The Weekly Fishing Line

All we heard about this week was Mahimahi, some Mahimahi, and a few more Mahimahi.   We then heard about some Mahimahi, a couple Mahimahi, then a few more Mahimahi afterwards. 

What can I tell you?  There’s Mahimahi out there.  No particular place either.  The fish are in open schools for the most part.   They are still big, averaging well over 30 pounds, and we’re still getting reports of some in the 50’s. 

Kamome and the Kuu Huapala are still being worked on so they aren’t catching anything, but Magic, Sea Verse and Wild Bunch have been out pretty regularly catching…..you guessed it…..Mahimahi.  Wild Bunch got 5 last Tuesday all over 30 pounds (for those of you that think a 5 fish day is not much fun, try catching that many over 30 pounds…….it is a riot).  Magic got 3 on Thursday with the biggest a 48 pounds (that’s fun, too!). 

Where’s the Marlin?  What ever you do, don’t look at your calendar to explain it.  All too often people say it’s just winter time and the Marlin aren’t available in the winter.  That’s just not true in Hawaii.  The answer, like most times here in Hawaii, lies within the ocean currents.  Everyone is reporting that the water doesn’t have it’s crisp blue look to it……is more of a faded green color.  To the person who doesn’t spend a lot of time on the water, it’s difficult to tell (i.e. still looks pretty blue to most), but for the pros out there every day, they can see it.  It’s a sign of less clear water, weak ocean currents, and a general reduction in bait…….the three most common signs of slower Marlin fishing.   

Will it be back?  You can bet on it.   When?  Your guess is as good as mine, but I’ll tell you this……..there’s at least one more giant going to be recorded in Hawaii before the Millenium is out.   But until they come back with the bait, enjoy the Mahimahi.

It’s been a little bit hit and miss this past week here on Oahu’s South shore.  With Kamome and Kuu Huapala both undergoing some maintenance and repairs, the fleet has been a little smaller than usual.  Sea Verse has been hitting some good sized Mahimahi pretty consistently, and Magic has managed to get into some Marlin as well.

Magic seemed to have the hottest hand on Wednesday the 17^th out in Waianae when they managed to land a Blue and two Striped Marlin, released another stripe, and had another four or five good Marlin bites. 

The temperature gradients and current lines haven’t been too good near this island lately, so that may explain the spotty results this past week.  We’ve received some other reports that Haleiwa and Waianae have been especially slow, however, Kauai has been going off with Mahimahi right out of Nawiliwili and a bunch of Marlin coming in along the South shore out of Port Allen.

Anyone who fishes often enough knows the fish follow the bait.  And anyone who fishes in Hawaii long enough knows all the islands here provide and equal chance to catch nice fish.  Kona has a great fishery, to be sure, but remember, it’s Hawaii as a state that makes up what we believe is the greatest fishery in the world.  

As promised, we’re back from a short vacation, and we’ve been able to learn where the bite has been along the South shore of Oahu.  The Mahimahi remain huge, with several boats still bringing home big females and bulls almost daily.  They aren’t in the great numbers we saw in the spring, but personally, I’ll take a couple of 35’s and a 50 over a bunch of 15’s any day. 

Sea Verse finished up on their interior work and on his first charter out (with a Sportfish Hawaii customer, no less) Lee managed to get into a nice Marlin and three Mahimahi over 35 pounds, with the biggest bull at 52!  In addition to the Mahis, the Marlin action has been pretty decent with a number of boats reporting pretty frequent action.  Nothing huge lately, but odds are pretty decent that a Blue or two will come into a lure pattern during the course of a day (it’s up to you to get ‘em to bite).

What has also been a pleasant surprise is the Ahi.  A couple of boats have been reporting some good tuna action here and there, such as double and triple strikes.  Remember, in Hawaii we only call a Yellowfin and Ahi if it’s over 100 pounds, so on those days when you manage to bring home 3 Ahi, you’ve had a heck of a day.

Kamome has gone to drydock and is going through a nice refit, so look for them to be back strong toward the middle of December.  Magic, Wild Bunch, Kuu Huapala and Sea Verse have all been doing well, landing the big Mahimahi and some Marlin pretty consistently.  The good areas have been from the South tip of the Banks and P buoy, and the areas between the HH and BO buoys.  Mahis have been found in the open near these areas, and the Ahi and Marlin are blind striking in the open as well. 

For those of you who are into this type of stuff, fish location prediction can be a lot of fun.   If you follow the sea surface temperature (SST) charts from NMFS and subscribe to the eddywatch, you can learn a whole bunch about where you might plan your day’s fishing.  Click here to go to the weather page and take a look at the 2 SST links we use.  Any questions on it, feel free to email me.