The Life Amphibious

Turtle Food

2012-01-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

Ulva lactuca - Sea Lettuce.

This is the staple food of the Green Sea Turtles that hang out at Lani's.

Flat Spined Sea Urchin

2012-01-23T07:11:00.000-08:00

Algae eaters like their other cousins, but flattened spines on the outward facing sides to protect them against constant pounding from waves.

Niche eaters with specialized adaptations.

Mat Surfing

2012-01-23T07:03:00.000-08:00

And this is my Sunday afternoon.

I used the mat to surf at Lani's.

I got a ton of great waves and didn't fight one bit (like I would have to on a shortboard)!!!

This thing is AWESOME!!!

I used it at Leftovers Saturday morning, but I used less air in it on Sunday and it worked way better.

I love my inflatable surf equipment (toys) - surfmat, FAQ SUP, kites!!! Perfect traveling stoke generators!!!

Gnarly Dude!!!

2012-01-23T06:59:00.000-08:00

Of all the Ironwood Trees I've seen, I really haven't seen their root balls (unless the tree fell over).

This base was odd - really gnarly, and curled up on itself.

More Kailua

2012-01-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

This is my buddy Nick who was in for the day (on the way to Maui).

He's on his Cabrinha 12m Crossbow and a travel 6'9" board (handmade!)

I didn't bring my kite stuff because I could do all that back where I came from. But I did wish I did (especially 30 minutes into my run).

Kailua

2012-01-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

Kalama Beach Park on Sunday morning. Lots of canoe clubs practicing.

Lots of kitesurfers going at it.

And pleasantly surprising, there were several windsurfers! This was one of the birthplaces of windsurfing and it is good to see it still going.

Another thing that has changed here - it is WAY MORE crowded that it was from 95'-00' - or at least it seems that way to me.

Community

2012-01-23T06:45:00.000-08:00

I drove past all my old haunts this weekend to see what changes did or did not occur (it's been over 10 years since I left - I've been back several times since but never longer than a week).

The one thing that has not changed is the sense of community you get seeing the way things are done.

99% of the people here will NOT honk their car horns and they will let merging cars in to traffic. You can easily tell the tourists from the locals in this regard.

I saw four different canoe congregation areas this weekend. This was at Ala Moana Beach Park. Lots of people paddle out here - OC1, OC2, SUPs and OC6. These boats always got a sense of respect from me and is another good symbol of how this community works together.

Ala Moana and the Ala Wai

2012-01-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

It's sad that a close look at the water in this part of Oahu yields a bunch of trash (that could be easily picked up) and some questionable water quality.

The guy SUPing is at Ova'rocks - I used to run past this spot every other day and no one surfed it (check out the shallow rocks). With the explosion of SUP surfing, spots that used to suck or did not suit conventional surfing have opened up. A new way to surf actually opens minds and eases crowding issues - too bad some people don't see that point of view.

Cool Seaweed

2012-01-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

A few of the many types of limu that grow on this mid-Pacific coastline.

Driving Down Memory Lane

2012-01-21T13:35:00.000-08:00

It's been three years since I last drove down this stretch of road.

It's been 12 years since these Norfolk Pines were planted. I remember the first year, some of them fell victim to cheapskates looking to have a Christmas tree (way to celebrate Jesus's birthday - by stealing a tree).

The last picture is the Green Sea Turtles being "loved" - they come ashore to rest after gnawing away at the Ulva lactuca (sea lettuce) that grows just south of the spot at Lani's.

Oahu is nice, but it is getting crowded...

Put Out to Pasture

2012-01-18T06:27:00.000-08:00

Lots of things to see at the Merlion Park.

Here is a LARC (Lighterage Amphibious Reconnaissance Craft). This looks bigger than a LARC V that I've been on. But it spews diesel fumes indiscriminately just like a LARC V.

If LARCs had feelings, I bet this one would either be glad it gets to take tourists out everyday, or it would want to shoot it's self because it has to take tourists around everyday (and not do amazing things like underwater construction).

Well - it shouldn't be a question in anyone's mind about how a LARC gets put out to pasture.

Funny Things

2012-01-18T06:21:00.001-08:00

Ah - the things you notice when you have nothing but time (or are waiting for a connecting flight).

A hotel for those who want to aggravate their allergies - Ah Chew

A restaurant for those feeling a bit randy... Porn

And a big statue that the sculptor felt compelled to include correct posterior anatomy.

Poor Guys

2012-01-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

I felt sorry for these guys.

When I catch something to eat from the sea, at least it gets to fight back. I have tons of scars to prove it.

These guys just wait until somebody points to them and it's all over...

Doesn't seem fair.

Merlion

2012-01-18T06:05:00.000-08:00

The ubiquitous symbol of Singapore.

Last time I was here - Steve-O and I completely missed this. I was bound and determined to find it this time. Turns out it was just around the corner from where we were... Go figure.

Nice day - check out the people posing for pictures - catching water.... nice to see lots of people with good senses of humor.

Looking at all the water spouts kinda makes you want to go pee....

Squid Jigs

2012-01-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

My employees have been telling me about this area in Singapore - Beach Road. Finally got to make the trip to check it out.

Lots of stores that specialize in fishing gear.

There were a bunch - some smaller than others, but the "Kaiser" shop was AWESOME!!!! Jigging and Popping was their focus. They had plenty of pictures hanging on the walls of monster Trevally, Amberjacks, groupers and other fish that like to fight all caught in far off places.

I left with these specialized jigs. More ammunition to hunt sea monsters!!!!

Dinner - Hokkaido Style Ramen

2012-01-18T05:48:00.000-08:00

This is amphibious because I'm eating it on an island (Singapore) and Hokkaido is an island.

Not quite as good as the original, or the bowl you can get in LA, but still good (considering I've been eating dried ramen for the past 8 months).

Not a Trevally but...

2012-01-15T06:07:00.000-08:00

I did catch a couple of fish on the fly I tied yesterday.

"Frankenfly" caught a hawkfish (plump one at that) and a wrasse.

That was really satisfying - tying a fly and catching fish with it. Bonus points were flowing since this fly had recycled materials.

The chain eyes weren't heavy enough to sink the fly quickly. The rubber from the balloon didn't help in that regard either. The circle hook did make a difference - was able to release the fish quickly and they were happier (at least I assume they were, as opposed to being deep hooked in the throat). I don't think I'll use any other types of hooks for tying the small flies.

I did at least see a couple of Bluefin Trevally - but they saw me first and got spooked. There's always tomorrow...

Happy Birthday goes out to Steve-O "Spaceman" Sandusky - who caught a wrasse "that was bigger than my wrasse" with his Birthday gift.

It's in the Mail

2012-01-14T19:21:00.000-08:00

I ordered one of these Fat Ass Quads directly from Uli.

I asked Jim (Weir) to put four D rings up front so I can use it for multiple purposes (fishing platform, trainer for the kids to get up on when catching a wave, snorkeling platform, etc). Also looking forward to using this on the Potomac through Great Falls this coming Summer.

