Lawai'a Issue 22

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ISSUE NO. 22

• HOOKING MULLET • A HAGATSUO • MY BIGGEST CATCH • A MOLOKAI MONSTER MARLIN • WHY NOT? • LIKE FATHER LIKE SON • GRANDPA’S HELP

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BY ERIC BAESEMAN WWW.OUTBLUFFUM.COM

Display until January 31, 2017

PROFILE: WAYNE GEMENO

LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY AND A PASSION FOR THE OCEAN

LIVE DECEPTION JIGS

STRENGTH BEAUTY AND

HOOKUP Sign up for a 2 year LAWAI‘A Magazine subscription and be entered to win an Alaska fishing adventure for two. Courtesy of Alaska Airlines and Alaska Reel Adventures.

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Drawing will take place on January 1, 2017 for the summer 2017 fishing season.

You could also win a food and pupu serving dish from Aloha Chill’R, the best way to keep your pupus cool and the pests away.

Quarterly prize drawings will be held.

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HAWAI’I FISH AND DIVE EXPO SPECIAL OFFER Buy any TIAGRA reel from POP and receive your fill up of PowerPro for just 1¢ per yard!

See you October 29-30 at the Neal Blaisdell Center.

MAHALO TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

Promotion will run through calendar year 2016 ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

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ISSUE TWENTY TWO • WINTER 2016

Sections 7 / INSIDE 8 / E HOIKE MAI 10 / FROM THE DECK 12 / AUNTY KWONG’S KITCHEN 14 / SHORELINE TECH 16 / DA HAWAIIAN POKE CO. 20 / ANNIVERSARY 22 / SUMMER INTERNSHIP 24 / FISH STORIES 48 / BARBLESS HOOK GALLERY 54 / RHYTHM WHEELS 56 / PIFG KOA 61 / KELA A ME KEIA

Features

32 / GRUBS? RUBBER MINNOWS? 34 / PROFILE: WAYNE GEMENO 38 / GTFC LURE REVIEW 42 / LIVE DECEPTION JIGS P H O T O C O U R T E S Y M A R K W H I T E L U R E S

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LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

5

Inside

B Y T H E L AWA I ‘A E D I TO R I A L B O A R D

ISSUE TWENTY TWO WINTER 2016 Publisher Pacific Islands Fisheries Group Editor Pacific Islands Fisheries Group pacificfisheries@gmail.com

GO ON AN

Alaska Reel Adventure!

Design Darin H. Isobe > Art Director darini@hawaiiantel.net

Fishermen Can Make a Difference

T

otal number of registered voters in Hawaii this year was 726,940 per the State of Hawaii Election Office. Of this, 252,703 voted in the primary.

Woeful numbers!

As this editorial is being written, the general election is

around the corner so we don’t know who will be elected into

Contributing Writers Richard Agpaoa, Leo Alipio, Eric Baeseman, Gary Beals, Robert Bettencourt, John Clark, Shane Dela Cruz, Shannon Funai, Scott Haraguchi, Danford Hong, Wangdu Hovey, Brian Kimata, Jasmine Mina, Kawika “Mo Lee” Nguyen, Erik Parubrub, Paulo and Ed Sugimoto

many of the offices that are up for re-election. But one thing is for sure, there are some key races that look to be close.

This is why each of our fishing community members must take the responsibility to help decide who will be representing you when the next major issue emerges that takes away your access to fishing grounds or further restricts your traditional

Advertising Inquiries pacificfisheries@gmail.com

fishing activity.

The federal government estimates that there are about

Letters and Comments pacificfisheries@gmail.com

150,000 fishermen in the State of Hawaii. That represents

Lawai‘a Magazine Every attempt is made to publish Lawai‘a 4 times a year. Printed by Journal Graphics Portland, Oregon USA

people. One hundred fifty thousand fishermen represent

Hawaii’s Premiere Alaska Fishing Destinations

Interested in submitting a story and photos?

Send to: pacificfisheries@gmail.com

• Anchor Point Lodge • Shelter Lodge

www.Lawaia.net

about 10% of Hawaii’s overall population of 1.4 million almost 60% of the total number of voters in the past election. Not everyone will agree on all political issues,

than $360 million each year.” This statement immediately

but as fishermen we should rally to support responsible

followed President Obama’s announcement expanding the

fishing, maintaining access to fisheries and continuing our

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, creating

island fishing and seafood traditions and culture. You owe

the largest MPA in the world right here in our back yard. It’s

it to yourself and your family to take the time to learn which

clear to see in what direction Hawaii is headed.

candidates have similar views. Then get out and exercise your constitutional right.

ISSUE NO.

22

open for negotiation. The DLNR Chair followed the Governor’s

fishermen as the local government and environmental groups

announcement by stating in the media that any rule change

line up efforts to meet Governor Ige’s pledge made at the

would be done through the administrative Chapter 91 rule

World Conservation Congress in September to “effectively

making process that requires public meetings and hearings.

manage 30% of Hawaii’s nearshore ocean waters by 2030.”

This will be your chance to step up, take responsibility, and

Governor Ige noted that “Hawaii’s coral reefs are a local

voice your opinion.

and national treasure, providing cultural, economic, and LET • HOOKING MUL • A HAGATSUO CH • MY BIGGEST CAT STER MARLIN • A MOLOKAI MON • WHY NOT? SON • LIKE FATHER LIKE P • GRANDPA’S HEL

Although “effective management” does not directly translate to “no-take” closures, it does leave the window

The next few years look to be challenging for Hawaii

$3.95

The next few years look to be challenging for Hawaii fishermen as the local government and environmental groups line up efforts to meet Governor Ige’s pledge made at the World Conservation Congress in September to “effectively manage 30% of Hawaii’s nearshore ocean waters by 2030.

Living in Hawaii, grabbing a pole and heading to the beach

recreational opportunities to residents and more than

to catch some dinner is a privilege, not a right. It is your right

eight million visitors annually” and “…generating more

to voice your opinion about preserving that privilege.

Salmon • Halibut • Black Cod • Rockfish Dungeness Crab • Alaskan Spot Shrimp MENO : WAYNIONE GE PROFILE FOR THE OCEAN ILY AND A PASS

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Reservations & Info: Call (808) 551-1993 or email info@alaskareel.com

LOVE FOR HIS FAM

AN

BY ERIC BAESEM FUM.COM WWW.OUTBLUF Display until

January 31,

2017

LIVE DECEPTION

JIGS

Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG) and the Lawai‘a ohana congratulate Michelle Gopwani and Brandon Lee on tying the knot on October 11, 2016. Thank you, Michelle, for being our friendly Lawai'a voice while supporting our valued vendors, subscribers and distributors.

ON THE COVER: Master photographer Eric Baeseman’s over under Omilu. www.outbluffum.com.

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ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

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Team Tam Marlin Corey Sokei Kagami Zane Inouye Red Devil

Stanford & Myung Nakamura, Byard andTessie Miller 35 lb Ono

Caleb Vogt 13 lb Opakapaka

Corey Sokei Oio

Email digital photos as jpg files. Please take pics at your highest setting possible.

Email jpg photos to: lawaiamag@gmail.com Include all info please. All pics sent become the property of Lawai‘a Magazine.

SEND US YOUR PICS

Robert Shibukawa Ulua

Baba Rayno First Papio

Gerald Palpallatoc Oio

Ronin Harris 6.4 lb Oio

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Alex Kaea-Pimental & Jordan Pimental

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

9

From the Deck

BY GARY BEALS

Basic Seamanship - 10 LIFE JACKETS It is just as important to wear a life jacket as it is for you to wear a seatbelt.

Life jackets or personal flotation devices (PFDs) are required by the USCG on most water going vessels. The real key to getting the benefit of the PFD is having it available and putting it on BEFORE you enter the water. The following information describes the different types of PFDs and should serve to help you decide which type you need for your trips at sea.

LIFE JACKETS AND THE LAW If you are operating a boat, canoe or kayak of any length, you must carry a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. If stored, they should be readily accessible.

Children under 13 years of age must wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guardapproved life jacket while underway in a boat.

• Any boat 16’ and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must carry a throwable PFD called a Type IV. • Throwable devices must be immediately available for use, such as in the cockpit or near the helm. Although not required, it would be wise to attach a whistle and light to the throwable device.

The law also says any person on board a personal watercraft (like a Jet Ski) or any person being towed behind a vessel (as in water skiing or kneeboarding) must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE BUYING A LIFE JACKET • Life jackets are also called Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s).

• Unless the life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard-approved, you cannot be sure that it will keep you afloat.

• Add a whistle and a light to your life jacket.

• Select the right life jacket for the type of boating and/or activities you will be doing. Do not assume that you will always be close to shore or in calm water. If you get into trouble, you do not know where you might end up.

• Check that the life jacket is appropriate for your weight and chest size.

• Check for a snug fit. Adjust straps and buckles to ensure a proper fit that does not restrict breathing. If you lift a partner’s life jacket by the shoulders, the life jacket should not ride up to cover the wearer’s ears.

Readjust the straps and buckles, and if it still does not pass the lift test, try a different size.

TYPES OF LIFE JACKETS Type i (off-shore) Best choice for boating in Hawaii. Good for open, rough or remote water, where rescue may be slow in coming. Although permissible, a Type I life jacket may be too constrictive for paddling.

• Floats Best.

• Turns most unconscious subjects face up in water.

• Highly visible color.

• Bulky.

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LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

Type ii (near-shore, buoyant) Not the best choice in Hawaii. Good for calm inland water or where there is a good chance of a fast rescue.

• Less bulky, more comfortable than Type I. • Not for long hours in rough water.

• Will not turn some unconscious wearers face up in the water.

SIZES: Infant, Child-Small, Child-Medium, Adult.

Type iii (flotation aid). Good for calm inland water or where there is a good chance of a fast rescue.

• Generally the most comfortable for continuous wear because of the freedom of movement.

• Not for long hours in rough water.

• Wearer may have to tilt head back to avoid face-down position in the water.

SIZES: Many individual sizes from Child-Small to Adult.

Type iV (throwable device) Suggest attaching a whistle and light.

In addition to a wearable life jacket for each person on board, you must have a throwable PFD on board if your boat is 16 ft. or more in length. Good for calm inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always nearby.

Mae West. A Second World War personal flotation device used to keep people afloat in the water; named after the 1930s actress Mae West, well known for her large bosom.

Man overboard! An emergency call that alerts the crew that someone aboard has gone overboard and must be rescued.

Safe haven. A safe harbor, including natural harbors, which provide safety from bad weather or attack.

Basic Nautical Terms - 10 NAUTICAL TERMS Marlinspike Seamanship – 10 This section usually contains information pertaining to knots and splices as well as the care of lines. Bear with me as the use of a ‘Lifesling’ incorporates these issues for the ‘akamai’ boater.

A Lifesling is a throwable device that can be used when a crewmember goes overboard. Of all the life saving gear you may have onboard, a lifesling or similar device is the one you are most likely to use. The device looks like a horseshoe with a line attached and is tossed to the MOB (man overboard) as soon as the event occurs. Here in Hawaii, where we use

relatively small fishing boats (17’-30’) with low gunnels and flush decks, it is not uncommon for a crewmember to be pulled or tossed overboard. The positive note is that, with the usual low freeboard on most of our boats, it is also relatively easy to get back in the boat.

