Mark had shared his simple yet effective system for keeping oama alive, and is back visiting his family’s home on the upper east side of Kauai. He was surprised to find so much oama this late in the year and the omilu were still biting for him.
Mark: I wasn’t able to get over to Kauai during the peak season but have been reading HNF (Hawaii Nearshore Fishing) to keep track of the oama season. Finally got to Kauai and was very surprised to see sizable schools of oama in very shallow water. Been whipping live and dead oama from shore using ultralight gear with maybe 8 – 10 pound test (mono-wish I had some braided) so I was pretty lucky to land the omilu. I was using just a single hook, wish I had some red ones, but tackle seems to be scarce on this side of the island.
The area on the east side I’m whipping is 2 to 5 feet but pretty choppy. Bite has been at low/incoming tide in the morning. It’s been wild. One or more omilu each day I’ve fished, and I just kept this one to eat.
The oama have been so thick I was catching them between casts. The best catch was on a fat live oama I snagged right off the reef. I have to give HNF credit. I have switched up my technique this trip adjusting to some of your stories. Really enjoy all the posts when I can’t be on the island.
Mark
You should try even lighter ultralight sometime. I use 4lb test when I’m looking for a good fight and often get it. 4lb test on a three pound Omilu lasted 13-15 minutes for me. Even small 8 inchers fight way harder than they should on 4lb test. Nice catches though. Kauai is definitely on my to go list someday.
Thanks Scott! I ended up with 7 omilu on this trip. Pleasant surprise for a quick trip in a season Im not familiar with. I am now back in Colorado with the snow. Cant wait to get back next spring or summer. I will definitely be getting in my tackle order with HNF soon so I will be ready. I was miserable scrounging for tackle on the east and north shore, sad that my old go to tackle shops are gone but thankful to have HNF as a new resource.
Aloha!
Thanks for the catch report from Kauai Mark, and all the support all these years. I’m hoping that the Hawaii angler who doesn’t live near a tackle supply, could order some much needed items from our Store.
We’re trying to ride the fine line of providing basic tackle but not compete with the hard working local tackle shops.
-scott