I'll be on a trip to Oahu starting this coming week and the board already arrived at a friend's house (Mahalo Jimbo!!!). I'm still debating which 3 piece paddle to get to compliment the travel-a-bility of the FAQ - Quickblade or Werner...

6 days and I'll get to surf again after several months hiatus. The things I give up...

In a way it makes you appreciate the things you give up even more. In other ways it plain old SUCKS. Actually - besides not having the family with me, I have little to complain about - I'm not getting shot at and I'll never have it this good EVER AGAIN on the fishing front.

Oh well, no time to dwell on the negative - life is too short.

Awesome times ahead and I'm going to surf the crap out of this board. Stay tuned for the paddle mounted GoPro shots!!!!

Frankenfly

2012-01-14T17:13:00.001-08:00

Part party balloon

Part Clouser

Part Gotcha

Tied on a No. 6 Gamakatsu Circle Hook

We'll see if this freak will catch something (my money is on a Bluefin Trevally)

Social Hermit Crab

2012-01-14T16:42:00.000-08:00

Hermit Crabs have the perfect social setup.

If they want to socialize, out and about they are.

If they want their own space - they've got it on their back.

This guy wanted nothing to do with me, but I got the pictures anyways.

Sunday Morning Flying

2012-01-08T06:21:00.000-08:00

The Trevally and Bonefish were not playing today - I was out for three hours and not a sign of them. The rematch will have to wait until after the full moon wains -

I did see a bunch of Unicornfish and some Titan Triggerfish, but as usual, they didn't go for the fly.

What I did catch were three of these Wrasses and two of these Two Barred Goatfish.

The goatfish seem to be nervous fish - the first one I catch went from pale pink (normal colored) to bright red while I was removing the hook. When I released it, it sank straight to the bottom and stayed there for two minutes either still in shock or playing dead. Then it returned to normal color and swam off like nothing happened. That happens pretty frequently when I catch these guys - maybe it's a mechanism to help it cope with getting eaten by a GT...

The Wrasses were a different story - defiant to the end. Another "poo" flinger...

Saturday Afternoon Trolling

2012-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Squid Skirt Lures RULE!!!

I was using a Mark White 7" Bullet in Cobalt Blue -

We did well today!

Trolling and Flyfishing are definitely polar opposites, but the one thing they have in common is "when it's good - it's good", "when it's bad, it is down right frustrating and hugely suckomungous.

Trolling today did not suck, not like losing three BFT after hook ups (this morning).

Iridescent Green OUCH!!!

2012-01-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

This guy was in shallow water and in easy "stepping on" range.

Check out the green on the spines - way cool! Until you step on this guy -

Balancing...

2012-01-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

Went flyfishing down south this morning.

The pictures are what I landed:
Three Darts (this one was pretty big - with all it's surface area, it was a great fighter)
Two Goatfish
One Bonefish (forearm sized)

I let all these guys go on their merry way.

What I don't have pictures of are the three medium sized Bluefin Trevally that took the fly, ran line out, fought a minute then spit the hook -

Not once

Not twice

But three times this happened to me.

After the first one spit, I contemplated using more force on the line during the fight. I figured I did not have enough tension on the line if they could spit the hook. But what I didn't want to do was break off at the tippet.

The small darts I let run, but the rod could easily overpower them (and flung the last one out of the water...).

On the other side of the scale were the three spitting BFTs.

I'm going back down tomorrow to settle a score... and possibly find some balance.

Without Fail -

2012-01-02T16:27:00.001-08:00

This is the third time I've been to this spot and it has delivered the goods without fail.

Within five minutes of getting set up, I hooked up with this small but feisty Bluefin Trevally. It was cruising through the reformed surf where I cast out in front of it, watched it change direction and WHACK! FISH ON! When I released it, it looked like it was ready for more -

Next I saw a school of Bonefish move in. I cast, got one to chase, wait for it, wait for it, wait for it - SET, TENSION ON, and WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES!!!! It was a big one - bolted at full speed to my backing - straight for the rocks near shore. I brought it back out a couple of times, but it was determined to get to the rocks. You don't get to be a big bonefish by being dumb... it broke me off after the third run. BUT WHAT A FIGHT!!!

I also hooked up a small pinfish. Nasty booger - I waited for it to stop thrashing around so I could get the hook off. By the time it did stop, there was fish poo everywhere - on the sand, all over itself, but thankfully none on me. Hook out, then off you go back to the sea.

Finally - the tide came up (medium tidal swing due to the waxing moon). The bones were not drifting past so I figured they moved in (because I did see a few big trevally patrolling the flats with the increased water depth). I walked back to the beach. I walked the shoreline looking for fish hanging out and I saw this guy - 18" of pure muscle rooting around in the sand between the waves lapping up on the beach...

I cast out dozens of times and it just ignored me. BUT on the last cast, it turned, I saw it take the fly into it's mouth and WHACK! It ran like a race horse and after a long battle, I had my second of three fish needed for making lumpia.

I hooked up to another bonefish while walking back - wrestled it to the beach and just as I got it up on shore, it spit the hook... I ran to grab it, but a wave beat me and the fish swam off (laughing at me I figure - good for it!)

Great fishing day!!!!

Happy New Years Trevally Day - Part 5

2012-01-01T16:52:00.000-08:00

Even though Trevally was the catch of the day, I did get a Bonefish along the way. I hooked this one between the Bluefin and the Yellow Spot.

I saw a school moving towards me and waiting for them to get closer. I cast to the biggest one in the group, but this one came racing for the fly. I actually felt this one take the fly in it's mouth - not something I get to sense (I usually see them chase and when they stop, I assume they have the fly in their mouth and then I strip set, and see if I have tension on the line).

It was nice to close out 2011 with a Bonefish and then open up 2012 with another. Although nailing the big one I was aiming for would have been even better - next time!

Happy New Years Trevally Day - Part 4

2012-01-01T16:29:00.001-08:00

This Thick Lipped Trevally had heavy tiger stripes (faded once I lifted it out of the water). Excellent fighter! It swam right off once I got it back in the water.

happy New Years Trevally Day - Part 3a

2012-01-01T16:07:00.000-08:00

While I was fighting this Yellow Spot Trevally, the dang Bonefish showed up in droves - this is the second time they've done this to me (flyfishing catching the pinfish post a week back).

It's like they know when I'm preoccupied with managing another catch.

Telepathic fish...

Happy New Years Trevally Day - Part 3

2012-01-01T09:32:00.001-08:00

The Yellow Spot Trevally I caught. This was the third time I've caught one of these down South. I'm not sure what they prefer to eat, but with a down turned mouth, it may be more crustacean based vice piscine.

Cool markings on these species.

This was the second of three different types of Trevally I caught on the fly. This one also exercised the "what the heck did I bite" look when it discovered it was hooked.

Happy New Years Trevally Day - Part 2

2012-01-01T08:57:00.001-08:00

After trolling, I went down South to go flyfishing.

Within 5 minutes of arriving, I had hooked into this Bluefin Trevally!