When stored, the lifesling is usually in a container like a backpack, with a line of about 150’ in length attached. The line MUST be stored properly in the container, as it must ‘pay out’ freely when the lifesling is tossed into the water. The boater should take the lifesling from the container after purchase, and follow the instructions to repack the line in the proper manner.

At some point shortly after purchase (and before an emergency occurs) the boater and crew should practice using the lifesling by actually having someone get into the water and then tossing the lifesling to the MOB. A common mistake is to NOT attach the terminal end of the line to a point on the boat and the lifesling drifts away with no way to retrieve the MOB or the lifesling. Once you have tossed the lifesling to the MOB and pulled them to the boat, the individual needs to get into the boat. Sailboats will usually use the lines and pulleys available on the boat to hoist the individual onto the deck but small fishing boats might use the well in the stern or a collapsible ladder.

The key to using this excellent life saving device, is to practice before you NEED to use the lifesling and having it on deck and available when needed.

Below is a photo of one of the lifesling devices on the market.

• Not for unconscious persons.

• Not for non-swimmers or children.

• Not good for many hours in rough water.

TYPES: Cushions, rings and horseshoe buoys.

Type V (special use device) Must be used for approved activities only. (See label for limits and use) Varieties: Include vests for sailboarding and rafting, deck suits, work vests, hybrid PFDs and others.

For in-depth information on this subject go to: https://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/pfdselection.asp#wearandcare

Basic Nautical Terms - 10 NAUTICAL TERMS Abandon ship! An imperative to leave the vessel immediately, usually in the face of some imminent, overwhelming danger. It is an order issued by the Master or a delegated person in command. It is usually the last resort after all other mitigating actions have failed or become impossible, and destruction or loss of the ship is imminent; and customarily followed by a command to “man the lifeboats” or life rafts.

Adrift. Afloat and unattached in any way to the shore or seabed, but not under way. When referring to a vessel, it implies that the vessel is not under control and therefore goes where the wind and current take her (loose from moorings or out of place).

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

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Aunty Kwong’s Kitchen

Lawai‘a- Gear Guys and Fine Vendors

Visit the following stores to get your next issue of Lawa‘a Magazine.

Sautéed Shutome and Tofu with Chinese-Style Ankake Sauce INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb shutome (swordfish) • 1 block firm tofu • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine • corn starch/flour mixture • salt and pepper to taste

For the ankake sauce:

• 1 1/2 cups water • 3 tablespoons soy sauce • 3 tablespoons mirin • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce • 1 tablespoon Chinese chicken soup stock granules or dashi powder • 1 tablespoon corn starch + water 1 tablespoon + 2 tablespoons (corn starch slurry) • ankake vegetables: • 1 onion, thinly sliced • 1 medium carrot, thinly sliced • 1/2 bunch green onions • mixed mushrooms, such as fresh shiitake, bunmeiji

BIG ISLAND J. Hara Store 17-343 Volcano Hwy. Kurtistown, HI 96760 808-966-5462

New Maui Fishing Supply 1823 Wells Street #4 Wailuku, HI 96793 808-244-3449

Dean’s Drive Inn 45-270 William Henry Rd Kaneohe, HI 96744 (808) 247-1300

King Fort Magazine 1122 Fort St. Honolulu, Hi 96813 (808) 538-0266

Sawada Store 132 N Cane St. Wahaiwa, Hi 96796 (808) 622-4861

S. Tokunaga Store Inc. 26 Hoku Street Hilo, HI 96720 808-935-6935

West Maui Sports & Fishing Supply 843 Wainee Street #F3 Lahaina, HI 96761 808-661-6252

Ewa Beach Buy & Sell 91-775 C Papipi Road Ewa Beach, HI 96706 808-689-6368

McCully Bicycle & Sporting Goods 2124 S. King St. Honolulu, HI 96826 808-955-6329

Tamashiro Market 802 N. King St. Honolulu, Hi 96817 808-841-8047

KAUAI Lihue Fishing Supply 2985 Kalena St. Lihue, HI 96766 808-245-4930

MOLOKAI Molokai General Store 301 Ala Malama Kaunakakai, HI 96748 808-553-3569

Mark’s Place 1610 Halekuhana St. Lihue, Hi 96766 808-245-2522

OAHU Brian’s Fishing Supply 1236 S. King St. Honolulu, HI 96814 808-596-8344

MAUI All About Fish 3600 Lower Honoapiilani Rd Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 669-1710

Charley’s Fishing Supply, Inc. 670 Auahi St., #A10 Honolulu, HI 96813 808-528-7474

Hana Pa’a Fishing Co. 1733 Dillingham Blvd.

Honolulu, HI 96819 808-845-1865 J. Hara Store 3221 Waialae Ave. Honolulu, Hi 96816 808-737-7702 Kalihi Pet Center 1199 Dillingham Blvd #101, Honolulu, HI 96817 Ph. (808) 841-5234 Kaya’s Fishing Supply 901 Kekaulike St. Honolulu, HI 96817 808-538-1578

Nanko Fishing Supply 46-003 Alaloa St Kaneohe, HI 96744 Phone:(808) 247-0938 Nervous Water Fly Fishers 3434 Waialae Ave. Honolulu, Hi 96816 808-734-7359 Nico’s Pier 38 Fish Market 1129 N. Nimitz Hwy Honolulu, Hi 96817 808-540-1377 POP Fishing & Marine 1133 N. Nimitz Hwy Honolulu, Hi 96817 808-537-2905

Tanioka’s Seafood and Catering 94-903 Farrington Hwy Waipahu, Hi 96797 808-671-3779 Waipahu Bicycle & Sporting Goods 94-320 Waipahu Depot St. Waipahu, Hi 96797 808-671-4091

SAIPAN Mariana Fishing Tackle & Sporting Goods Beach Road, Susupe P.O. Box 500726 Saipan, MP 96950 670-234-6320

For the garnish:

• green onions, Chinese parsley • thinly sliced ginger

DIRECTIONS

Sprinkle salt over the shutome and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Slice the tofu into ½ inch cubes and pat dry with a paper towel.

Drizzle cooking wine sake over the shutome. Sprinkle some black pepper over the shutome and tofu. Coat both of them with corn starch/ flour mixture Fry the shutome and tofu until golden brown. Transfer onto a serving dish.

Slice the vegetables for the ankake sauce into bite-sized pieces. You can add any leftovers such as imitation crab sticks or spinach.

Add some sesame oil to the frying pan and fry the ankake vegetables. Once they are cooked thoroughly, add the rest of the ingredients except the corn starch. Reduce the sauce. Add the corn starch (dissolved in water as a slurry) to thicken the sauce. Reduce the sauce further and it is ready.

Pour the ankake sauce onto the shutome and tofu. Garnish with thinly sliced green onions, Chinese parsley, and ginger.

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LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

13

Shoreline Tech B Y B R I A N K I M ATA

Fish that are 4lbs. and up are great for this and culling is a great way to keep the fishery healthy Oio flesh is scraped away from the bone and a freshly caught fish

as the finest bones can be difficult to feel and even hard to see. Once

will not relinquish its tasty treasure easily. Some individuals wait a day

you have cleaned all of the meat, you’ll need to mash it into a paste. I

or two or freeze their catches first, allowing the meat to separate off

do want to make a distinction where the mashed fish will be “soft” in

the bone more easily. I feel that fresher is always tastier and prefer to

consistency and not “mushy” as a frozen fish can be. Any implement

scrape a fresh catch. Freezing may make the flesh “mushy” in texture

used to make mashed potatoes will help you here. Dip your hands into

so I tend to avoid it but many individuals make a great meal using this

ice water and fold the meat as you mash. Adding water in this way will

technique. That’s a choice you’ll have to weigh yourself. Start by cutting

make the dish more manageable and help you reach a consistency you

the fish along the back, down along the bone towards the stomach. You’ll

desire. A great alternative is a food processor using short bursts on

want to avoid the stomach area altogether since it can be bitter and

the highest setting. Add ice water directly and mix till you reach your

stomach bacteria will affect both taste and shelf life. Take your scrapping

desired mash. The added benefit here is that any unchecked bones will

implement, usually a spoon, and scrape out the flesh moving along with

be minced and undetectable in the finished product.

the grain of the fish. My fishing buddy uses a cleaned oyster shell for

You are now done! Season with your favorite recipe and flour them

scraping and swears that nothing can beat it, especially on a fresh catch.

to fry or simple roll them into balls and boil. Some of my friends

Collect the meat and place it in a bowl to begin the next step.

partially boil the fishcakes and fry them to finish the job. You may

The scraped flesh is very likely to contain bones so you’ll want to check

also want to season the meat into lomi oio and have that over hot

for that next. Run your fingers thru the flesh carefully feeling for any

rice. Either way, you have just created a tasty Hawaiian staple that’s

bones that have gone unchecked and remove them. Take your time here

enjoyed every day.

Question: Do you know how to cook oio, which is also known as bonefish?

I know it’s made into fishcake but what is the process?

Answer: Wow, a cooking question, and I don’t even cook!

other individuals for their input as well, proceeding with what works

Ok, I know a little about this subject so I’ll give this question a shot.

best for you. That being said, here goes….

I do want to say that there are more than a few ways to accomplish

First of all, because Oio is a boney fish, it is nearly impossible to

what I am about to describe and this is merely one way. Hawaii

prepare it like any other catch. As such, a fair amount of meat is left

has some of the most amazing chefs and home cooks and in

behind on the carcass and it’s too difficult to go after it. Because of this,

respect to them, this is not the only, nor the best solution.

try to keep a catch that’s fairly sizable to start. Fish that are 4lbs. and up

It’s simply the way I’d do it and you may want to ask a few

are great for this and culling is a great way to keep the fishery healthy.

2 tbl spoon ground inamona 1 tbl spoon roasted mac nuts Diced water chestnuts and finely chopped green onions to taste 1 tbl spoon ebi 7 ripe Hawaiian chili peppers.

If you are making lomi oio, you’ll also want to add a little seasoned Limu Kohu too.

14

LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

Photos courtesy of Bill Newton

Today’s tip: A simple and tasty seasoning is:

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

15

Anniversary

A KAUA‘I FISHING TRADITION SINCE 1950

BY PIFG

FISHING & DIVING SUPPLY

• Rod & Reel Repairs • Bait • Bulk Ice • Beer • Sundries • Novelties Thank You To Our Customers and Friends. Wishing You All A Healthy and Happy 2017 JEAN AND MAISIE

A Place Where Tails Come True

(808) 247-0938

Lihue Fishing Supply • Tel (808) 245-4930 2985 KALENA STREET, LIHUE, HAWAII

North Shore Place Names: Kahuku to Ka‘ena Author John Clark’s fascinating look at Hawai‘i’s past, told through the stories hidden in its place names.

Atlapac Fishing Club’s 90th Anniversary

I

n 1926 a group of Honolulu postal employees, who enjoyed a relatively new form of recreation in the sport of surfcasting, came together and formed a fishing club. They named themselves after a well known but pricey fishing reel called the Atlapac, made by the Enterprise Manufacturing Co., better known as Pflueger Fishing Tackle. On August 13, 2016, current and former members gathered at the Empress Restaurant to celebrate 90 years of fishing tradition, friendly

competition, camaraderie and community service. Atlapac has long been a well recognized club whose members not only fish together but also serve the greater fishing community with their time and effort at various non-profit events like those put on by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group. PIFG would like to say mahalo for your help, congratulations on your 90th anniversary and best wishes for many more. See you guys at the 100th!

