Just paddling along and minding my own business on a slow day of kayak fishing, when I’m suddenly greeted by The Boss. The video of the Great White is far less dramatic than Chompy, but you get a good idea of its size. (Wishing I had the underwater housing for better clarity.) When it gets close to the boat and the camera (annoyingly) goes sideways into the water, it’s because I was scared. Scared to put my hands in the water. Simple as that.
Fellow Aquahunter Isaac Brumaghim catches a nice sized tuna, only to lose it to low-flying shark. It can very real, very fast out there in the big blue…
Aquhunters.com Makahiki Fishing Tournament.
Makahiki days two and three were kind of a bust. Frustrating equipment failures and a poor planning had left me with only 10 points after day two. Hoping for a new start today, I got up at five and thought I’d sort of slowly drink my coffee and read some news, but between some bad weather news and general lethargy, I almost cancelled. The weather report was indicating the swell rising faster than last night, and I discovered that the world famous Hilo Marathon that I’d never heard of was happening at dawn today and running right down the launch path! I figured the traffic would be nuts and almost bailed, but I really wanted to test the FF and hoped that at least one of the four major Hilo launches would be available. I tumbled on down the mountain.
First choice launch was ruled out with close-out sets, so I pulled back a mile to the back-up. There were a few guys out
Kawalea (Heller’s Barracuda)- smiling
surfing it, but the channel was still clear on the smaller sets, so I tumbled on out the channel. Immediately I was in the wind, which was at about 8 knots out of the north, but was hoping the switch to east would happen sooner, rather than later, with a nice interim calm. I threw out the fake stuff and paddle hard into it for a while, and finally got to the grounds as the wind was hitting about 10 kts. The sonar started out acting ok, but then dropped out over 150′, and only got worse from there. It would still mark some bait here and there, but dropping to them 100′ down was hell in the wind, and the only time I got a nibble, my weight got cut off. I suspected it was aha or kawalea- one of which was later confirmed. The sonar was also doing some new screen glitches, and giving me temp readings of 5 to 10 degrees, so I really think the circuit board is just fried.
I decided to give up on bait and just do some laps with the minnows out, and didn’t get halfway into the first when the Saragosa started screaming in the wind. As I grabbed the rod, North Korea fired a nuclear missile from a submarine just behind me. OR SO I THOUGHT! Turns out it was an ono with my lure lodged in his jaw, and he was fairly pissed off. I fought him gently for a few minutes knowing he would soon find a way to cut through the mono leader, but alas, he did not, and with a short 10 minute fight and lucky stone shot with the kage, the beast was mine. Suddenly, I was covered in slime, but smiling.
35 lb Ono with happy fisherman.
After I got reset, I got suckered by a big bird pile another mile out. Made it out there to find nothing but aku with no interest in plastic today, so I headed back to where I was. It was hard. It took a long time. By the time I got there I was spent, but still had a good two miles back to the launch, into the wind that had never switched or relented, and my smile was long gone. As I got into the area where I had first seen bait, I watched my screen that had lost the plot, hoping for a sign of more, but there was nothing but confused interference. As I do a visual check around for any signs, I find that both my rods have fish on them without any drag being pulled. Blammo- two Kawalea, which confirmed my earlier suspicions on the damashi destruction. North Korea is off the hook for that one too, I guess. Glad I stuck it out, not bad for off the water by 11:30, and I still got to play soccer. That’s my kind of Sunday.
Funny failed self portrait.
Jackson Kayaks Signs Jim Sammons.
Love him or hate him, this is big new for Jackson Kayak and my fellow team mates. Jackson has a huge presence in the the Southeastern US, but are currently working on expansion to the West (and beyond, as we look to build a team in Hawaii), as well as into saltier waters everywhere. Mr. Sammons will certainly facilitate this.
While I believe in sharing my catch with others, this is pushing it. This little tuna started the fight at about 10lbs, but was reduced to 8 when it got chomped by a big Ono off the side of my boat. I say, Wicked Ono!
This video just popped up and is truly amazing- a dolphin wrapped up in fishing line approaches a diver and patiently waits while the line is cut off, freeing the bound pectoral fin. First sign I’ve seen of intelligent life here in some time!
Thanks to Hawaii 24/7
Pelagic Pursuit Tournament; 4th place. 20 and 13 lb Ahi (yellow fin tuna).
The Pelagic Pursuit Kayak Fishing Tournament is put on by P & P Kayaks in Kona, Hawaii twice a year. Usually a good turnout of some of Hawaii’s top anglers, but you never know what will win. Two years ago a 5 lb aku (skipjack) took the top prize in the offshore class and earlier this year it was a 112 lb sailfish. This time a friend won it with a 27 lb ahi (Yellow Fin Tuna) and I just missed the money with fourth place for my 20 lb ahi (though selling it at market helped ease the pain). Also got a 13 pounder, which found its way into our Thanksgiving meal.
It turned windy, as is typical at this spot, and though the winds are manageable for trolling around- hooking into a good fish can cause you to drift out into the wind line all too quickly. This one was manageable, but on a really windy day, there is potential for disaster. Know your limits!