It was hovering around a Green Sea Turtle that was foraging. I think the trevally was looking for something to dart out from where the turtle was working. I cast to it and stripped the fly with the pole - the Bluefin went ga-ga, blitzed the fly (a bonefish bitter) and then stopped - worked it's mouth like it was saying "what the heck did I just eat???"

This guy fought admirably and he as well as the others I caught down South today went on to fight another day (caught and released).

I'll explain as I go on, but the flyfishing trip was a Triple Crown!

Happy New Years Trevally Day - Part 1

2012-01-01T08:18:00.000-08:00

Brand new year - what's the first thing I do?

Trolling!

Mike caught a barracuda that was being tailed by two others - one of which was really big.

After that we had a long lull. When we finally switched out to squid skirted lures, we had tons of hits! Trevally after trevally - the only thing that would have made it better would have been catching really big ones.

Great way to open up a new year!

Afternoon Sailing

2011-12-31T11:02:00.000-08:00

Small Craft Warning out all day. No fishing boats allowed out. Alas - there are other ways to enjoy the water!

Today - shore fishing (previous post) and sailing.

Wind is currently offshore in the lagoon, compared to onshore just a few months ago.

Got an hour in before a squall pushed through.

Milking it

2011-12-31T10:15:00.000-08:00

Consistency -

Knowing yourself.

Maximizing the time that you have.

Not feeling sorry for yourself.

Transcending perception and interpreting the flow around you -

Pretty heavy stuff huh?

Well - if there's one thing that I have found out it is that I am consistent in the way I apply myself. If I get interested in something, I dive head first into it and won't come up for air until I have absorbed everything I can about it. This blog itself and the patterns I've established should be proof of that - surfing, kiting, studying nature, shaping boards, catching fish, sailing - all of them thoroughly studied and valued for the sense of finding something deeper in all of them...

The "zen" of extracting the energy in a wave with a surfboard. You can find that clarity of thought in anything you do - you just have to know to look for it.

Today I turned down my normal pattern of picking up a spinning rod and pitching a lure. Instead I used the fly gear and waited. Waited for the fish to swim around me. Presented the fly and waited for a reaction. Set the hook and wrestled the fish to the beach. Calmly unhooked it and watched as it swam back to the sea. Time slowed down again as it does while surfing a wave or jumping with a kite overhead. The sense of focus heightened in the seconds between the bonefish turning for the stripped fly and when I felt the hook take hold. That sense of appreciating the moment - it is where you look for it. There was a time I thought it could only be found on a 6 foot Hawaiian barrel. Ten years later, I have learned it is in front of you, you just have to grab it.

Halfway through my current tour, away from my family, halfway across the planet on the eve of 2012, I find myself milking the universe for the stoke that fuels my fire. I will leave this place within six months and am likely to never return. I will get to go home to my family. I will flyfish for bonefish in other parts of the world and teach my kids to do the same. In the way I left the surf of Hawaii and found other ways to focus, I'll adapt. But I will always remember the time between casting flies to and landing these bonefish.

And while I'm still here - I'm going to milk this dry!!!!

Happy New Year!!! May your 2012 be fruitful and productive! Stay consistent and appreciate the world around you! Find the good in the situation you find yourself in and make the most of what precious time you have!

MILK IT!!!

Working Hard - Hardly Working

2011-12-30T05:02:00.000-08:00

Last working dive of the year (THANKS TEAM TWO DET A)!

KM37, lots of tools and tons of elbow grease.

There are times that I truly LOVE MY JOB!!!! It's too bad that is the 1%...

The funny thing about work - when you enjoy it, it isn't work anymore...

In case I don't post anymore this year - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Stay safe and we'll see you on the other side!

Big Manta Cruising

2011-12-30T03:58:00.000-08:00

I got my last qual dive for the period in today!!!

This guy was checking me out!

Actually he was cruising around seeing what all the noise was...

Still pretty cool to see a Manta gliding around - this is one of those things I'll never take for granted.

Fishing Call Signs

2011-12-26T05:47:00.001-08:00

This is not common knowledge, but the core guys that are as crazy as I am to go fishing the way and in the frequency that I do are pilots. One Navy, the other Air Force - but neither one has a call sign. From having other Aviators around, I have come to learn carrier aviators and helicopter pilots are the only ones that hang on to call signs.

So today, we had bad weather - but there was a window to get out and we were on the small boats and fishing in a matter of minutes. I brought in a pretty big Jobfish on the offshore trolling reel I have. Good chance to test out the knots I tied between the monofilament and the braid (it held). Then I switched to a smaller lure because we were moving over shallower water - before I could get the lure down, a big mouth came up to the surface and pulled the lure under - and broke off the swivel. We turned around and Mike hooked into a good sized grouper (probably the culprit that took my lure).

Then he got a hit on a second pole he had out with a squid skirt lure on it. When he took it into the boat, it was a pretty small Bonito. This coupled with the barracuda he caught yesterday, establishes a trend of reliably catching smaller fish (when going for the big sea monsters). It is in situations just like this when call signs are born -

And just for the record, here are some rules for fishing call signs:
- people cannot give themselves call signs
- two other people have to agree to the call sign (Rodney agreed with me on this one)
- call signs can change, but only after trends are established/are broken/a profound event occurs

Mike's honorary Navy Call Sign is "Small Fry" (sorry Mike for publishing this, but I couldn't pass this up!!!).

Christmas Gyotaku

2011-12-26T05:09:00.001-08:00

I made three of each yesterday - the big Wahoo and the football Yellowfin.

The Yellowfin prints are done. Two are going to friends and the other one (the one singled out in the pictures) I'm keeping for myself.

The Wahoo is raw - no improvements whatsoever.

After touching up the Yellowfin prints that were done on the shoji paper, I am going to take a different approach with the Wahoo print. I used watercolor and acrylic highlights. The watercolor was fine on the craft paper, but in the quantities needed to provide proper coverage in solid color areas, the watercolor was soaking through the rice paper. For the Wahoo, I am going to use acrylic dots to give the image of solid color.

Do not hold your breath for this - I don't think it'll be done for a few weeks. I don't want to screw this one up.

Bonus Catch

2011-12-25T08:05:00.001-08:00

This is why it is important to watch where you are going -

This guy was most likely running-swimming-flying away from a tuna/wahoo/sailfish and 'we' in a boat just happened to be passing in front of it's escape route. It launched from the water and straight onto the cockpit superstructure.

After a 'thud', I checked the weather deck and this guy fell through to the back of the boat.

Cool fish - from the wingspan and lower fins, gliding along looks like it is an easy affair for this guy.

Pretty colors on it - after some quick pics, I let this one go back to the water.

Nailed a 33 Pound Wahoo!

2011-12-25T06:58:00.001-08:00

This is how I spent my Christmas Day - literally the whole day from trolling for pelagics, gyotakuing, filleting, cooking and eating.

This guy wouldn't give up! Pulled line and made me work (just like I like it!!!). Just when I got it to the boat, it dove again and worked hard against the drag - pulled out a bunch more line. I got it close again and it dove a third time and yanked the pole out of my fighting belt. A fight that was well worth the price of admission!!!