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I PRESS HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I 96822-1888 www.uhpress.hawaii.edu/ 16

LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

17

Summer Internship

BY SHANNON FUNAI

above about the importance of communication. I personally had a hard time trying to organize my workload and duties toward the end of the season. But I was able to learn from each mistake which is really important when working in any industry.

All in all, my internship to Alaska will be one of the most unforgettable events in my life. It was my first time away from home for an extended period, the first time working in a real kitchen, the first time working in a hospitality setting, and so many other firsts that are the stepping stones as I find my way to a lifelong career. So many “thank you’s” to the people that made this experience possible and helped me along the way: PIFG, Chef Eddie Mafnas, Alaska Airlines, and most of all, Shelter Lodge, the Yamadas and all of the staff. I cannot wait to get another chance to be able to go back and work as a real employee.

Share Your Fishing Heritage,

I

grew up fishing with my Dad and his friends in

cooking a range of dishes. This fall I’m in an introductory

the Windward Surfcasting Club here on Oahu. I

culinary class at Kapiolani Community College and have

also have an interest in cooking, baking and be-

a much better time understanding and executing the

ing around the kitchen through helping my Mom

curriculum. I also learned that having good relationships

prepare our family meals and, in 2015, I entered the

and open communication are some of the key aspects in

culinary program at Kapiolani Community College. So

a workplace.

when I learned about Pacific Island Fisheries Group’s

enjoyable to be around. On days off, we would go fishing

“Sign me up!”

on the boats for halibut, salmon, black cod, and rockfish.

I’ve learned so many things over the summer, not just

I honestly had no idea how fishing was done in Alaska,

from a culinary aspect but also on a personal level. Prior

let alone on a boat due the fact that I’ve mostly been a

to my internship, I honestly had only about 6 hours of

shoreline caster. Then finally on the last day of staff fish-

practical kitchen experience with a great chef, Eddie

ing before my departure, I was able to hook and fight my

Mafnas, who took the time to help prepare me. With

own silver salmon which was on my bucket list for this

that little start, it left a lot of room for learning and im-

summer internship.

There were challenging times that I faced as a culinary

Lodge in Juneau, Alaska, my culinary skills have im-

intern. At times different departments did not share

proved tremendously from knife skills to preparing and

enough information which refers back to the comment

LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

CURRENT MAGAZINE FEATURES: Hands-on product reviews • Fishing tips from local experts • Seafood restaurant reviews • Ono seafood recipes • Sustainable and responsible fishing information • Priceless, historical fishing chronicles

Subscription rates: 2-year

$44.00

During down times at the lodge, all the staff were really

Summer Internship at Shelter Lodge in Alaska, I said,

provement. But after my summer internship at Shelter

18

By Gifting Lawai‘a magazine - 2 year subscription

Visit us online at www.fishtoday.org or email us at lawaia.orders@gmail.com ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

19

Fish Stories

BY LEO ALIPIO

Mullet Fishing

He would ask questions of the old timers

er with 2 hooks. The other end is a snap

like “What you use for bait?”, “What size

swivel snapped on to a 1/2 oz pyramid

hook?”, “How big your line?”, “How often

lead. The biggest sinker I go is 1 oz.

you guys check bait?”, etc. My grandma

Bait is white bread. We like to put 2-3

would get mad because every day, for 4

slices in a small bucket full water and let

months, after work and the weekends, he

it soak for a few minutes. Then we gently

would be at the harbor trying to catch just

separate the crust because you only

hat can I say about “MULLET FISHING” but

one mullet! Till that one day I remembered

want to use the white part of the bread.

that it’s time consuming and takes a lot of

he came home quite early and he told

Then we start peeling strips thinner than

patience to be able to catch just one or even

my grandma “Look in the cooler!” There

your finger, about 3-4 inches in length,

to get them to bite! As for me, I was taught at

they were: 3 mullet, all around 2-3 lbs. My

so it kind of looks like a worm. As for

PATIENCE REQUIRED

W

a very young age of 5 by my grandfather and a lot of great old

grandma couldn’t be-

hooking it on your

time fishermen at Haleiwa Harbor on Oahu.

lieve it. All she could

hook, take a piece of

say was “Where did

the bread strip and

days where you catch just one and some days where they

you buy it from?” That

gently squeeze the

don’t bite, but you’ll see them jumping all over the place

was the beginning of

water out, then hook

as if they were teasing you. And then there are some days

our fishing adventure!

the tip of the strip

where the bite is crazy - poles going off left and right. Just

From that day on, me

on the hook, sliding

throw your bait in the water - pole not even in the sand spike

and my grandpa would

down the curve of

and hook up already!

spend our whole day

the hook. Then wrap

at the harbor. Catch or

it around the curve of

no catch; just spend-

the hook once, then

ing the whole day at

hook it again onto

There are the ups and downs of catching mullet! There are

So many good memories I have with some great fishermen. I remember when my grandfather first started trying for mullet.

the harbor was relaxing and so stress free!

Hooking mullet takes a lot of patience,

We are OC16’s top-rated show for the second year in a row thanks to you!

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LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

off and repeat onto the other hook. You

constantly checking bait, throwing palu

need to throw it gently into the water!

(“chum”) in the water. The palu is just bread

This part takes finesse and practice! I like

that we dry out in the sun. This is to make

to check bait every 15-20 minutes, de-

it easier to smash into baseball size bread

pending on if there are a lot of unwanted

balls, which we form after taking 3 pieces

rubbish fish around!

of dried bread, dipping it in a bucket of

Mullet fishing is not for everyone and

water, smashing it into a ball and squeezing

it takes a lot of time and patience. But

the water out! Then we throw that into the

in the end, the results can be reward-

water. The reason for chumming the water

ing because not everyone knows how to

is to hopefully attract the mullet and also

catch mullet and not very many people

keep the rubbish fish from eating your bait.

can say they’ve caught mullet on a pole!

As for rigging up your pole, you can use a

If any of you folks are in Haleiwa Harbor

floater setup or a dunking setup. I like to use

and you see people in the parking lot

a dunking setup just because the mullet are

under tents or even most of the guys that

bottom feeders.

go for akule, mention my name or my

I like to use a short rod, 5’ to 5’5” ft in

Dedicated to Hawai‘i’s fishing community

the hook and pinch the excess bread

grandpa’s name, Greg, or the “magnet,”

length, with a light to ultra light rating and

as my grandpa is known, and they will

for my rig: 6-8# main, 6-10# fluorocarbon

know who you are talking about! Well, I

leader, size 11-12 AH or MZ hook. I tie up

hope you folks enjoyed a little bit of my

my rig like a damashi rig, where we have a

mullet catching tips and story! Thanks

barrel swivel on one end tied to the main

and I hope to see and meet some of you

line and the other your fluorocarbon lead-

out there! Chee huu! Go get’um!

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

21

Fish Stories Hagatsuo

Fish Stories A Molokai Monster Marlin

BY WANGDU HOVEY

B Y K A W I K A “ M O L E E ” N G U Y E N • P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F C A P T. E R I C H A W K I N S

T

here has been a lot of excitement around the Kaunakakai fishing community after Capt. Eric Hawkins and his 11-year-old daughter, Hopie, brought in this epic Blue Marlin.

“This is a really big event for Molokai,” stated one Molokai resi-

dent. Another said, “We don’t have the fancy docks and million dollar yachts here like the other islands. We don’t need all that.”

Many life long Molokai residents report that they have never seen a fish of this magnitude brought into Kaunakakai’s sleepy harbor. In fact, many stated disbelief that the rusty old hoist could pull up the beast. While another onlooker, who was present when the fish was brought to shore, said that it has been decades, if ever, since the hoist was put to such a use saying, “I’m not sure we have ever had this

I

big of a fish on land here. Not that

caught this Hagatsuo off of the north shore of Maui. At first I thought it was a snapper because we caught it in about 20

I know of anyway. It’s really good

fathoms and I wasn’t expecting to hit a tuna there. When we got back to the dock, my friend, Adam, said it was an aku but

to see!”

When contacted, Capt. Eric

I still wasn’t sure because it didn’t have any purple on it. When I skinned it, I noticed the flesh appeared white so I thought

Hawkins of the Mana‘ olana put it

it could be a snapper again. But as I took the fillet off, the meat was more pinkish. We ate it, panko and blackened sashimi

style - super ono. Gave some away to an uncle too. When I showed the fish to my friend, Kurtis Chong Kee, he said the fish was

all in perspective by thanking everyone involved for all of the help

rare and a species of dogtooth. I sent a pic to the Uyeda Brothers and they correctly ID’d it as a Hagatsuo. Wish I made a print!!

getting the fish on dry land and back home to be cut up and handed

Anyway, it was a pretty good fight on the 9/0 but thought it was an ono at first when it struck.

out to the community.

“The only thing that would have made this any better is if we could have released a healthy mature female Blue Marlin back into the ocean, but the fish died about 4 hours into the fight so that was just not an op-

My Biggest Catch!

BY JASMINE MINA (9 YRS)

S

aturday started off bad for me. My only fishing pole setup was no good because the reel broke. I ended up catching bait fish with my little sister with her bamboo pole. We caught a 10” papio with it!

It was around 8pm when my dad started to pack up.

He was happy that he caught a 7 pound papio to feed us.

I asked to borrow my dad’s whipping pole and put shrimp on the hook. I tried to cast it but it didn’t go far. I guess that’s all I needed because something almost pulled me in!

After yelling for my dad and a little help from my little sister, my dad managed to scoop this humongous Kumu out of the water for me. It’s the biggest fish I’ve ever caught.

But most importantly, my dad was very happy!

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tion. At least it’s going to feed a lot of people,” Hawkins said.

After a 6 ½ hour battle and a very long and intense boat ride back, the father and daughter duo made it safely back to Kaunakakai Harbor just before sunset.

“We just had to tie it as best we could and drag her home. Hopie kept watch on the fish the whole way back. We had to stop and re-tie several times. There was just no way of getting her onboard, and I didn’t relax until the fish was several feet on dry land and far from the waters edge. We really thought we would just slip in and no one would ever know because we didn’t call anyone. Only two people knew we were coming in with a nice one, but then again this is Molokai,” stated Hawkins.

“It was certainly a day that me and my 11 year old first mate/daughter will never forget”, Hawkins said.

“Both of us consider ourselves blessed to have been fortunate enough to see this thing on shore. We talked the night before and said,” Let’s go get a monster marlin tomorrow!”

I even texted my mom back on the mainland the night before to tell her we were going out because you just never know what can happen that far out on the open ocean, especially in a small boat. She asked why we were planning to go so far offshore? I told her we were going looking for monsters…, and that’s what we found.

Its not like we found a cure for cancer or something, we just caught a fish.”

There was not a scale on Molokai that could weigh it. Capt. Eric guessed it to weigh 850+ but the IGFA formula based on measurements was 1,222 lbs.

