Dead Opelu Shortage
The best bait store in Hawaii is your local grocery store.
Fishing time for me has been hard to come by in the past few weeks, and in the time since I last got out (apparently) there are no frozen opelu to be found for bait in Hilo. I tried to get out on the water this afternoon, but a search for those stinky, but ideal, little kayak fishing baits proved to be in vain. Usually you can find an expensive pair in the grocery department of KTA or Sack-N-Save as a last ditch option, but even they were out. A little creativity was in order, and the closest thing that I could find in the Sack-N-Save deli was a type of small Jack called a ‘blue runner’. Looks to me like something a big Ono would find tasty, and definitely worth a shot at less than $3. I also found a pack of 6-8″ sardines, which are very much like opelu in miniature, so maybe I’ll just catch smaller Ahi. That would be fine.
The Sea Wave box is squid, which is great cut into strips for smaller fish. I’m still trying to learn how to catch my own opelu, because the only thing better than dead bait, is live bait…
After so much messing around, and an annoying preponderance of errands, and traffic that normally only dwells in my nightmares- I didn’t even get to launch. Tomorrow is another day…
Is it bait or dinner? Only time will tell...
August 28, 2010 at 14:04
Shawn, I feel your pain. I’ve got one good opelu left in the freezer and working my inside connection hard.
January 5, 2011 at 20:14
I here you, if you need help I can help you.How ever much you want. Fresh daily opelus. Just let me know. tia.moana@hotmail.com
August 30, 2010 at 16:39
Sardines as bait?…blasphemy! So good right out of the tin, though a larger, tastier fish wrapped around one sounds like a fine idea too. How’s that porter?
As for the cross country ride next spring, if I can manage a detour, it’s a deal, ha!