Measured in at 51.5 inches and 33 pounds -

I'll post pictures of the gyotaku I made of this Wahoo and a small Yellowfin Tuna in a bit (after they've been touched up).

Man I love fishing out here!

Sunday Morning Teaser

2011-12-25T06:02:00.000-08:00

Went trolling on the offshore boats today. While we were waiting, I checked out the morning party at the marina pier. Several different types of fish were hanging out. I saw the following:
- Threadfin (Moi)
- Bonefish (only one)
- Darts
- Yellowstripe Goatfish
- Flagtails
- Parrotfish (the one that has befuddled me)
- Yellowfin Surgeonfish
- Bluefin Trevally (Omilu)

I should have brought my flyrod...

"Dang It"

2011-12-24T16:04:00.001-08:00

I grew up mostly in Northern Florida.

"Dang" was a word that expressed shock, amazement or the unbelievability of the situation at hand.

In these pictures of the first Pinfish I caught yesterday, I bet it isn't thinking "cheese!" - I bet it's got "dang it!!!" on it's mind.

What Goes Up -

2011-12-24T09:02:00.001-08:00

Must go down.

Sunrise looking East over the Southern most point of the island.

Sunset looking West.

Flying Down South

2011-12-24T08:23:00.001-08:00

Flyfishing this morning down at the Southern part of the island.

I hooked into a bonefish that subsequently broke off not only the fly, but the entire tippet.

After that, I thought I hooked into another one, but instead it turned out to be a pinfish. I caught a second (bigger one). These guys have some fight in them - not as intense as a bonefish but good nonetheless. They even look similar to bonefish in the water - olive/electric green backs, narrow profile, travels in schools, etc.

As I was dealing with the second pinfish I hooked, I saw an entire schools of bonefish breeze on by - like they were waiting for me to get distracted. That was the last I saw of them.

I was walking back along the shoreline and I saw some darts schooling within a few feet. I cast the fly and just pulled the rod back - WHACK! The dart went hysterical for the bitter fly! I landed a fish each time I cast - about ten of them by the time I reached the starting point.

All fish were caught and released.

Awesome fishing morning!

First Fly I Tied

2011-12-24T07:42:00.000-08:00

I put this red and tan clouser together during lunch on Friday.

Tying isn't as hard as it may seem, but tying well is hard. I didn't tie this too well. The part ahead of the eyes is too thick. The hair bunched up as I was tying it down - I have alot to learn in this area (which is why I'm fascinated by this stuff).

I did throw this fly around a bit in the afternoon - the hairs broke where they cross the eye dumbbell.

Practice makes perfect!!!

Friday Afternoon Fishing

2011-12-24T07:28:00.000-08:00

Late afternoon pitching surface lures (with no luck) and casting the fly. I caught two red two-barred goatfish off a bonefish bitter (such an awesome fly!!!).

I saw three smaller bluefin trevallys running the shallows, but I didn't see a single bonefish.

Still good fun!

Qual Diving

2011-12-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

Man I miss this stuff (clean for the kids)!!!!!

HOO-YAH!!!!

Drilled a bunch of holes and locked down equal amounts of bolts with hydraulic tools.

NOW THAT'S A GREAT DAY AT WORK!!!!

Did I say how much I miss this???

Fully Appreciated

2011-12-19T09:30:00.002-08:00

Fully appreciated is what this jobfish is...

From the fight with the rod and reel -

The gyotaku made -

To the sashimi enjoyed -

I certainly appreciated this jobfish!

Pompano Gyotaku

2011-12-19T09:20:00.000-08:00

Small print - the flatter the fish, the easier it is to make a gyotaku.

This series of two, I finally added some watercolor for contrast - especially around the eyes.

I also blotted out a bunch of the ink before pressing. I still had a few mistakes (paper bunching up, not pressing some parts, etc) but these came out better than the last.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!

Sunday Fishing - Lost Lure, Tenkara and Trolling

2011-12-18T05:58:00.000-08:00

It was raining today but I still went out (nothing else to do).

I pitched a topwater bomber out at the first spot. On the second cast, I got a big hit. I tightened down on the drag and rode it out. After a few minutes of fighting, the fish had undone the swivel and took the lure.

I lost another lure on some rocks and decided to cut my losses right there. I went to fish the flats with the tenkara rod - except that I wasn't using flies. Instead I tied on a tiny hook and put on some wahoo belly.

I hooked into two Sergeant Majors and a small snapper - nice fights even from these tiny guys.

For lunch I ate the pompano I caught yesterday - masarap!!!

After a while - the fishing addicts I hang out with asked if I wanted to go back on the boat - how can I say "no". We only caught one fish (another strawberry grouper) and it rained on us the whole time - that's fishing...

The rest of the day

2011-12-17T17:38:00.000-08:00

Came back from trolling and cleaned the fish we caught.

Ate some BFT as sashimi and poke.

Went fishing again (shoreline - with tenkara pole) and caught my first pompano! Just a small guy but good fun especially on the tenkara pole! Also caught a dart (but let it go).

I hooked up a parrotfish three times - the same parrotfish - and it broke me off three times. I am going to have to figure out another rig to catch it with....

The "Eyes" Have it!!!

2011-12-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling more confident about the gyotaku that I'm making to keep a record of the fish I have caught (and eaten).

Part of that is trying to be more realistic with the eyes when I paint them on.

Here are the eyes from the grouper, trevally and jobfish shown on the previous post.

Mako Fishing

2011-12-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

Great day of fishing -

Bluefin Trevally (3)
Strawberry Grouper
Jobfish

Driving boats feels good.

Driving boats on a day of decent weather (and without a blaring sun beating down on you) feels great!

Driving boats in decent weather while catching fish - awesome!!!

Mike's lure took all the fish!!! Just goes to show that nothing about fishing is predictable (except the tide).

Schooling

2011-12-15T06:02:00.000-08:00

Here are close ups of the Yellowstripe Goatfish school from the previous post.

There were other fish mixed in - a couple of Pompano, some Pinfish, a Bonefish and some Darts.

The entire school would open up and surge when the Bluefin Trevally (three of them) would attack.

If a BFT got one, I still don't see how they would have swallowed one of these YSGs.

We All Have to Eat Sometime...

2011-12-15T05:16:00.000-08:00

The big fish in these pictures are Bluefin Trevally.

The small fish in these pictures are Yellowstripe Goatfish.

There were three BFTs chasing down the school of YSG.

Some of the YSGs had some torn skin - damage from ambush attacks they were lucky enough to survive.

I watched these guys go at it for nearly an hour.

I don't know how 'we' as a species got a pass (probably the opposable thumbs and the large frontal lobe), but watching them go back and forth made me completely appreciate being outside of the food chain that the rest of the lifeforms on this rock have to participate in.

Goatfish on the Fly

2011-12-14T05:40:00.000-08:00

Since the Sun is up longer now, I left work around 1700, went home to grab my flyrod and rode my bike to a spot that I saw loaded with bonefish yesterday.

They were there again today, but the wind picked up a bit (my luck huh?).