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

23

Fish Stories Why Not?

Like Father Like Son

Fish Stories

BY SHANE DELA CRUZ

B Y R I C H A R D A G PA O A

H

i. My name is Richard Agpaoa ansd vfishing is my hobby. Couldn’t pass a week without fishing and my goal

is to catch an Ulua. A friend of mine, Brian Bachiller (we met back at 2013), introduced me to Kel’s Lures and from then my catch results got boosted a lot from before. He taught me pretty much everything about whipping techniques for plugs and flies so I told him “I wish I can catch an Ulua” and he answered “It’s coming soon.”

A week later, I went on a solo session by myself and was using flies. I hooked up a lot of omilus about 10” – 14” long. All were catch-and-release as usual and then I asked myself if I should throw lures. “Why not?” The weather was perfect at the time so I chanced it - chose the 2oz black Kels.

I searched for a ledge to stand on but the waves were kind of rough at this one spot. I looked down on the ledge and it was deep, about 20’. So I was thinking to myself if the waves take me, I’m history.

So anyways, started throwing lures and about the 15th cast, there was a big splash in the background. I retrieved my lure faster and felt a strong tug - zzZZzZZZzzz goes my Sustain 6k with 50lb tuff line braid! First run was about maybe 70 yards and then it stopped. I could feel him shaking his head. The 2nd run he made was about 40 yards and then he swam inwards, left to right, till he reached the other side ledge about 30 yards away from me. But my line got stuck on the reef head below and I could see the fish on top the ledge. After about 5 minutes of struggle, the receding water from the waves pulled the fish back to the ocean and he swam out. I kept a little tension on the line and finally got it unstuck and fish came in.

When I pulled it up the ledge, I yelled “yeeaahh, Cheeehuuu!!” (typical fisherman). I heard in the background “Woohooo. Nice Fish!” and noticed some tourist was watching me scrap the fish from up on the cliff behind me. The fish was 30.75” fork length and 22” girth, estimating it to be about a +/- 18lb Omilu Ulua. After measuring, I took some pictures and

I

n true “Pono” fashion, he landed this 16# Ulua on his own, independently, with confidence, strength and striking skill. Didn’t even seem like it was his first Ulua, but at the ripe young age of 14, it was. In my life, I’ve had many proud “dad” moments. This one is definitely up there as one that will be most memorable. Proud of this kid not only for catching his first ulua, but also just for being a great young man. Congratulations Pono boy~ keep believing, keep up the hard work in all you do, and definitely keep casting! Love, Dad.

released it to hopefully scrap with it again another time!

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ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

25

Fish Stories A 73 Pound Ulua with Grandpa’s Help

BY ROBERT BETTENCOURT

After getting the lead stuck I rushed to open the bag with my bait of choice (tako). When I opened the bag, I realized that I had

My uncle was mid sentence, talking about how he was about to leave and the Fenwick with my Newell reel sits down and started screaming out line!!

grabbed the wrong

M

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fish, putting all my strength and weight on my pole to stop it and turn its head!!

As soon as I felt the head turn, I knew he was mine!! I quickly

bag!! The tako I had grabbed was the one my uncle had left

boosted him to the shore break and, after watching it a

out in a bucket for a couple of days and then got put back

little while in the waves, I noticed that I didn’t see any fin

in the freezer! It was very pink, was missing a few legs and

so I knew it was a big ulua!!

was hauna!!! I decided to just cut off a few legs and slide

y friend and I decided to go for a little holoholo trip. She had never gone saltwater fishing so I decided that we’d go to this spot that my grandpa always use to take me when I was younger. This spot I know has a bunch of to‘au and ta‘ape so I figured she’d have fun catching them and I’d use them as live bait! In the middle of getting my equipment ready, I decided that I’d bring my custom one piece poles, which my grandpa both made for me.

Right before I left my house I looked at my door and I seen my goodluck hook that my grandpa gave me before he passed away. I put that around my neck and left the house to meet up my friend at the spot I’d picked. We do the small walk there and I looked at the time and realized that it was almost prime time!

So I quickly set up my Newell 646 and my extra heavy duty Fenwick rod that my grandpa made for me! I threw it out and as I seen how close it went, I only then realized that I hadn’t gone ulua fishing the entire year!!

continued to fight the

After a few waves, I was able to bring it in the shallow

the head with a couple legs still attached. Within 10 min-

water and my uncle gaffed it! Once I seen the size of the

utes I got a strike! My lead line broke and the fish spit the

fish, me and my uncle started yelling and going crazy!!

hook within seconds! I put a new lead on and cast it out as

(Might I add that this was my first ulua after fishing for

fast as possible. Within 30 minutes I took another strike

them for over 9 years!) We pulled the fish up to where we

and the same thing happened!

were set up (because the fish ran way right and I followed

This time while remaking my lead line, I realized that

him a hundred yards or so down the beach) and only then

I only had one more wire lead for my slide set up. So I

it set in that this wasn’t no small one and that I finally had

texted my Uncle Micah (who was already talking about

caught my first ulua!! We packed up all of our stuff and

coming) and asked if he could bring me a couple more

went home.

leads. About 45 minutes go by and my uncle comes and

When we got home, my uncle told me that he took off

drops off a few more leads for me. Him, my friend and I

his shirt and emptied out his pockets early in the battle

were by my poles, talking story. My uncle brought up that

because, when he shined his light, he saw the big silver

he was going to go throw net the next day and he was say-

flash of the fish! We were talking and, after looking at his

ing that I should stay a little while more because it was a

fish he caught a year ago (a 70 pounder), I was telling him

day before full moon. The waves were pretty big and the

that I think both the fish are the same size or mine might

tide wasn’t the best. I agreed with him because I was also

be a little bit bigger! We were going to weigh the fish the

thinking the same thing. My uncle was mid sentence, talk-

next day but, after seeing that, we had to find out whose

ing about how he was about to leave and the Fenwick with

was bigger!

my Newell reel sits down and started screaming out line!!

Putting the fish on the scale, we realized that my first

I jumped up and quickly grabbed my pole. I tightened the

ulua was 3 pounds heavier than his biggest one so far!!

drag and set the hook, first thing after I took it out of the

After all was said and done, my uncle started talking

pole holder. As soon as I set the hook the fish took a hard

and we believe that my grandpa had a lot to do with me

run and started running to the left. As soon as it made that

catching my first ulua! It was at one of his most commonly

initial run, I knew it was either a big shark or a big ulua!!

fished spots; I put on the good luck hook that he owned; I

I slowed the fish down and start gaining line on him and

grabbed my custom one piece poles that he made for me

he started coming in close to the reef. My uncle shined his

instead of my store bought 2 piece poles. Everything was

light where my line was going and didn’t say a word. He

meant to be like that! All I have to say is that I am beyond

then ran up the sand hill, took off his shirt and emptied

blessed with this beautiful fish and I am beyond thankful

his pockets. At the time I didn’t think anything of it. I

for my uncle who gaffed the fish for me!

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

27

Grubs?

Rubber Minnows?

BY DANFORD HONG

Well, you look at these baits and you say to yourself, ”Hmmmm? Nah, that’s just for fresh water.”

Oh no, no, no, better think again. I learned firsthand how powerful these baits can be. Looking back to when I started fishing offshore, I used to come across nice aku piles; birds feeding, fish boiling and my aku lures would run right though the pile. With adrenaline at a high and the anticipation of the strike……… nothing! “What? Can’t be?” We tried several times with no success.

While leaving the aku pile, I was thinking to myself that these fish must have been eating something very small. So the following day I went into a tackle store to look for something that I thought the akus were eating. And then I saw it: these grubs or minnows that were blue silver and looked just like a little fish. I picked up a pack, a few smaller hooks and leader line and I was excited to try them out.

The following week as he headed out, we came across some birds and, sure enough, we saw akus jumping and feeding . So we changed up to our aku lures and made a pass…. Nothing.

We tried a few more times with the same result so I had my crew bring up all the lures and get the spinners out. We rigged up and got the new minnows out into the water and started jigging them. The first pass - BAM! Double strike! Got them and now we had fish in the box! We kept at it until all the minnows were used up. Now whenever I fish or go with other people, I always take my jig stick and minnows with me.

With all of the new technology in materials, the bait has become stronger and more realistic and can handle more strikes per minnow. Most of these minnows are still targeted for the freshwater fisherman but don’t let that fool you. Give them a try and see for yourself. They come with split tail, paddle tail or strips and they all work fine. Some work on slower speeds, some a little faster. Some grubs need fast jigging while others are better when run to swim naturally. With the combination of better reels and jigging poles, you can now bring up bigger fish on these plastic minnows.

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ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

29

Da Hawaiian Poke Company

By Ed Sugimoto

There’s poke - like the kind I make at home in my “boro-boro” shorts - and then there’s poke - like the kind prepared by Hawaii Restaurant Association Hall of Fame inductee, Mark Oyama, at his new establishment, Da Hawaiian Poke Company.

Oyama is a legend in the industry. He not only already has a popular “gourmet plate lunch” restaurant on Kauai, aptly called Mark’s Place, and a successful catering company called Contemporary Flavors Catering, he also pays it forward and gives his time to teach young chefs in the making in Kauai Community College’s Culinary Arts Program. As if that wasn’t enough, he also serves on over seven boards and still has time to put together the annual Kauai Community College Spring Gourmet Gala, Kauai’s premiere food and wine pairing event.

That’s one full plate (pun intended), but he takes it all in stride.

“As a young kid, my dad always had me working with him on his part time plumbing jobs. He worked seven days a week so we were always working with him. He is the epitome of a workaholic. At 80 years old, he still works every day. The one thing that I learned from him is that nothing comes free; if you want something, you need to work hard for it. He grew up with very little. Through his hard work, he has traveled the world, brought our family to many (fishing) trips to Christmas Island, Alaska, etc. When I got my first job in high school, I ended up working seven days a week, all through until I graduated. This was just natural to me at that time. Nowadays, I do enjoy having a day off to go fishing or to spend time with my family.”

Oyama grew up fishing and diving every weekend with his uncle so it was only natural for him to fall in love with the bounty of the sea. “... my uncle and his friends would go fishing and then come in to the harbor. Everyone would meet them, help clean fish, and they would share it with everyone. After that we would have a potluck at the harbor and cook some of the fish. My uncle was the boat driver and cook. I got a passion watching him cook and watching everyone enjoy the great moments in life where the food, sharing and stories kept life great. This is what got me into what I do today.”

After cooking stints in China, the Big Island, Alaska, Connecticut and back home on Kauai, Mark began to notice the boom for poke. He decided that it was time to merge his two loves of cooking and seafood and started Da Hawaiian Poke Company on Oahu.

Opening on November 24, 2015, Mark was determined to make this new venture, his take on poke, a unique one.

“I think what makes us different is the approach we take to our poke. We believe in using the freshest and highest quality fish and use sauces and seasonings to highlight that. We also know that poke is something people in Hawaii have grown up with and everyone has their ‘special’ recipe that they like to show off. We make it easy for people to come in, choose their flavor, and be able to showcase their creativity by adding the toppings of their choice.”

