Wanted to check a couple of spots I hadn’t fished since the “season” last year to see how they produce in the “pre-season”. First up was a reefy spot exposed to swell. Got out early enough to catch the light winds and rising tide. A few dark reef fish followed the JDM sub-surface swimmer in, but nothing hit it for a while. Then something hit on the shoreline reefy shelf that took drag but turned and swam in with the waves. It didn’t feel like a papio, and the area was too rough for kaku.
Saw something cylindrical and light green colored with a mustardy orange spot. Moana kali? The fish hit in a few feet of water, not the normal moana kali grounds, but it did hit a swimming lure. Upon closer examination I realized it was a big “mongoose fish” or cigar wrasse.
I’ve caught these before on cut bait but never eating size. Heard from multiple sources that it’s good eating. Considered keeping it but wasn’t sure if my folks would want to try a “hinalea” so I let it go. Because of its shape and size it fought like a good-sized weke. Another mongoose followed the lure but didn’t hit it. That was the only action I got at the first spot so I jumped in the car to check the second spot.
The water level was low at the second spot and still rising. It was late morning and I didn’t see any bait fish and didn’t get a single follow on my lures. I’ve caught fish in a man-made channel at this spot in the past but only in lower light conditions.
Dunno if a foul hooked mongoose fish counts as a non-bolo head. What do you guys think?
My dad and uncle used to hook these with bamboo pole off of surfboards in back of the house when they were young. There used to be a lot of different limu that made good cover, so there were lots of these. Not so much now, limu or mongoose fish. And yes, i believe my grandpa used to eat these.
Do you recall them being tasty? I heard it has nice, soft, white flesh.
So your dad and grandpa fished off surfboards? You’re a 3rd generation board/kayak fisherman? Cool!
Ive never tasted it myself. Hardly see them around here now, all the seaweed cover is gone, i guess.
Habitat change yeah? Less freshwater runoff, so less ogo, less opae, crabs and fish that thrive in that type of environment.
That’s a good sized mongoose – the 4 3/4 inch lure looks small next to it. Not your target species but I wouldn’t consider that a bolo. I remember catching them often when I was a kid but haven’t in a long time.
Haha! That bolo question was for you Thad, I guess you knew that. Thanks for being generous in your criteria of what constitutes a catch! I did catch it on your recommended lure.
Haha, you were “luring” me to answer! I don’t catch lot’s of fish like you so I need to lower my bolo standards.
Well, the second spot I fished today was where you recently either caught papio or had a strike. I didn’t even get a whiff.
Hey Scott, I need your help identifying this beautiful fish I caught on the Big Island. I have a picture of it but don’t know how to get it to you?
Hi Thanh,
If I’m not able to identify the fish, I know of some fish scientists who probably can. I’ll send you an email soon.
thanks,
scott
Haha! Only Hage is considered bolo 🙂 I kid. Anything is better than no action.
You’re the only guy I know who can consistently catch hage on metal jigs with big hooks.
Seriously, I don’t know how you do it when I’m truly getting bolo’d and you’re somehow hooking hage in the lips.
Shhhhh! I don’t want to be known as the Hage-Slayer. . . nah, nah. Idk? It’s always after I let the jig sink and then jerk the jig up. I think they watch the jig “die” thinking it’s an easy meal when and then once they see the sudden movement, instinctively bite to try kill it?
I gotta mimic the start of your jigging retrieve, then go to my lazy man slow pitch retrieve. You smoked me last time we jigged.
Ho … ‘sup hage man!
From shore, any fish is no bolo.
From boat, if only hage den the term is whitewash … haha
You consider the mongoose fish a hinalea, and therefore a whitewash on boat?
I guess I would after doing all the boat prep and spending the $$ on gas and ice.
Whitewash is no ‘mo kau kau fish to bring home. If you/I/someone eats wrasses (hinalea), then get kau kau = no whitewash. Some hinalea is ‘ono kine grinds … 🙂