I cast out nevertheless and after a few cycles, I hooked into this fun yellowstripe goatfish. I was using an "absolute flea" fly. It took the line and wrapped me around three different piles!!!! I had to unwrap the line manually but this guy was not able to break off.

Released it to fight another day.

I did see a bunch of bonefish grubbing around the bottom, but they wanted nothing to do with my flies. Seemed like they were going for really small crustaceans.

There is always tomorrow...

Double Uni's Out - Albright In

2011-12-12T16:36:00.000-08:00

Rigging up the Sea Striker Standup Rod - 30 to 80 pound class rod. 5'9" fully rollered all the way up. Hooked up the Penn GT345 level wind - tweaked the mounting screws and balanced the pressure of the bolt on bracket.

As I suspected, the double uni that I used to tie backing to mono on the conventional reel wasn't going to make it through the rollers on the standup rod.

I cut it out and retied the lines with an albright.

The albright fits smoothly through the rollers and is pretty streamlined.

I can't wait to get this rig on a boat!!!

Sunday Fishing - Back and Forth

2011-12-11T05:33:00.000-08:00

Went fishing with Mark -

The water was super shallow with the morning low tide.

Started out flyfishing - I caught a medium sized Yellow Spot Trevally (and let it go).

There was a slow moving cloud that made it hard to see the bonefish.

Switched to pitching lures - Mark landed a couple of Bluefin Trevally - I didn't get the time of day.

Switched back to flyfishing for bones - I saw more than a few but they wanted nothing to do with the flies - there were a bunch of sharks in the water (because of a dead turtle).

Really peaceful just taking in all the scenery (especially the awesome surf breaking in the background - reminds me of Daystar on Oahu....)

Nice day!

New Hanko

2011-12-10T23:57:00.001-08:00

For signing my gyotaku.

The lettering is kanji for "Fisherman" and hiragana for "Be-Ra-Su-Ko"

Update and Better Paper Gyotaku

2011-12-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

Ok - a lot of things on this post.

First, I think I'm going to have to re-tie the uni-uni knots I last posted about. I think it will be too thick for the rod guides. I am going to use an Albright (now I just have to unwind 185 yards of 80 pound monofilament).

Next - my office threw it's Christmas Party yesterday. After the fun, games and food, there was fishing to be done. I caught a papio (caught and released) and lost a damn good lure. You win some, you lose some.

Today - no hits on the lures (even at the sure fire spots). I used the flyrod too and had slightly better luck - one of those tiny grouper (caught and released of course), and pretty much at the end of the outting, a nice sized bonefish. I cast the fly from the beach, saw the fish turn and WHACK! I had a slight backlash episode, but straightened all that out. This fish did some great running - and actually took me down to the backing (and ran with half of it)! It is lumpia sized so I kept it.

Not only did I keep it, but here it is being gyotaku'ed. I have shoji paper so now the images are coming out much better. The paper is pretty absorbent.

I also carved out a new honko stamp, but that for the next post.

"Loaded for Bear"

2011-12-04T02:51:00.000-08:00

Is a term for a state of readiness in preparation for the worst.

Imagine if you had the time to figure out how you were going to take down a bear. You'd bring big versions of everything.

I do not recall a term used to describe a similar event in fishing...

I say we use "Spooled for Leviathan" or "Lined up for Moby"?

Today I didn't go fishing or sailing or snorkeling. I cleaned up my room - deep cleaned.

I also spent a little time knocking out some projects that have been staring me in the face for a while.

This was one of them - loading my conventional reel with line.

I used 200 yards of 100 lb dacron braid, tied a double uni and finished off with 180 yards of 80 lb monofilament.

Now I'm "Spooled for Moby!!!!"

Working Late

2011-12-01T07:21:00.000-08:00

My office has a biologist in town to help with crustacean density counts.

I went on one of the runs tonight to check out the health of the environment.

There were several of these healthy specimens.

Pretty BIG -

Fishing on Sunday

2011-11-27T03:44:00.000-08:00

Wahoo, Bluefin Trevally, Snapper, Bonito, Barracuda - Oh My!

Rodney and Mike showing off their big catches -

I only caught one fish - this 21 pound Wahoo - Quality not Quantity has always been my motto!

Question for the masses - does this life jacket make me look fat and short??? Or is it the massive size of this fish that is distorting the picture!!!!????!!!!

Snorkeling Saturday

2011-11-27T03:17:00.001-08:00

Among other things, I went snorkeling.

Sponges, Bluefin Trevally, Coral, a Titan Triggerfish and others were everywhere.

Nice way to enjoy some time.

More Flats

2011-11-27T02:07:00.000-08:00

This is down South.

If you look closely, you can see a nice sized Bonefish in the first picture.

Bonefishing paradise... (I wish you were here Marlon so I can teach you how to catch one of these awesome fish!!!)

You want some hands??? I got your hands right here!!!

2011-11-27T01:15:00.000-08:00

"So there I was - just walking along the beach minding my own business and here comes this brown human. He gets all in my personal space and then shoves this sliver box in my face!!! The nerve of that guy!!! He didn't get the hint so I said 'You want a piece of me? Well come get it, or get the heck outta here!!!' What's this atoll coming to these days???"

This crab has hands.

Look Ma - No Hands!!!

2011-11-26T23:32:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how this guy eats - talk about stuffing your face, or playing with your food.

If you aren't sure what I'm talking about, look where the crab's claws should be. He's got replacements budding out, but it'll be a couple of molts before they are functional.

Life's a b!tc4 ain't it????

Deja Vu Bluefin Trevally

2011-11-24T06:10:00.000-08:00

Hit two spots today -

Tried flyfishing down South but didn't see anything - I didn't even get a hook up with one of the pesky juvee groupers...

I switched to pitching a big popper and I did get a young Bluefin Trevally. It is amazing the size lures a fish will try to take. Looking at proportions, it would be like an average sized human trying to eat a whole baby pig in two gulps.

The tide was coming up fast so we moved to spot number two.

Big waves breaking in the background BUT

I nailed these two BFTs -

The second one was the other BFT that was following the one I caught last Saturday - same weight, same length, same spot, similar lure - deja vu...

Weighed in at the Marina at 14 pounds (although it seemed like a 20 pounder to me).

And I didn't break the rod today!

Green Sea Turtle

2011-11-24T05:37:00.000-08:00

Starting the circle (sinusoidal function distributed over time) of life -

All nerdiness aside, what a privilege to see

This was my 40th birthday present (I actually didn't catch a fish that day)

Something Other Than Fishing

2011-11-19T05:13:00.000-08:00

I took the Bluefin Trevally back to the room, made a gyotaku and then prepared the fish.

Afterwards, I smelled like fish guts - so I decided to go for a swim - since the lagoon is my backyard, I went to check it out.

Here are some pictures - finally of me doing something other than fishing.

There are some really awesome coral heads, outcroppings and reef plots not more than a 100 foot swim away. And where there's coral, there are fish. I saw some huge parrotfish and tons of snapper.

The water was a bit cloudy - with the wind shifting to a more permanent NW direction, it should start to clear up soon. And with the days starting to get longer, this will be a great way to blow off steam.

GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!