He calls it “Aloha Your Way” where you first choose your poke (Locally Caught Ahi, Fresh Atlantic Salmon, Aloha Tofu, Shrimp, Madako Tako, or a Combination of any two), then you

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LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

31

choose your flavor (Hawaiian - Hawaiian Salt, Inamona, on Skin, topped with Kabayaki Sauce) - or even hot plate lunch Sesame Oil, & Chili Paste, Spicy - Hawaiian Salt, Sesame Oil, options like a Luau Plate, Ahi Loco Moco, Seared Ahi Bibimbap, & HPC Spicy Aioli, Wasabi - Hawaiian Salt, Sesame Oil, & Tempura Dipped Salmon Dynamite Roll or fan favorite Ahi Katsu HPC Wasabi Aioli, Sweet Ginger Shoyu - Hawaiian Salt & HPC Okonomiyaki Style. Love Salmon? Mark also mentioned an “UltiSpecial House Shoyu Sauce, Korean - Korean Chili & Sesame mate Salmon Don” (Salmon Karaage, Crispy Salmon Skin, Ikura, Oil, Yuzu Ponzu - Hawaiian Salt & HPC Special Yuzu (Japanese and your choice of Salmon poke) which was not on their menu.

Citrus) Ponzu Sauce, “The Works” - Sweet & Spicy Shoyu), and Although they’ve only been open since late 2015, Da Hawaiian finally, your toppings (Kona Ogo, Sea Poke Company has already been named Asparagus, Tobiko, Wasabi Tobiko, Best Place to Buy Poke by HONOLULU Da Hawaiian Poke Company Yuzu Tobiko, Maine Lobster, Ikura, Uni, Magazine’s readers in their Best of HOSafeway Kapahulu Center Blue Crab, Inamona, Furikake, Bubu NOLULU 2016: Food series, proving that a 870 Kapahulu Avenue Honolulu, HI 96816 Arare, Sesame Seeds, Tempura Chips, legend in the industry like Oyama, knows (808) 425-4954 Wasabi Peas, Crispy Garlic, Shredexactly what he’s doing.

Open Mon-Sat 10am–8pm, Sunday 10am–6pm ded Nori, Green Onion, Maui Onion, “We want to thank all of our customwww.dahawaiianpokecompany.com Daikon Sprouts, Japanese Cucumber, ers for supporting Hawaii’s fishermen by Edamame, Natto, Avocado, or a variety only buying locally caught Ahi and not of Extra Sauces: HPC Spicy Aioli, HPC Wasabi Aioli, HPC Yuzu eating previously frozen Ahi treated with Carbon Monoxide - not Ponzu, Kabayaki Sauce, Sweet Chili Sauce). only for our economy, but more importantly for the health for You can also choose from a set of six, professionally prethem and their family. For people in California, stay tuned - we pared bowls - like their popular HPC Shaka Bowl (HPC Spicy will be opening up in California very shortly. We’ve been working Ahi Poke, Maine Lobster Wasabi Foam & Yuzu Tobiko, Furikake hard, finding the right location and ensuring we can deliver the Wasabi Salmon Poke, Ikura, Uni, Daikon Sprouts, Crispy Salmbest quality and fresh fish all the way across the ocean.”

Rainbow Paint & Fishing Supply Inc Recover a Tagged Ahi? Call (808) 265-4962 Be prepared to provide the following critical information: 1. Your name, address and telephone number 2. Capture date, Island and fishing location 3. Tag number 4. Fork length: measure from tip of the nose to “V” in the tail Reward: In return for your valuable information you’ll receive a special t-shirt reward plus a recovery letter stating how much the fish grew, distance traveled and days at liberty.

For more information about PIFG and its programs, visit www.fishtoday.org/tagit 32

LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

185 Akaula Street Eleele, Kauai, Hawaii 96705 Phone (808) 335-6412 ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

33

LIVE DECEPTION JIG Repeatedly Out-Fishes Live Bait

BY SCOTT HARAGUCHI

I

n January, Ahi USA, the sister brand of Promar, gave me a set of their Live Deception jigs. The lures had recently been introduced in the local tackle shops and Ahi USA was looking for fishers to try them in Hawaiian waters.

Online, there wasn’t much information on the lures. I was so used to finding videos highlighting the swimming action of lures culminating with big fish being landed, and multiple tackle reviews touting how game changing a particular lure was. Lack of that and the simple “knife jig” shape of the Live Deception lowered my expectations.

In addition, the lures were half the price of the jigs getting the biggest buzz. Don’t we have to pay a premium for premium lures? I was, however, impressed with the realistic fish print, sturdy rings and strong rear treble hook.

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ISSUE TWENTY TWO 2016

35

SHALLOW WATER REEF JIGGING Months later I had a chance to go shallow water jigging (40 – 100 ft) with Erik Parubrub, one of our newest Lawai‘a feature writers. I hadn’t shallow water jigged before, nor been on a boat in 15 years but was looking forward to testing the few jigs. My intention was to fish the 80 gm (2.8 oz) Shimano Flat Fall jig, which made a splash when Shimano introduced them 3 yrs ago, so I brought the 1 oz Live Deception jig more as an afterthought.

My gear was a Shimano Trevala casting rod and Shimano Curado 300 EJ bait casting reel, the recommended light-medium Shimano Flat Fall jigging system.

Erik put us on the spot, 70 ft deep and drifting toward shore. His 30 gm (1 oz) Asian made “micro jig” (small, slow falling jig) started getting hit as he cranked it off the bottom, and he brought moana and brown hage up from the depths. My 80 gm flat fall hadn’t registered a bite and I struggled to mimic the way Erik popped his rod tip upward, followed by a lift and crank sequence.

Erik used a fast tempo, speed jigging technique after reaching the bottom and hooked something that bent his light action spinning rod into an upside down “U.” The fish tried to make it back to the bottom but Erik cupped the reel’s spool and kept the fish out of the rocks. After a number of strong runs, he had it at color and it looked like a bright omilu with yellow spots. It turned out to be a 6lb yellow spot papio, or Island Jack.

At this point I was really impressed with how effective micro jigging had been for Erik. This was his 4th fish and I had yet to hook anything on the 80 gm flat fall, so I replaced it with the only small jig I had, the 1 oz Green Mackerel Live Deception. I flipped it over the side and on the second drop I felt something small jump on. Up came a legal moana on the rear treble hook, my first micro jig fish ever. Boy did it feel good to actually hook something.

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I had read about “slow pitch” jigging. With jigs designed to fall slowly, this type of retrieve was supposed to impart a slow falling, zig zag action. I tried the slow pitch retrieve near the bottom, then tried to emulate Erik’s speed jigging technique he used to catch the yellow spot papio. Something hit a third of the way up and took a little line. I couldn’t believe I was now catching fish! I could feel the twists and turns of the fish as I coaxed it to the surface. It turned out to be a small kawakawa, my first ever.

The next two drops yielded a juvenile weke ula followed by a baby ta‘ape. Meanwhile Erik brought up some scrappy brown hage. I was surprised hage would be able to latch on to his fairly large assist hooks. Seems like everything wanted to eat the micro jigs dancing above the reef.

I dropped down with anticipation and felt a tug, and then… nothing. My new, magic lure was gone. Erik caught the offender on his micro jig – a kawale‘a (Heller’s barracuda).

Our short window to fish ended and we headed back with the yellow spot papio and invasive ta‘ape. The other fish were released.

BIG ISLAND NEARSHORE JIGGING Then in June, I was invited by Neil Kanemoto, President of Pacific Islands Fisheries Group, to boat fish the Big Island the day before the Tokunaga Challenge weigh-in. His childhood buddy Wes, and his crewman Braiden, would be taking us out. I had to pack light so I brought an inexpensive Cabelas 3-piece travel casting rod, the Shimano Curado 300EJ bait casting reel with 15lb fluorocarbon top shot and some jigs. We were hoping for papio, goat fish and maybe even a small uku. I figured that light gear could handle.

We started by trolling frozen oama only to be harassed by hage.

The guys hadn’t shallow water jigged with small lures before but wanted to try after hearing my overly enthusiastic jigging reports.

Captain Wes had some productive reefs in mind so we started at a spot in about 120 ft of water. I figured that was too shallow to drop the 80 gm Flat Fall so Neil started with a well-known 1.5 oz “knife style” jig designed to cast and also fish vertically. I selected a 2 oz green mackerel Live Deception and added an assist hook on the top eye to complement the lure’s treble hook. My brief instructions to Neil were to cast upwind of our drift, try to fish the jig up and down, not at an angle away from the boat, and start jigging as soon as he hit the bottom. I told him I liked the slow pitch technique but he started with medium sweeps. I guess people who have seen others jig before think speed jigging is the way to go! He got hit right away, and something pulled line and unbuttoned. Neil looked at Captain Wes and nodded.

I dropped the Live Deception jig down, did an exaggerated slow lift and crank with the stiff travel rod and line spurted out when the jig was 15 ft off the bottom.

It felt like a good-size papio, making smooth runs, shaking its head and resisting being pulled up. After about 5 mins we could see what looked like a big omilu making deep circles under the boat. As it got closer we couldn’t believe our eyes – 11lb Kagami Ulua (African Pompano), a relatively rare and delicious catch. Kagami on the first drop of the Live Deception! My first ulua ever. Neil and Wes looked at each other in disbelief, then Neil quickly dropped his jig back down.

Neil got picked up and the fish fought stubbornly but didn’t shake its head. Uh oh, hage action! That was his introduction to micro jigging.

Next drop of the Live Deception and about 20 ft off the bottom, it got hit. Good headshakes and a 3 lb omilu eventually came up. Meanwhile Neil’s “popular brand” jig was attracting trumpetfish, moana and hage.

We moved to a new spot; I dropped the Live Deception down and before it hit the bottom the jig felt like it got picked up in a strong current.

I engaged the reel to check and line peeled off the drag. Seventy-five yds of 15lb fluoro top shot was out and the fish wasn’t slowing. Captain Wes quietly said “This is a big fish,” telling the others to clear their lines. I tightened the drag carefully and the fish still kept going. Finally, I tightened it to the point the line started pinging and there was maybe 25 yds of 50 lb PowerPro left on the spool.

The guys were coaching me but we all figured the fight would end in a few seconds. Miraculously the fish slowed and I started making very small pumps, gaining one or two turns of the handle at a time.

Halfway up, the guys decided to resume jigging because they figured it would either be awhile before the fish was landed, or the line would pop soon. At around the 8-minute mark the uni-to-uni splice was on the reel and I had the 75 yds of 15lb fluoro left to go. The big fish saw the boat and tried to make it down to its home but only took about 30 yds of line. That was the last big run it made. The rest of

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1ST QUARTER WINNERS:

Dr. John Kuwahara Lanndon Quijano Derrick Kameoka 2ND QUARTER WINNERS:

Bruce Watanabe Tina Fukumoto Carol Noland

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the way it planed its body and resisted getting pulled into view.

When it was finally at deep color, it looked brown and long like a kahala. Ugh… I was disappointed but still wanted to see how large it was. Then as I pulled it closer, the body shortened and color darkened. Black ulua? It looked huge, even larger than I had imagined.

The Live Deception’s treble was hooked on the outside of the fish’s head and so was the assist hook. This caused the lure to bend but also prevented the fish from chewing through the 25lb fluoro leader.

Lucky-Lucky. The leader and main line didn’t have any nicks at all.

