Pete from NorCal was back and looking to go another round on the flats. Here’s how we did the last time we went hunting for late season oama. The tides were less than ideal during this week and the best option was to fish the wade-able low tide this evening and cast cut bait and Makata strips. The tide was falling, unfortunately, not rising.
obake weke on the shallow flats
Whipping from shore hasn’t yielded anything substantial recently and we only had a couple hours to fish, so we had low expectations. To make things even more challenging, Pete was using a freshwater spinning setup without much line. The cut bait was getting all the small papio bites so we stuck with that and worked our way out towards the surf break. Pete hooked something that fought like a small oio and had to tighten the rear drag on his small spinner to bring it in. It was the first obake weke I had ever seen in that area and it put up a very respectable fight. If we had quit then, it would have been a successful outing.
We had 20 more minutes to fish so we made it to a sandy channel in the shallow rubble and then every cast resulted in a strike. The 4 inch papio were swarming our baits, then I hooked a beefy Christmas wrasse that took line, followed by an almost legal omilu. Pete landed a grunting humuhumu.
Pete caught the target fish!
On his next retrieve, Pete’s reel started screaming. The fish pulled line in long bursts like an oio which really surprised me given the commotion caused by the previous fish landed. Oio are notoriously easily spooked. I expected Pete to get spooled on the light setup but he patiently worked the fish in, lost some line, and regained some. Finally we could see what it was, a 2 lb oio, the premier flats fish. I later felt Pete’s drag and it was set pretty tight from the battle with the obake weke. Pete masterfully manhandled his first ever oio with trout gear!
end of a successful day
He turned my camera phone on me to as I made my last cast.
All things considered, our short outing was very successful. All fish were released unharmed.
Hey! That’s my fishing pole! I hope you didn’t dunk the reel again Pete!
Good job guys. If it’s the same line I left on there it’s Berkeley braided power pro moss green 15lb. There is probably more line on there than you think 😉
I really want to get back out there and fish with you guys. I guess this proves that Pete’s fishing success isn’t the lucky green shirt he’s been using. He’s just a natural.
Hey Justin,
Before we hit the water I looked at your rod and reel and told Pete that I hoped he’d be able to feel the power of an oio, but he’d probably get spooled if he did. I guess I underestimated the gear and Pete’s prowess. You would’ve been proud of him.
-scott
Hey Justin, we’ll have to plan another trip. I attribute my lucky fishing days to Scott’s knowledge and patience (when it comes me), your rig, and my fishing skiz; of course my skiz come in last. Lol!
…oops! Meant skilz. Lol!