Bad Traffic Fishing and the Missing Mangroves

On the way home Friday evening, I decided to walk the flats instead of sitting in pretty bad traffic (the rest of the week traffic was super light - this commute made up for all that with a vengeance). I also remembered the Hickam Flats area was supposed to open up from the environmental project. The fish didn't seem to mind the mangroves missing. They used the bathymetry for shelter more than the mangrove root structure. At high tide, the remaining structure will act more like a coral head with fingers and voids to provide even more places to hide. And without the mangroves there, I don't have to cuss when my backcast is sloppier than it should be. Some animals didn't blink an eye at the missing trees. Maybe because they don't have eye lids. But they do have annular orifices, and this cucumber's orifice works. And perhaps the best thing about the project - it ended the rampant running of dogs off leash at the beach as well as the removal of the invasive mangroves - is the return of the Hawaiian seabirds to the flats. So nice to hear bird calls instead of dogs barking (and trying to make sure I'm not stepping on dog crap on the way out). I didn't catch anything, but sometimes that's really not the point of fishing. I did get to walk through one of my favorite spots on the island and the commute home after was a walk in the park.

Same Place, Different Tide, Hopeful Results

Went out to the flats again to see about a wrestling match with some fish. This time I saw some signs that at least the targets are present. My rod is pointing to two large bonefish tailing. I cast a tan and white clouser to them thinking it was the closest fly in my box to a mantis shrimp, but they weren't interested. I did see several other large bonefish, but again - no takers. I saw tons of oama (juvenile goatfish) and mullets just taking in the sun and enjoying not being chased by the bigger fish. On the subject of Mantis Shrimp - I saw another one. This one was probing the limu for something to eat. More animals in the limu (medusa worm???) And some urchins. Vana (OUCH) and pencil sea urchins. Fishing this flat has not produced many wrestling matches - but the opportunities to observe have been awesome. This is going to be fun!