I removed the 2 oz Live Deception to ensure I wouldn’t lose it on a subsequent fish. It was going into “the Lure Museum.” I didn’t have any other 2oz lures so I put on a 1 oz Live Deception.

Upon closer examination, Captain Wes said that the fish was a dark colored white ulua or GT. Oxymoron, I know, but coloration can vary widely and sometimes depends on their environment. Captain estimated it at 30 lbs. My second ulua ever, the first being the Kagami caught less than 30 mins ago!

I told the guys to use my bait casting setup since I was worn out.

The travel rod was designed for light action whipping, not lifting ulua off the bottom. Neil declined and promptly brought up a monsta hage on his spinning setup followed by a good sized moana.

I wanted to see if the 1 oz Live Deception could deceive like the 2 oz did, so I dropped it down. Put the reel in gear, lifted the rod and was on. Captain Wes couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Neil gra-

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ciously retrieved the foul hooked 2lb omilu. Capt Wes had seen enough and took his turn with my small bait caster and travel rod. On the first drop he got used to the action of the rod, the quick free spool release and the level winding of the Curado. On the second drop he hit the bottom, jigged aggressively and was on! The pole bent in its parabolic arc and line peeled off the spool. Another big fish, surely an ulua. Capt Wes took his time and played the fish like he catches ulua every day, which he probably could do if he wanted to. After a patient battle he landed a beautiful omilu close to 15lb. Proving that the magic was in the jig and not me, he handed back the rod.

Capt Wes put us on a shallower drift and Neil and Braiden started targeting tasty nabeta and yellow spot papio with a damashi. At the urging of the Captain I dropped the 1 oz LD down again and hooked a deep water lizardfish. Hmm, maybe Captain Wes wiped off some of the magic? Then I foul hooked a nabeta on the next drop! Now how many jigs can do that?! Magic restored.

The jigging action slowed in the shallower water so I dropped a live moana down on the Captain’s boat rod. With the way the jig action had been, I figured a big papio or uku would hit any second. Nothing hit that lively moana on the next few drifts and the boys continued to catch yellow spot papio, nabeta and taape on the damashi.

I made one more drop of the 1 oz LD and felt it get picked up right off the bottom. Felt like a couple lb omilu so I asked if Braiden wanted to play with the bait caster. He took the small reel in his

large hands and worked the fish up to the boat. 3 lb UKU!!!! My first uku I ever hooked, and on a jig at that. And I handed it off!!!

We were all believers in the Live Deception jigs at that point. Not only did it hook kagami, omilu and GTs, it foul hooked a nabeta and caught an uku that ignored a live moana! It truly was a lively looking deception.

So the Live Deception had worked in 50 ft of water, and at 120 – 175 ft. It even worked off my kayak one evening, on some small white papio. I was interested to see how it would work on pelagics in deep water.

BIG ISLAND OFFSHORE TUNA JIGGING In early July we got a call informing us that the shibi (small ahi) were biting in Kona. PIFG Tag It team members flew over to Kona to tag the shibi as part of the PIFG Ahi Tagging Project. Clay Tam and I were in one boat filming a short tagging demo while another group of team members composed of project scientists and engineers were in another boat learning to tag shibi. Clay and I popped the surface with top water lures near the FADs and jigged 100 gm Flat Falls on the drift away from the FADs, while the other boat fished with bait. The Flat Falls were catching 5 – 7lb shibi down 120 – 240 ft, so our sister boat asked to use a jig. Clay sent over a 4 oz Green Mackerel Live Deception so they could get down to the biting zone quickly and they ended up catching the largest shibi of the trip. The 15 pounder shibi ignored a fresh ika on the other pole, hitting the fast moving jig instead. Once again the Live Deception out fished live bait.

WHY DOES THE LIVE DECEPTION WORK? What’s the secret to the Live Deception? Is it the actual photograph of a fish printed on the lure? Is it the action of the slender, slightly beveled lure as it falls? I’m not sure, but it has never failed to produce so far.

I remember in the 80’s when Krocodile spoons were first being

used to deep jig ulua and kahala. The predators found them irresistible and the krocodiles changed the way we bottom fished. It seems like slow pitch jigs like the Live Deception are the next wave of game changing jigs.

The Live Deception jig has worked on a wide variety of fish species including bluefin, yellowfin, yellowtail, white seabass and rockfish in California, and salmon and rockfish in Alaska. Just about every species that eats bait fish has been fooled by the Live Deception.

LURE TIPS The jigs come big-fish-ready with a welded ring instead of a split ring, connected to 3X Mustad treble hooks. The lure is wired through from the front eye to the rear eye in case a monster fish crushes the lure. Fish photos of actual anchovies, sardines and mackerel are printed directly on to the flexible lead body, and sealed in a coating that is very chip and flake resistant. The lures come in 1 ounce increments from 1 oz to 8 oz, with the exception of 7 oz.

I add an assist hook to the front eye to complement the rear treble. That doesn’t seem to affect the action of the lure and does help increase hook up ratio and holding power. Ahi USA recommends putting a small 10 - 20 degree bend in the jig to get increased flutter upon the fall. I hadn’t tried that yet but I will!

Live Deceptions are sold in most local tackle shops, starting at about $5 for the 1 oz size. That’s incredibly cheap for such an effective shallow water jig, especially when compared to the better marketed jigs. Having one onboard could make the difference between a productive fishing trip and a long boat ride.

As far as recommended colors go, I’m sure all the colors work but I just happened to use the Green Mackerel and stuck with that color.

Recommended action? It’s worked on the fall, slow pitch and speed retrieve. Try them all!

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY ERIC BAESEMAN

Wayne Gemeno PROFILE OF A FISHERMAN

The first time I met Wayne Gemeno in the late summer of 2007, I knew I was lucky to have crossed paths with him from the first smile he cracked at me. Throughout the years we would naturally meet up with the moon and tide phases; no phone numbers ever exchanged. It felt great because this is something I know that now days to build a friendship without a cell phone or some electronic device is the way it should be: to just relax, talk story and go fishing.

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“It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about going out, getting exercise, breathing fresh air and enjoying what nature offers us.”

Wayne was born and raised in Kaneohe with his older brother Bully, Calvin, sister Ella, Paul, and Tim. They all fell in love with the ocean from keiki days. It was either fishing, surfing, or throw net; that’s their love. Wayne started fishing at the young age of four with his dad. In a way, all the kids were forced to fish for extra income for the family to help feed six children. At the age of nine, Wayne moved to Waialua. He hated it. He cried for a week straight, wishing he was back in Kaneohe were the waves were flat so he could go torching and bottom fishing. But after a short time he started making friends in Waialua and they would go diving, throw net and surfing after school. He actually got really good at surfing and was ranked 3rd for three years in the Hawaii Surfing Association.

Another fun activity that he found besides surfing was when Wayne joined a fishing club in the late 70’s. Wayne’s dad’s good friend, Ponty Lavarius, formed a fishing club named the “711 Boys.” It was a small club with seven of them. They needed more casters so Wayne’s dad asked his boys, Wayne, Calvin, Bully, Paul, and Tim to join the club.

Wayne did great for the team; he would always win 1st or 2nd in total weight. One day his dad came up to him and said “Enough already! For you, no count already! You catching to much fish!! You need to give the other guys a chance!”

Wayne told his dad “I’m not going down to the beach to tell

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the fish to bite my line. I’m just going to the beach to enjoy myself.” So one day he told his dad that he was going to quit the club. His dad asked “Why you leaving the club?” and Wayne replied “I want to give the guys a chance.”

With his passion and love for fishing, Wayne kept fishing and catching and one day the president of the North Shore Pole Bendaz, Craig, approached Wayne and asked him if he wanted to represent them and join the team? He said “Sure!” It’s a good club, a big club. Wayne ended up winning biggest papio and winning total weight!

Wayne told me it’s not about winning or losing. It’s about going out, getting exercise, breathing fresh air and enjoying what nature offers us. He also says it’s a great feeling to challenge yourself when that huge strike is on! In the early 80’s Wayne, along with his brothers, would go visit relatives and friends on Molokai where he landed a 98 lb-er! That was the weight after 4 days on ice and eventually having it weighed on Oahu. In the late 80’s Wayne got a job lined up on Lanai where he worked for 2 1/2 years. He got another nice 84 lb Ulua there too!! Those were two outer island experiences he will never forget.

To this day he shares all of his catches with family and close friends. When I see Wayne, he has that priceless smile that I know is something that is naturally made, with the love of his family and his passion for the ocean.

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GTFC

LURE REVIEW

By Erik Parubrub

W

ith the growing popularity of Popping/Plugging for Ulua, many are already familiar with the GT (Giant Trevally) Fight Club or GTFC. Their notoriety comes from landing HUGE Ulua using large wooden lures and heavy gear. This review will cover my experiences and opinions of some of the GTFC Popping lures by Pelagic Warrior.

I’ve been throwing these lures with my dad for almost 4 years and 95% of that time has been off of a boat. Targeting larger fish from the boat means that most of this review will be based on the lures weighted from 125-150 grams (outfitted with 4/0 treble hooks), but I have also used all of these lures down to 70 grams.

There are a number of lures in the GTFC lineup. I’m familiar with 10 models: 7 cup-faced-poppers named Crusader, Gladiator, Immortal, Spartan, Cubera, skipjack and Tuna. The other 3 Models are Stick-Baits: Odyssey, Ulua and Bobara. I have used all models except for the Ulua, Skipjack and Bobara.

CRUSADER: Sporting a triangular body (Flat-bellied and high-

rounded back), angled cup, longer head that goes into a short-cut neck and one of the longest poppers in the lineup, the Crusader is (to me) the easiest of the poppers to use. The flat belly of the lure glides smoothly over the surface while the angled and long head throws an even amount of water on a sweep-and-stop retrieve.

Utilize a normal quick-crank retrieve and Crusader creates a lot of top-water disturbance that can appear like an injured fish fleeing aimlessly. This lure is great for areas where you need to cast a far distance. This lure has worked best with flat water to light surface texture and wind under 8mph. The downside to this lure is that it does not fare well with choppy water. The length of the lure means that it’s more susceptible to tumbling if yanked too hard and getting tangled in the leader. The flat belly that lends so nicely to the reason it glides is also its drawback in higher winds because it creates a surface to catch and drift in the direction of winds.

GLADIATOR: This lure is a like a bulldog: Short, stocky and looks

MEAN! It has a fat head, biggest cup-face, inset eyes (that are angled like the “bad-boy” logo), and a deep cut neck that goes into its short round-body. The gladiator throws buckets of water on a pop-and-stop retrieve and if pulled under water can really soundoff a loud “BRRRRUUUAAAAAPPP” chug/gurgle that’s audibly louder than the rest of the popper lineup. This lure can call beasts from the abyss and surrounding predators will likely become curious as to what all the commotion is about. The short-rounded-stubbiness of this lure makes it easy to cast in any direction (even with winds).

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water, skip and dive over the surface. Slight rod or reel-speed adjustments can make the lure dart side to side. On a sweepand-stop retrieve, Immortal dives under the surface while gurgling, leaving a nice bubble-trail for predators to follow.

