That’s Fishing in Kona Hawaii

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That’s Fishing in Kona Hawaii.  Dave Greathouse and his wife Barbara from Wisconsin enjoyed a leisurely morning aboard Fire Hatt waiting for a bite.  A real leisurely morning.  Nothing, not even a rubber band failure.  Originally, the couple intended to do a little snorkeling at Captain Cook Bay but someone forgot to pack their swimsuit.  Then it was discovered that their underwater camera was dead and they did not have the power cord to recharge it.  However, these slight misshaps gave them more time with hooks in the water.  This is their first time to fish in Kona Hawaii and the anticipation was contagious.  After several hours of no action, Dave broke out a prize cigar and ask if there was any way he could smoke it….. we closed up the Salon and let him light up on the back deck.  Once he finished the cigar and noted it had not brought him the luck he anticipated, he donated the remaining stub to mother ocean.  Within seconds the stinger line is bit and line is screaming off.  We are hooked up!  It’s a Marlin!  Dave did a wonderful job bringing in his first Pacific Blue Marlin.  It took him all of 25 minutes.  The Marlin was released unharmed and took off jumping and putting on a great show.  When our guests asks me if I ever get tired of this, I always tell them “Are you kidding?  Fishing here is like driving through a mine field…you never know when one of the lines are going to explode!”

Hawaiian Fishing Lures, Do They Make A Difference?

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Hawaiian Fishing Lures, Do They Make A Difference?.  Is there a difference in them and other lures used around the world?  I think so.  While keeping in mind, when a fish is ready to bite, it will bite what ever is drug in front of it.  However, I do think there is a science to consider when deciding your pattern for the day.  You want to pull lures that are going to atract a fish into your pattern.  What are the fish eating?  Where are the fish eating?  Local lure makers know this information.  They know what months certain bait fish are here and the depths they are hanging.  Local Hawaiian lure makers mimic these characteristics when making their lures.  They are not concerned with what is being bit in Mexico, Southern California or New Zealand.  They are interested in making lures that look like and swim like our local bait fish.  When I look back at our largest fish caught here in Hawaii, they have been caught on local lures.  We have caught our share on other favorites from our vast arsenal too.   Sometimes you just have to throw something out there to “mix things up”.  I also beleive that when new batches of fish show up in our waters, they have been eating baits we don’t have.  This is when putting out something a little different than the normal proves to be productive.  The fish then settle in and begin to look for the local bait.  Thus the reason for “local lures”.  Look back at your lures from the past twenty or so years and notice little has changed color wise.  Shapes change, size change and weight changes but the colors remain consistent.  The materials today are so much more advanced and the result is amazing.  Another thing to consider….look at the fishermen that are bringing in the trophy fish.  Many of whom are luremakers.  They are using their own lures.  You don’t really need more proof than that.  There have been many times that our guests will bring Lucky Lures from their own collections.  Their lures have won tournaments for them in their own waters and  are excited to give them a try here.  (Many times they prove to be productive…)  Who Knows! Just get out there and try them.

 

The Honeymooner’s Fishing in Kona Hawaii

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The Honeymooner’s Fishing in Kona Hawaii!  Yet another story about wedded bliss and the lucky Bride!  Linda thinks there is something about a newlywed couple and luck on the water.  I am beginning to agree with her… Rob and Kendra from Southern California boarded Fire Hatt with the anticipation of getting in a little snorkeling at Captain Cook Bay and a little fishing that hopefully will include some catching.  Adam had just completed the chair talk and they had settled in on the bridge when I was telling them how we “look with our brain” for any activity or floaters on the water.  I wasn’t even finished telling them when Kendra spotted a floater.  Turns out to be a nice net.  Perfect!  On our first pass, we are hooked up!  Rob is in the chair and he lands a nice 31 pound Bull Mahi Mahi.  Nice way to start the day.   A couple more boats showed up and after making several more passes without another bite, we moved on.  Off to Captain Cook to snorkel now.   The water was absolutely calm and clear while we were greeted by porpoise at the bay.  Having finished a wonderful swim, we are headed back out.  With lines back in the water we are about 10 minutes straight out from Cook when BAM!  The short rigger line is screaming!  We are hooked up again!  Did I mention it was the very Lucky Linda Lure….Kendra is in the chair fighting her fish of a lifetime!  She is a petite little thing and fights the Blue Marlin literally standing in the fighting chair.  After a  35 minute fight, we are able to release her approximately 225 pound Pacific Blue Marlin.  She did such a great job!  To summarize the event, I go back to Honeymooners, Lady Luck and the Lucky Linda Lure!