2011-11-19T04:58:00.000-08:00

I struck out at the first place I fished at this morning. I did get a medium sized grouper, but it spit the hook (I was using a 1 ounce Mark White surface lure).

We made our way to the outfall and fished there.

I tried to see if anything would take a fly - nope. So I went back to throwing a lure (bigger ones). About an hour into the stop, I got a great hit on my lure - this Bluefin Trevally. It actually had a second one following that was just as big - but I got this one in with a little drama (check the picture)

Obviously it snapped my pole - it broke as I was trying to lift the fish out of the water (there is a pretty good drop from where you stand to fish to the water). Oh well - that's fishing!

I got it weighed at the marina - 14 pounds. It measured 28" nose to fin tips. This is the biggest Bluefin Trevally I've taken to date. Definitely big enough to make my day!

Backyard Fishing

2011-11-16T05:25:00.000-08:00

Had some time to burn after work.

I tried pitching a big lure to see if there were any Trevally roaming the waters behind my room - none.

I switched out the spinning rod for the flyrod and cast out a bonefish bitter and a green scud - nothing.

I resorted to the fail safe - squid. I caught 1 small grouper, 2 snappers, 3 sergeant majors and 2 humuhumunukunukuapuaa on a size 8 hook - lots of fun!!! (ALL CAUGHT AND RELEASED).

The circle hooks really do engage on the lip - these fish were all happy and healthy when let back in the water.

I also caught one ama crab with my line - it was actually pinching the line and didn't want to let go.

These are the spots where I was catching the fish.

These terns were watching the whole time.

Nice way to wind down from work!

Blue Trevally Sunday

2011-11-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

If I didn't already mention it, I stepped on a Sea Urchin last Wednesday and my left foot has swollen up. Walking has been painful and for the last three workdays I've had to walk miles for a site visit. I'm getting better now, but this weekend was challenging.

That is relevant because Sunday was a marathon fishing session - 5 hours at the secret spot where Mike and I both landed Bluefin Trevally (Omilu), his being bigger than mine. Then another 2 hours at the Rock Pier, where we both caught Bluefin Trevally, his being bigger than mine. It's a good thing I don't have size complexities - a lesser man would have been upset.

By the time we were done (the fish kept taunting us to stay), my foot was jiggling with built up fluid. Some Motrin and elevation made me feel tons better and now there is a bunch of fish in my fridge for dinner this week - Panko Trevally, Green Thai Curry Trevally, Drunken Trevally.....

And yes that picture of me does show me with one rod in hand and two on the back - for the record, I did not even go back to shore to drop off the fish (I got Mike to do that). I did cast the fly around, but I did not get any followers this time. I think I was making too much noise with my bad foot and the subsequent limping.

There is always next week!

Snapper

2011-11-14T16:06:00.000-08:00

Saturday also yielded this one small snapper - better than getting skunked.

Released to fight another day -

Rodney casting at the secret spot. A bad day of fishing is still better than any day in the office - work to live dudes!!!

Boobies

2011-11-14T13:45:00.001-08:00

12 November

Took a ride on a landing craft and got to visit a rookery site for these guys - Browns and Blue-Footed Boobies all over the place.

BTW this is a Rated G blog (mainly for my family - Hi NoMaLa!!!) - What did you think I was posting about????

Big Crab

2011-11-14T13:35:00.000-08:00

This is a Coconut Crab.

Big one too, about 24" across the carapace - but as far as they go, this is a medium sized one. If it weren't for humans, these guys would be at the top of the food chain in their respective environment. As time has moved on, these guys lost their motivation to move fast - in fact they move slow.

Maybe having two samurai front claws that can put the ginzu on a coconut has got something to do their apparent lack of speed...

Daybreak

2011-11-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

Another picture from November 7

The cloud cover and timing of sunrise came together well - I'd say

Catching Up - Dinner

2011-11-14T07:41:00.000-08:00

It's been a while - gomen nasai on the lack of postings.

Here is my effort to catch up...

Green Curry Trevally with Fried Tofu - dinner from 7 November.

GOOD STUFF!!!!

Sunday Fishing - Part 3 - The Glorious Giant Trevally

2011-11-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

The last phase of Sunday Fishing...

After playing with the Bonefish with the flyrod, I decided to throw a lure for a while to see if I could get a good hit.

I was using the lightweight rod/reel and a Mark White surface plug - the same one that picked up the Yellow Spot Trevally - Oh by the way - with that catch, I have caught four different species of Trevally - the Yellow Spot, the Thick Lipped, the Blue Fin and the Giant Trevally. My favorite to catch, clean and eat is the GT. In fact, I think this is my favorite fish period.

I had some chasers but no hits. I subsequently changed lures three times and still didn't get a hit.

Without a hit, I decided to bring out the big guns - my medium weight rig armed with a big Tsunami Popper.

I pitched it out and worked 180 degrees out from a line parallel to the shore along the rocky outcropping - working left to right. Nothing on the first pass.

I decided to cast the lure out in a way so that during retrieve, I could bring it in over a section of reef that had some big holes underneath. On the second cast, I got the strike I was looking for!!!

10 minute fight - I thought the GT was trying to break off on a coral head, but I was able to steer it back into open water. After more pulls - I landed this magnificent fish.

If you can't already tell, I have the utmost respect for the GT!!! This made my week (although not as big a thrill as the 25#'er)!

Sunday Fishing - Part 2 - Bonefish Party

2011-11-06T05:40:00.000-08:00

I hadn't seen a single Bone while I was walking the flats and it was getting hot, and I was getting hungry - "time to go" - no action tends to drop off the interest factor

BUT...

As my fishing partner and I were making our way back to shore, he noticed something and said "there's a lot of fish over here"

I went to look and they were mullet.

Where there are mullet, there are Bones.

So I started casting the Bonefish Bitter and....

WHACK - I ended up catching four "Forearm" Bones (Bonefish as big around as my forearm and as long as the distance between my fingers and my elbow) back to back -

In order to make sure the tippet didn't break, I would try to get the Forearm Bones to run up the beach when a wave would lap up. This was way easier on the fish and they all went back into the water with a lot of energy.

This is the new high tide spot!!!

This certainly made up for the fly losses I had last weekend - but I still didn't see the "Thigh Bones" - foot to mid upper thigh sized Bonefish.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually got bored catching the forearms...

I want a thigh bone.... There is always next weekend!!!

Sunday Fishing Part 1 - Mini grouper flyfishing

2011-11-06T03:08:00.001-08:00

Early morning start -

I started out flyfishing with a Bonefish Bitter fly. These grouper are feisty little fish.

I caught three of them (and one wrasse, but I didn't take a picture of it). Each one seemed to get smaller than the one before it.

These guys hide out under the rocks and coral heads - knowing the fish in the area you are at means you can always catch a fish.

BTW, everything except the last fish (in the last post, coming up in two posts) was caught and released.

The grouper in the second picture took the hook pretty deep, I had to go back in, grab a pliers and take the hook out. I went ahead and grabbed by light spinning rod and after the tiny guy in the picture with the fly reel for size comparison, I figured I try casting a lure.