This lure works best in calm to lightly textured water, though can be used in rough water (just watch for tumbling due to its length). This lure is a far-caster and fairly accurate as well. Immortal is our lure of choice when bringing out a guest to plug with us.

SPARTAN: To me, Spartan most resembles the look of a bait

fish. The lures cup is angled and goes into a short, quick-tapering head. The neck is sharp cut, and has a body that is medium in length and round shaped. The largest difference in this popper is that it is weighted in the middle. With the distribution of weight in the center, it is very effective in getting an accurate cast with the lure. Spartan throws lots of water and gurgles with some authority. This is my very first and favorite lure in the lineup. I may be a little biased because I’ve spent the most time with this lure and it has caught the most fish for me. With this lure I usually like the short-jabbed, pop-and-stop retrieve if I want to throw lots of water. Sweeping the rod a little longer will cause it to splash then dive/gurgle. There’s a slight learning curve to this lure but is recommended for precise casting.

Spartan works well in calm to rough seas. If I had to pick a downside to this lure I would say that it does not cast as far as other lures in the same weight class.

CUBERA: Another one of the traditional shapes, the Cubera

is a shorter lure with a medium cupped face, short head, and quick tapering neck that goes into a rounded body weighted at the rear. With the weight at the rear and short body, this lure creates a nice splash on the pop and throws water well.

Casting distance is good for a shorter bodied lure and splashes down nicely upon entering the water. This lure is easy to learn how to do long gurgles/blurps as well as initial splashing techniques. Longer sweeps is what this lure likes and quick rod tip twitching can make it spit water before a sweep pulls it below mimicking a torpedo while it creates the bubble trail.

TUNA: The tuna is a simple shape with not very many curves. It

We’ve tested these lures in different shapes and colors and have found that the simple lumo (UV Glow) blue is the most effective at drawing strikes.

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The large cup scoops quickly and can handle being retrieved in rougher waters. Gladiator is a harder lure to learn and the challenge will be how far to yank the rod back on the pop/ sweep with such a large-faced cup. Once the right distance is learned, the other challenge is physical. Throwing this lure on longer fishing sessions can take a toll on your body, but our most violent strikes have been taken on this lure. This lure is my dad’s favorite go-to lure when plugging.

IMMORTAL: As the name suggests, this lure is a shape

that will never die. It is a conventional popper shape: small cup, slow tapered head that goes into a deep neck and then slowly tapers back up smoothly into its long and slender body (weighted at the rear). This is the no frills or thrills popper in the lineup, very easy to learn and most versatile movement at the surface. The uniqueness of this lure shows in the oval shaped cup. With a quick-reel-retrieve, Immortal will spit

has a medium cup-face, quickly tapers to an almost non-existent neck and quickly tapers back up to a medium-long body. This lure looks very simple and does one thing extremely well: gurglybubble trails. Its shape reminds me of a backwards 9mm bullet.

Similar to a bullet, this lure shoots through the water surface quickly, imitating a small predator fish attacking bait in a swift and decisive manner. Long sweeps are what this lure is all about and casting the Tuna into bait piles is what I would imagine it was meant for. The downside to this lure would be that it does not throw as much water as the other poppers.

TIPS: I don’t usually give away secrets but one thing I will

give away is that color may matter. We’ve tested these lures in different shapes and colors and have found that the simple lumo (UV Glow) blue is the most effective at drawing strikes.

Another reason we prefer the lumo color is that, although the other colors are nice and the patterns are flashy, the stickers can have a higher rate of hooks sticking into them. The hooks

Quality/Construction: • The GTFC Lures are all handmade in Indonesia using sustainable plantation hardwood.

• The through-wire that runs from tip-to-tip of the lure is rated at over 880 lbs.

• Swivels used on all GTFC Lures are owner hardware.

• The lures are finished with 14 coats of epoxy, then they are hand painted and (if called for) outfitted with Japanese holographic stickers.

PRICE: I’ve seen these lures at local fishing stores range from $30 (smallest size) to $60 (largest size). Check your local fishing store for pricing and availability.

occasionally sticking may not be that big of a deal, but with the higher rate of interest and strikes with the lumo-blue, it’s a no-brainer when we need more GTFC lures. Also, keep in mind that changing the types and size of hooks will alter the movement of the lures. If you’re considering catch-andrelease fishing, GTFC has awesome barbless trebles that are very reasonably priced.

The quality and construction of the GTFC lures are the primary reason I don’t mind shelling over 45 clams for them.

The durability of the hardwood, epoxy finish and paint have proven their ability to take multiple big-fish strikes and keep on working. Additionally, whenever there is a misfire in chucking the lure or we have that lapse in attention that causes us to forget to open-bail before casting and the lure hits a hard surface, the damage is usually not significant.

When retrieving from rocky shorelines and having to clear the boulders or reef in front of you, these lures can survive the accidental hits. The hardware on the lures gives me confidence in tightening my drag and pressuring the fish hard. The lineup of different shapes gives us the options to choose how we want to present our bait to the fish. We’ve been lucky enough to do battle with more than a dozen ulua’s (most were won and released, few were kept for consumption and some got the best of us), a handful of kaku’s (released), 2 ono’s (I like to call these “very welcomed bycatch!” as they are always sashimi’d. My Favorite!), a 14lb. kawakawa (Sashimi), and some ‘aha’s. If you’re looking for a good-quality wood popper to attract your next ulua, I’m sure you would find that any of the lures in the GTFC lineup would be that valuable addition.

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Kalaheo ES Fishing Club

Carrie Balucan

John Madrigal

Chucky Balucan Joseph Coloma

Aryk Shankles

barbless hook Kalaheo ES Fishing Club

Joseph Coloma

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Kalaheo ES Fishing Club

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barbless hook gallery

Jordan and Stephen Kilkenny

Troy Haspe

Barbless circle hooks help reduce the severity of injuries to catch and release fish and help protect marine species that are hooked accidentally.

Kade Erdman

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barbless hook gallery

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LIMU `ELE`ELE RHYTHM WHEEL B Y PA U L O

Photograph by Alfred Mitchell, Bishop Museum Archives. www.bishopmuseum.org

F

or over 100 years, Hawai‘i residents have been siphoning from the freshwater table, resulting in an estimated 40% decrease of the original volume of fresh potable water (U.S. Geological Survey). This trend has impacted many coastal marine limu (seaweed) species, especially ‘ele ‘ele that are highly sensitive to freshwater availability.

Among Polynesians, Hawaiians are unique in their regular use of limu. In previous generations, limu was the third component of a nutritionally balanced diet consisting of fish and poi. While limu primarily provided zest and variety in the diet, it also added significant amounts of vitamins and other mineral elements to those contained in poi (Abbott, I. A. 1984. Limu. An Ethnobotanical Study of Some Edible Hawaiian Seaweeds. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i.).

A study of contemporary gathering practice confirms that traditional dietary use of limu has persisted in Hawai‘i despite major social and environmental change.

Wild gathering is much higher among Native Hawaiians and young people whose parents gathered limu. A

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larger proportion of male than female Hawaiian students reported gathering wild seaweeds, indicating a cultural shift from pre-contact Hawai‘i, where women were the predominant gathers and consumers of limu (Hart, G.M., T. Ticktin, D. Kelman, A.D. Wright and N. Tabandera.

2014. Contemporary gathering practice and antioxidant benefit of wild seaweeds in Hawai‘i. Economic Botany, March 2014, vol. 68, issue 1: 30-43).

There are several reasons for the decline in fresh water entering the ocean around Hawai‘i coasts. Although some former irrigation water is used in our homes and resorts, it is eventually returned to the ocean via sewage treatment plants or injected into wells purposely located seaward of potable groundwater supplies. Hence, it does not replenish our aquifers. Water tables around the state are dropping as a result. Another reason is that no one has changed the diversion system now that sugarcane is leaving the islands.

As urban sprawl increases, so has the demand for freshwater, putting even greater pressure on the limited supply.

At some point, we must strike a balance with preserving Hawaii’s finite resource and funding our existence.

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PIFG KOA

AHI POP-UP SATELLITE ARCHIVAL TAG UPDATE

TAG IT Got tags? That’s the question Pacific Island Fisheries Group (PIFG) has been hearing since the soft launch of the “Tag It” program. Yes, tagging is back! Actually, tagging has been ongoing and supported for specific species (bottomfish, ahi, marlin, oio) through targeted cooperative research efforts. But, tagging for papio, ulua, oio and other key nearshore species is now back with a support grant and private funding. The PIFG Tagging Challenge category was again part of the 2016 Tokunaga Tournament and, since then, PIFG has distributed 150 tag kits to interested fishermen.

Targeted species include papio, ulua, oio, barracuda and moi. A tag kit that includes 5 initial tags can be purchased for $15. Additional tags will be sold in lots of 5 for $1 each (see www.fishtoday.org/tagit).

WHY TAG? Ever wonder how old that fish you caught was?

Or how fast they grow? Or where they go when they are not at the end of your line? Tagging can help provide answers those questions, if done right. Generally, there are a couple types of tags.

Smart or satellite tags have electronics in them that record location, time, temperature and other information from fish that are tagged and released.

These tags are large and extremely expensive, about $4000 each. Fish need to be at least 70 pounds to carry a satellite tag. Conventional or spaghetti tags have no electronics and require a fish to be caught, tagged, released and recaptured

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to get growth and movement information. Thus, these tagging efforts are often referred to as mark and recapture programs. PIFG has programs that involve both tagging methods.

PIFG’s current Ahi project is funded through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) Cooperative Research grant that supports placement of five additional Pop-up Satellite Archival Tags (PSAT) in adult bigeye and yellowfin tuna around Hawaii. Five PSAT were generously donated by the Western Pacific Fisheries Council and another five were donated by the Large Pelagics Research Center (LPRC) for a total of 10 PSAT. Over the past year, Oahu and Kauaibased fishermen deployed all 10 PSAT on three bigeye and seven yellowfin tuna in Hawaiian waters. This brings the total number of PSAT deployed on yellowfin tuna to eleven and three on bigeye tuna since 2014.

The electronic tag can be programmed to record data and release itself from the tuna after a specific time period. PIFG’s PSAT missions are programed for one year. If the fish dies or the tag falls off it will automatically release, float to the surface and report the data that was collected to that date. Information on recent tagging efforts will be made available once PIFG receives data from these tags. Some of the data is currently being examined and analyzed by Dr. Tim Lam of LPRC. For future project updates please check out the “Tag It” website http://www.fishtoday.org/category/ahi-updates/

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PIFG BOTTOMFISH RESEARCH PROJECT CONVENTIONAL DART TAGS In addition to PSATs, the Ahi project included the training of volunteer taggers across the state to deploy 1,100 dart tags in juvenile yellowfin and bigeye tuna to complement the satellite tagging project. PIFG conducted eight tagging workshops throughout the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Workshops covered proper fish handling, measurement and correct tag placement for the captured “shibi” (small ahi) and accurate data recording. A total of 80 tag kits comprising of 400 tags were distributed to fishermen that participated in the training workshops.

So far, a number of small tuna have been tagged and released off of the Big Island (Hawaii) on the Hilo and Kona sides of the island. There have been two reported tag recoveries of small ahi off of Kona. Both were short term recoveries within two weeks of tagging, showing shibi will survive with proper handling and release procedures.

