Fishing Hawaii can be a '€˜big game'€™ experience

Shore fishing in Hawaii is a laid back pastime with spurts of activity. Since arriving on the Big Island and checking into the shore fishing thing in greater detail, I’ve learned several more things about Hawaiian fishing in general.

It’s true — you don’t need a fishing license for fishing in saltwater. Further, saltwater fishing involves several different methods. The most well known activity is the so called “blue water” fishing consisting of a boat charter, often far off shore, in pursuit of marlin, sailfish and the other various billfish. This is the “big game” fishing experience folks from around the world come to Hawaii to participate in. I didn’t try this out primarily for lack of funds. A typical day out fishing will cost $500 to just under $1,000, depending on the particular operation and the length of the charter.

The second type of boat-oriented recreational fishing is referred to as “green water” fishing. This fishing activity tends to occur closer to shore than the billfish trips and targets fish like mahimahi, akule and ‘opelu. You can charter a boat for yourself or reserve a spot on a “shared” boat and save some money. Some folks use large surfboards or outrigger canoes to accomplish this same practice in inshore waters.

There are a gazillion different species of fish around the islands and I’ve only mentioned a very few. You’re apt to encounter a wide variety of species any time you’re out in a boat fishing, so chasing a marlin doesn’t necessarily negate your chances of catching a mahimahi or a barracuda and vice versa. However, as I understand it, if you’re fishing with a dedicated billfish charter boat, using billfish gear, and you’re in the waters known for catching same, you probably won’t land too many other species.

The difference in gear used between the various species is remarkable. I saw reels used for marlin fishing priced at over $1,200 in a couple of shops. These reels are easily twice to maybe three times the size of my halibut reel. Your typical halibut baitcasting-style reel would be considered light-tackle gear for “green water” fishing. I saw monofilament line in one “big game” specialty shop listed at 500-pound test weight. I think it was intended as leader material because I saw large spools of line in the 200- to 300-pound test range on the shelf below. I also saw mounted marlin in some hotel lobbies weighing around 1,200 pounds, so the heavy gear obviously is needed.

We talked a little about surf and shore fishing last week. The surf folks tend to use longer poles, in the 10-foot-plus range, and spinning reels or baitcasters sized to the rods and filled with several hundred yards of 30- to 60-pound test line. They need to be able to cast as far as possible out from shore and often fish to depths of 300 feet or more. Surf casters will use weights as heavy as 4 to 6 ounces, again to aid in casting and to hold their bait against the currents at the depths where they fish.

Ulua are the trophy fish for surf casters. The world record is just under 200 pounds and it’s a bragging point if you manage to land a ulua weighing over 100 pounds. These successful ulua anglers are counted as members of the “century club” and become recognized as fishermen to be revered, similar to the guys in our part of the world who regularly land king salmon weighing 50 pounds or more.

I didn’t try any of the above during my trip to Hawaii. I concentrated on shore fishing, which means using light tackle and fishing off sea walls or small cliffs in relatively shallow water. Like I said last week, my coho spinning rod, reel and line would be just fine for this method. Some locals use only a bamboo rod with no reel and with line attached to the end of the rod. They are interested in catching so-called “pan-size” fish species.

I bought an ultra-light rod, reel and line (on sale for $11) from the local drug store along with a selection of small weights, hooks, swivels and soft plastic baits. I supplemented the plastic baits with some shrimp and octopus (tako) from the local grocery store. The best selection of shore fishing gear I found in Kona was at the Sports Authority store, with the second best at the local K-Mart.

I looked at several spots as potential fishing locations and ended up at a small bay within a mile of where we stayed. In Hawaii, anyone can fish from any shoreline they can legally access. The catch is that the Big Island has some rugged shorelines, many composed of cliffs tens of feet above the water. If you’re young, agile and fearless, you will have no trouble finding many good places to fish.

My cliff face climbing days are behind me, so I settled on fishing from a dock and sea wall. I’ve tried early morning fishing with minimal success. I plan to try an evening or two (after dark) before leaving because many species bite better after dark.

I’ll be back and will continue to pursue this Hawaiian fishing methodology. Now I have a better idea what to expect.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by e-mailing sports@frontiersman.com.