I had a good hit - a Yellow Spot Trevally - about 10 pounds. I was going to keep it, but I couldn't get a noose around it's tail and at one point, it was able to get off the hook. I did send it off with a lot of expletives and cursing, but you should only take what you can eat.

And a Bonefish to Wrap Up Saturday

2011-11-06T02:32:00.000-08:00

Went out a second time (third spot of the day) -

Went flyfishing and after a really long time without sighting a target (lots of Manini - no Bones), I finally did see some Bones.

After taking this picture, I started casting again.

I got a medium sized grouper - but it spat the hook when I was about to land it.

Great fishing Saturday!

Three - Three Trevally in one day - AHHHH AHHHHH AHHH AHHHHHH

2011-11-06T01:50:00.000-07:00

But one of these things is not like the other...

This is not a Giant Trevally - it is a Thick Lipped Trevally.

Just look at the lips on that thing (me or the fish - your pick)!

I used a small swimming lure and the treble landed square in it's upper lip - I was afraid it would bend the hooks or break off, but I landed it!

When I pulled it up out of the water, it had distinct tiger stripes on it's body.

Good fighter - I guesstimate it weighed 10 pounds!

Number 2 - Papio

2011-11-05T09:45:00.002-07:00

Papio sized Giant Trevally.

I'm not into endorsing stuff, but these Mark White ceramic lures are really good at catching trevally. The design has taken a much different track than the conventional plastic lures.

There is beauty in simplicity and there is peace in catching your dinner.

One - One Trevally - Ahhh Ahhhh HHaaaa Haaaa!

2011-11-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

Fished three places today -

This was what I caught at the first spot - nice sized Giant Trevally

This one was dinner - sashimi!!!

Caught it on a Tsunami Popper - nice fighter! About 5#

Water Cycling

2011-11-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

Ocean (Indian) - Clouds (damn big ones) - Rain (far off)

Ammo

2011-11-04T07:32:00.000-07:00

Bonefish BEWARE!!!

I'm coming for you!!!

Boneyard

2011-10-30T06:42:00.001-07:00

At low tide, calf high water for 600 yards, sand bottom interspersed with coral heads and monsters...

I hooked into a bone that snapped 13 pound tippet.

After regrouping, I then hooked into another that ran the leader into a coral head and snapped off...

These guys are smart and strong.

At least the fight was epic!

I had a dry spell for several minutes before I saw the last pack of the day - three huge bones about the size of my lower leg. Talk about smart - I know they were looking at me and they stayed just upwind of me (and I did cast, but in vain).

I am going to like this place...

One of Each

2011-10-30T06:29:00.001-07:00

I caught the Wrasse on a lure with my spinning pole. I had another hard hit - the fish took the lure straight down to the coral and eventually broke of at the leader.

In total I lost two lures (and kept my cool about it), and figured it was time to try different tactics.

I switched to the flyrod. I stalked the fish, but they weren't giving me any love. Just as Rodney was coming over to say it was time to move, I said "DON'T MOVE". Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pack of Bonefish swimming in from the right and I was lucky enough to have my line already in their path. I saw them bolt for the fly and stripped hard - FISH ON! I caught (and released) Bonefish (number two on the fly) and am thankful for the opportunity.

Rodney and I packed up and tried another spot.

After a short drive and a walk through a jungle, Bonefish perfection lay ahead of me...

Stay tuned for the next post

Gyotaku Ulua

2011-10-30T03:55:00.000-07:00

So that I can have a reminder of the awesome fight and delicious fish, I did take some time yesterday to make the obligatory gyotaku.

I am still having trouble getting the craft paper to be as supple as Japanese Rice Paper. I can wreck a gyotaku, but I think I got lucky on this one - still, a little bit modern art-ish.

Nicks and Scratches

2011-10-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

I have been wearing a glove on my right hand while fishing to help mitigate the scrapes from handling braided line (and even repeated monofilament exposure).

I'm now going to go ahead and wear the other glove.

The three pricks are from a goatfish I was taking off the hook to release - jabbed me with his cheek spine repeatedly - obviously a blackbelt in spine-cheek-do.

The slice at the joint was from the big Ulua - got me with his caudal pecundel (part between the body and the tail fin) - large knife like structure. I am happy to report that it works like a knife.

The other picture is me dropping the fish after she took her last shots at me.

The price of fishing isn't just limited to sunburns and lost tackle.

OMG!!!

2011-10-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

The first fish I caught this weekend -

A 25# GIANT TREVALLY!!!!

I know it was 25# because I weighed it at the marina scale. It took 15 minutes to land her (she had eggs) and it was an epic battle. Light weight tackle with 30# braid and a 30# leader. It took out a ton of line before it was tired enough for me to start reeling it back in. We went back and forth like that 3 times before I was able to bring it in. This is the largest fish I have caught from shore to date.

After that, I did not think I could top that ulua - so I switched to flyfishing.

I caught three double barred goatfish, a grouper and I had a surgeonfish take and then bite through the hook. I did see some bonefish, but they were not interested in playing.

Today was a good day -

Smile!!!

2011-10-27T07:21:00.001-07:00

Hey Little Grouper

Turn that frown upside down!!!!

Don't worry - be happy!!!

Ok - no amount of coaxing will make this guy like his situation. Although I bet he really liked it when I released him back into the water.

He looks like I feel...

I also caught a smaller yellow snapper (and I let him go also).

When You're Not Catching...

2011-10-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

You can at least enjoy the painted sunsets

Catch and Release (not by choice)

2011-10-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the fish I have not been landing. For those that don't know, this is a coconut crab.

I will list, in bulletized format, the fishing encounters I have had since this past Friday:
Friday
- Flyfishing at O'Club - landed a small Dart and lost a bonefish (weak tippet)
-Late night fishing at the POL Pier Head. Lots of Big Eyed Scads
Saturday
- Skunked at the POL Pier (but was involved in losing a GT that Mike pulled in)
- Lost two Big Trevally at South Point (the first rode a wave off the treble hook; the second charged me, hooked my surf trunks with the second hook and started to shake until it literally unhooked the treble off the lure - if I didn't have it happen to me, I wouldn't have believed it...
- Lost a third Trevally when it broke off the leader on a coral head and had a barracuda jump until it finally cut the line
- Late night fishing at POL Pier again; a few Big Eyed Scad, then caught a few Soldier Fish that on the fly that were feeding on the surface
Sunday
- Skunked at South Point (despite losing two lures - one to a large steady fighter and a second to a hard hit and dragging through coral)
- Landed two smallish groupers (and let them go) at Donkey Gate
- Landed a medium sized snapper at POL Base; it was neat that before I picked him up, he was being tailed and watched by a medium sized trevally
Monday
- Late afternoon run down to South Point; lost another lure to what was probably a big snapper, then I got a hit off a topwater lure (the teeth marks are pretty gnarly) but no taker

I was paying for some really bad activity in a previous life - in total, I lost 5 lures and landed a minuscule percentage of the hits I had.

That's fishing....

Report Card

2011-10-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

Okay - I haven't been posting lately.