One shibi was recaptured on the same buoy it was tagged on within eleven days. The other reported tag recovery was from a shibi originally tagged off of the UU buoy and recaptured five days later at C buoy in Kona, nearly seven miles away. Although these were short term tag recaptures, the recoveries confirmed survival and yielded interesting travel patterns. Each and every fish tagged and recaptured is an important data point that can provide valuable information on the species. The key is to record accurate information -- date, location, length, species and other information as required on the data card. As more shibi are tagged and recaptured, PIFG will be able to acquire and share informative project outcomes. Keep up the great work!

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LAWAI‘A MAGAZINE

The PIFG Fall Bottomfish Survey began on September 4 and ran to October 31, 2016. This year Hawaii has had another very active storm and hurricane season, making fishing conditions in general very difficult for Hawaii’s small vessel fleet. With very small one or two days of sampling opportunities, survey sampling has been a very slow process. In addition climate conditions have created a shortage in the bait supply, as especially squid this year have disappeared from the California coast. Fortunately, PIFG was able to locate enough bait to carry out the Fall survey sampling mission. A total of 7 vessels are required to sample 250 grids sites spread out over the entire Main Hawaiian Island chain. Survey sites range from the South Pt. of the Big Island and all the way to Niihau, all to be done within a 2 month time frame. With windy weather conditions, this makes sampling all tradewind exposed areas of the islands very dangerous. But it is possible because we work with very experienced captains, crewmen and observers who have many years of bottomfish expertise. If it were not for them completion of this survey project would not have been possible.

For the first time ever since the State of Hawaii created the Bottom Fish Replenishment Area (BFRA) closures 18 years ago, fishermen will be allowed to sample these areas. Under a Special Activities Permit (SAP) requested by NOAA from the State of Hawaii, DLNR, fishermen and scientists will be allowed access to the BFRAs. All vessels must follow strict rules, conditions and protocols while in the BFRAs. Any fish landed during the survey sampling will be logged, labeled and turned over to NOAA for analysis. Biological and Catch Per Unit Effort data gathered from these areas will be used to enhance ongoing stock assessment of the Main Hawaiian Island’s Deep 7 Bottomfish fishery by NOAA.

PIFG’S SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Congratulations to Shannon Funai from Kapiolani Community College for successfully completing her 2016 summer internship at Shelter Lodge in Juneau, Alaska.

PIFG and Shelter Lodge partnered again to support one culinary arts student to work as an intern for eight weeks at the fishing lodge on Shelter Island. Shelter Lodge graciously supports transportation, housing and meals while PIFG provides the intern a paid stipend for their time. Congratulations and thank you again, Shannon, for participating in the 2016 summer internship program and thank you Shelter Lodge for partnering with PIFG on this successful program.

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BY JOHN CLARK

Recover a Tagged Bottomfish or O‘io?

Onaga

Call (808) 265-4962 Be prepared to provide the following critical information:

1. Your name, address and telephone number 2. Capture date, Island and fishing location 3. Tag number 4. Fork length: measure from tip of the nose to “V” in the tail 5. Species: (The Deep Seven) Opakapaka (Pink Snapper), Onaga (Longtail Snapper), Hapu‘upu‘u (Hawaiian Grouper), Ehu (Squirrelfish Snapper), Kalekale (Von Siebold’s Snapper), Gindai (Brigham’s Snapper), Lehi (Silverjaw Snapper) and Oio (Bonefish).

Ehu Gindai

Kalekale

Reward: In return for your valuable information you’ll receive a special t-shirt reward plus a recovery letter stating how much the fish grew, distance traveled and days at liberty.

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Lehi

Opakapaka

For more information about PIFG and its programs, visit www.fishtoday.org

Hapu‘upu‘u

O‘io

hen Edward Hosaka wrote Sport Fishing in Hawaii, he listed 73 species of fish, and for each one he included its description, distribution, habits, food, fishing methods, and edible qualities.

Among the fish he identified, there was one that came with a warning, a serious plea not to eat it. Under edible qualities Hosaka said, “This fish should never be eaten, for it is sometimes deadly poisonous, although it is regarded as a delicacy by some Orientals.” He went on to say, “When the poison [in the fish] is taken into the system [by eating it], the individual is said to die within a short time.” The fish Hosaka was warning his readers about was the ‘O‘opuhue, which is commonly known as the puffer fish or balloon fish.

In Japan it’s called fugu.

‘O‘opuhue have a deadly poison in their bodies called tetrodotoxin. If the fish isn’t cleaned and prepared properly, eating it can cause death. Today in Japan restaurant preparation of fugu is controlled by law and chefs must serve a two to three-year apprenticeship and then pass a rigorous licensing examination. They usually serve it as sashimi. In Hawaii it’s illegal to serve fugu, regardless of the chef’s training.

When Hosaka wrote his book in 1944, he was concerned enough about ‘O‘opuhue poisoning to devote two pages to it, so he must have known about incidents where local residents had eaten the fish and died. A search in the Hawaiian-language newspapers turned up six articles from 1858 to 1925 that detail a total of 10 deaths from eating ‘O‘opuhue. Translations are by Iāsona Ellinwood.

Ka Hae Hawaii. 8 September 1858. P. 91. Sudden Death.

Kahou, a woman here in Kīpahulu, died suddenly due to eating the ‘O‘opuhue, a bad fish of the ocean.

On Saturday, the 21st of August, Kahinu, the son-in-law of this Kahou, went out to fish with a kā‘ili net. He caught two fish, one humuhumu and one ‘O‘opuhue, landed on shore, and returned home. The ‘O‘opuhue was bundled in ti leaves and cooked with the skin. Someone said to throw away the rough skin of the ‘O‘opuhue, and this Kahou said, “Throw away what, the sweet flavor of the fish?”

When this bundled ‘O‘opuhue was cooked, the ‘O‘opuhue was eaten with the skin, giving some skin to the pig, eating the liver of the ‘O‘opuhue while saying, “This is a final mouthful for the eaters of ‘O‘opuhue.” When it was eaten,

the mouth became bitter, the arm went numb, and she became dizzy and feverish.

At this time the pig, the companion in eating the ‘O‘opuhue skin, died. The symptoms greatly increased.

She drank medicine to cause vomiting, but the food with the ‘O‘opuhue was not vomited out, remaining within her until the time when she died. Alas! Death by ‘O‘opuhue is a death without a final testament. O! Take heed, those who will eat the ‘O‘opuhue. From Hawai‘i to Kaua‘i, do not eat the ‘O‘opuhue, a fish of death, lest you become the same as Kahou, your companion in eating ‘O‘opuhue.

W. B. Kapu. Kīpahulu, August 23, 1858.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. 27 April 1867. P. 2. Narrowly Escaped Death.

On the 8th of April, in Kāne‘ohe, Ko‘olau, Nakalina and his wife Upai ate an ‘O‘opuhue they had caught at the shore.

When they were both eating the eggs and the meat, they became dizzy in an extremely odd way, and right afterwards they both fell down as if dead, for the rest of that day and through the night until the next day, when they were found by some folks, lying on the ground and appearing dead.

When they were found, a doctor was fetched to cause them to vomit, and they vomited immensely, but they had also vomited a little during that day and night when they had just lain without being seen. It took from that time until Thursday of last week before they finally got up and walked.

Lying down was all they were doing for over two weeks. The thing that caused their distress was them also eating the eggs, because we have heard it is a deadly thing. In fact, if they had only eaten the eggs, then they would have died.

However, they were fortunate, their lives were saved. These aforementioned people, they are elderly folks. We heard that several years ago, some people ate the eggs of that fish at that very place, and they both died. So to our friends from Hawai‘i to Kaua‘i, perhaps the new generation has just heard about this deadly thing, so do not partake of it, lest you meet with disaster.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. 24 October 1868. P. 3.

Maui. In Waiehu, on the morning of the 13th, a family caught a fish named ‘O‘opuhue. That rough, big-bellied fish of the ocean. This ‘O‘opuhue was broiled, and the family ate it. The person who ate first died, and the people after are clinging to life.

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In Hawaii it’s illegal to serve fugu, regardless of the chef’s training.

Nupepa Puka La Kuokoa. 12 April 1893. P. 2. Death from Eating the ‘O‘opuhue.

Last Monday afternoon, all of the Chinese were fishing on the ‘Ewa side of the harbor here in Kou [Honolulu], at their regular fishing spot. As evening fell, they returned with lots of fish, and among the fish that were caught, one was an ‘O‘opuhue. One of these Chinese fishermen said he was really hungry, and so he grabbed that ‘O‘opuhue, cut open the stomach, took out the liver, and the rest was discarded. The liver was boiled in a pot until cooked, and this Chinese ate his dinner with his friends. In the middle of the night, his stomach began to hurt, and he writhed in agony until 6 o’clock on Tuesday morning, when he died. The doctor was not fetched and the Chinese simply died. The Chinese knew that it was a deadly fish, an ‘O‘opuhue, but he thought that it was not deadly to eat the liver. This ignorant death was reported to the police department. A coroner jury was chosen to sit and investigate the cause of death for the Chinese.

Ka Leo o ka Lahui. 3 April 1895. P. 2. Mistakenly Eating The ‘O‘opuhue.

At 11 o’clock yesterday morning, three Japanese folks mistakenly ate an ‘O‘opuhue and died. This fish was caught in Kalihi harbor and eaten at 8 o’clock in the morning, and they soon died at that aforementioned time.

The news was immediately reported to the Japanese Doctor, but before he could save their lives, all three of them had already expired within a short time, with the power of the magical medicine of the Doctors unable to save them. Alas for these souls in constant distress.

Ke Aloha Aina. 29 August 1896. P. 3. Mistakenly Eating The Deadly Fish.

At the home of the Sheriff of Waialua, in the sea spray of Pua‘ena, he held a large lū‘au feast last Wednesday, and foods of every kind were provided to satisfy the desire of the food-gulping throat.

And among these foods provided in great quantity was a fish with poison within its body (perhaps like the ‘O‘opuhue) and because the preparation of the foods was mixed together, that deadly fish went into the jumble of foods that were provided, and was feasted upon along with the other good fish.

Not long after the meal, one of the diners had a strange feeling, due to eating this fish, and it was quickly seen, after a proper investigation, that this was the cause of the problem, due to eating the fish with poison inside.

He remains with that illness, and since he is being cared for by the Sheriff, it seems as if he will find relief.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. 7 May 1925. P. 2. Two Chinese Died After Eating Fish.

Leong Tock, a Chinese fisherman of Kunawai Lane, and Yong Chang died after eating fish in their home on Thursday evening last week. This was the decision reached by Doctor Ayer of the emergency hospital in reporting on the cause of their deaths after the autopsy of their bodies.

An ‘O‘opuhue is the fish that the two Chinese ate, a type of fish with bitter bile, with poison in its body. There are many of this kind of fish in the seas of Hawai‘i. After these Chinese ate it and three hours passed, they both died, ten minutes being the difference between one dying and the other.

When Leong Tock passed he left a widow behind with seven children. They all gathered before him from the time he became ill until the departure of his final breath.

The ‘O‘opuhue is a fish feared by some folks, except for those who know how to separate the deadly poison from the body, and if they are people who do not know, like these Chinese, then it is a deadly fish.

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