebaited and recast the poles before we had dinner. After dinner, my…

Hawaii Keeps Calling ■ There are those who set out to conquer the sea and believe they have a right to her bounty. Instead, they only find frustration and discontent. Then there are those who choose to embrace her with a love that is fearless, like courting a spirited woman for the sheer excitement and unpredictability. It is uncanny that the fisherpeople from Hawai'i have a tendency to understand that concept. John Kurahara is one man from Hawai'i who embodies that belief. John is a professional dentist in Honolulu by day and a fisherman in his soul. Twice a year he succumbs to the sirens of the sea and visits Taveuni, Fiji, for some good fun with two different groups of friends to immerse himself in the South Pacific mystique…

■ The year ended very well for fishermen on this side of the island. Good weather and even better fishing were present for much of the holiday season. Lots of big marlin were hooked, and although most got off. some of them were caught and taken home or to market. The TAYLOR B with Cedric, Brock and father Clyde Bertleman hooked a 300-lb marlin that brought in more money than any ‘ahi they’d ever caught. The marlin seem to be following and feeding on the ‘ahi that came up at all the fishing FADs, or they were swimming with the dolphins. This was somewhat late in the year for this type of activity, but who cared when it was possible to hook ‘ahi for New Year’s? Tony Serkies, Jason Mirtich,…

… Hana pa‘a, Chuck Send to: P.O. Box 25488, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96825 or e-mail: <fishnews@hawaii.rr.com> Dear Chuck, Being a local box; from O'ahu and fishing saltwater and freshwater when possible, I recently went to San Diego for vacation. I fished on a boat called the PREMIER out of H&M Landing on September 10, 2009. My buddy Dave had gotten sick and stayed back at the hotel missing the trip. I had to get used to a conventional reel. We fished out of Point Loma. I did fairly well with a catch of sand bass and one ocean whitefish (poor man’s yellowtail). I had a great time and the crew was great. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Thanks for a great magazine. Keep up the great work. Thanks,G.…