I broke my camera the day I took the pictures from my last post - a little wave gentle lapped the camera and "poof".

But, I have been working, and I have been making time in the evenings to go fishing as well.

SO - here's the report card for the past week:

The day after the last set of pictures (on the last post), I caught several sergeant majors and a few flagtails all on the tenkara yamame rod (at rock pier). I also caught a triggerfish earlier in the day (at Cables) - there is an interesting story behind that - something about being happy to not be skunked, kissing the fish and getting bit on the lower lip... good thing I have a high pain tolerance.

This picture is actually from Tuesday. I caught two trigger fish and a decent sized bonefish at Short Pier. Sonny caught six more larger sized fish (do I hear lumpia being made???) after wards (beginner's luck).

Thursday evening, I fish out behind the barracks and caught a tiny sized dart with the tenkara ito. I had a bonefish on the line, but it broke off the tippet. While I was there, one of the contractor personnel caught a massive Black Trevally - most likely a 50 pounder! What makes it even more incredible was he caught it on a hand line. There is certainly something to be said for simplicity. Moved to a different location later in the evening - caught a bunch of big eyed scads (about 6) and a couple of glassy sweepers (a type of cardinal fish) on a sabiki rig - the hooks weren't much smaller than the fish...

And now we get to today.

One big eyed scad (on a tiny spoon) and two soldierfish (or a type of snapper) taken on the fly (a gotcha). I was trying my hardest to get a scad on the fly, but no takers.

Tomorrow I am going to buy a replacement camera so I can start taking pictures again.

Work hard - Play harder!!!

Quality Not Quantity

2011-10-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

One of my mottos -

I finally got to get out and fish (crazy busy at work).

Went down South (14.5) and pitched some new lures across the surf hoping the Trevally took a liking to the offerings.

I lost a 1 ounce Oama colored Mark White Surface Plug (dang it - I hate it when that happens), but regrouped and pitched out a 1/2 ounce version.

I got a nice hit and landed this Omilu (Bluefin Trevally)! I had a couple more hits, but the hook did not set.

I was able to take these pictures, but the inevitable happened - a wave got me and the camera got wet. I'll have to work the GoPro to continue with the fishing photo evidence.

On the way back in (the surf was a bit rough), I saw a big Pompano (or possibly a Permit, I'll have to research if they live out here) running through the flats - which brings me to the next part...

Up to Donkey Gate -

The surf height made the tactics we used last weekend ineffective (cast beyond the surf to the drop). I decided to breakout the fly gear.

I saw a group of fish and pitched a brown and white clouser to them. I got some nosing (the fish following but not trying to eat the fly). I thought "this is good - now how do I get them to close the deal?"

I switched the fly out to a pink gotcha. I relocated the silvery-green torpedos and started casting again.

On the second cast, I had the whole group of Bonefish following. I was stripping the line and would get to the point where I was going to run out soon so I lifted the rod and then....

The hooked Bonefish ran and fought like heavyweight UFC champ - it brought all the tricks out and made three really long runs! This is the stuff of fishing dreams!

Not the biggest bonefish, but definitely a fight that washed away all the worries of the week. So if last weekend's catches made me a bone fide flyfishing person, today's catch made me a humble flyfisherman. I'm spoiled for life now...

Omilu Colors

2011-10-15T10:15:00.001-07:00

Truly magnificent creatures.

To hunt them, fight with them and then consume them as nourishment is an incredible privilege.

Here is a closeup of their cool camo pattern. These colors are pretty much the same as the ocean itself!

Evening Fishing with Old Friends

2011-10-15T10:01:00.001-07:00

Just another way to blow off steam after a really long day at work -

Jimmy and Nick were out here this past week. The three of us were back in Hawaii back in the late 90's. Jimmy came to Hawaii from the island and never left.

10+ years later and here we are again. What a really small world.

We didn't catch anything, but we did some small sharks swimming in the shallows (cool!)

Some Weekends are Better than Others

2011-10-10T02:05:00.000-07:00

And this one (in terms of fishing) kicked arse!!!

Went on an early dawn patrol to the southern part of the island with Mike.

My Rattling Rapala that has repeatedly caught big fish, met its end at mile marker 14. I got a big hit in the surf and for fear of snapping the line, I loosened the drag and the fish kept taking. It seemed like it was getting tired so I started taking the line back. As the fish was coming in from the drop off, the line went limp - looking at the frayed line at the bitter end, the Trevally (what else out there would pull like that, this close to shore???) cut the line off on a coral head. Smart bugger - it deserves to live another day (so I can fight it again).

With the last of my surface lures swimming in the Indian Ocean, I decided to push the flyline. Last night I switched out the leader for a Blue Sky furled leader. I also paid attention to an experienced flyfisherman yesterday that was fishing with us. His casts were longer on the stroke distance (0930 to 1430) and a lot slower than mine. With the leader swapout, the longer stroke and the slowing of the cast, I was delivering much better.

Before I go further, I need to post a disclaimer. I did not use squid on the fly today, so all catches were legitimate flyfishing hits.

Ok - I started with a brown and white Clouser and I landed the grunt (or sweetlips). This guy put up a good fight and had the distinction of being the biggest fish I caught on conventional flyfishing gear to date. And it was the best fighter (although the parrotfish on the Tenkara Ito was also a great fight).

I wasn't getting any followup hits, so I switched to an orange and red Clouser. Second pitch out and WHAM!!! Another fish and this one was running! I let it take some line to get tired and then started bringing it in. It fought every inch of the way! When I saw it was a Bluefin Trevally, I felt a wave of emotion rush over me - with this fish, my much cleaner casts and the smooth hook up, I transformed from a flyfishing pupae into a flyfishing killer bug!!! That was supposed to be a play on words - flyfishing = bug - in case you didn't catch that one...

I pitched the fly out again and soon after I pulled up this eager grouper (it amazes me the size of things a fish will try to eat - plugs and flies bigger than the mouth and stomach trying to take it down). With this guy I hit a triple on the fly!!! The rain moved in and we called it a fishing trip.

So - this was an awesome weekend (in terms of fishing) - I got a wide variety of fish, I landed a good sized Giant Trevally and Bluefin Trevally on a surface lure, and I made legitimate catches on a fly. I have tons of cuts and prick holes in my hands from hooks, fish spines and worn skin from casting and retrieving. I smell like fish from all the fish I've touched this weekend and I can't wash the smell off. I am sore, and tired from fishing and filleting several big fish. But my belly is full (fish burritos that were exquisite) and I can't wipe the smile off my face...

And my gear and tackle are clean and ready for use (not a good work forecast though - busy with a big crowd coming in this week for business).

This weekend did not suck!!!

Bluefin Trevally

2011-10-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

Look what I caught today -

I saw it swimming through the waves and I cast a topwater lure to it.

The excitement of working the lure to get a strike is pretty intense.

The Trevally made a quick dash a hit the lure hard. Water splashing everywhere! And what a fight!

I've seen these guys while diving - in fact I regularly see them and not the GTs.

Well, now I've caught a great one and I can say that I won't soon forget the experience!