Holoholo writer Matthew summarizes the inshore Summer season so far. Has the season already peaked? How do your fishing trips compare?
Matthew:
Traditionally, August is the absolute best month of the year for shorefishing. However, this August has been much different for many people. July was a great month, at least for me, some of my friends, and some other people that I follow on social media. The Papio bite was hot, as well as the Oama and Halalu bite at certain spots.
The “Act with care order” imposed early August made fishing a slightly more difficult, due to the fact that you had to be below the high water mark, but still left a lot of spots viable. For me, that meant one of my spots was gone. Throughout August, it was consistently slow for me and some of my friends (strictly lure users though) at many different spots. A few Papio showed up, but nothing like we were anticipating for what was supposed to be peak fishing season. Some people I know had success using live bait near piles, as well as at certain deeper water spots.
Towards the end of August, the oama started thinning out and getting smarter, and it seemed like the Papio bite had stopped dead, at least for the south shore. A friend of mine had success on the North Shore, but the south shore appeared to be pretty barren. It seemed like the season had peaked early in July, and ended early as well.
A lot of the catches made in the past few weeks were on smaller lures (small flies, kastmasters, grubs) perhaps signalling that fish are keying in on smaller baits.
The “stay at home” order made fishing a lot more difficult, due to the fact that you had to actually be in the water now. It left me fishing a spot I have a love/hate relationship with, and many others frustrated.
At this writing on September 6, a good number of moi hunters have been having a hard time to find bigger moi in the first six days of the season. A couple bigger ones have been landed but most of the ones I’ve seen caught were either undersize or 11-12”.
A couple of the flats fishermen targeting Oio have been getting great results though, and a couple of 7-9# range Oio have come up in the past week or two.
Perhaps the large number of people heading into the water have made the fish skittish in certain spots, or the increasing pressure from the growing numbers of fishermen have contributed to the bite as well, and it is certainly tough for me and a couple of others I talk to. I’ll keep whipping until either my arms fall off or I catch a Papio, whichever comes first?.
It appears to be a tough month, but please drop a comment if you feel otherwise. Good luck to all, and keep on fishing????????.
Agree, things are definitely challenging with more people in the water, especially for us fly fisherman. That said, I had one of best Julys ever, and fished exactly twice in August and hooked multiple fish on both trips, so I can’t truthfully say it’s been that rough for me. I do look forward every year to the fall and winter, when the south swells die down and the crowds thin out.
Hi Jason,
It still seems to be holding true, for you and Jeremy at least, that the oio fishing hasn’t been impacted as much by the scarcity of bait fish this summer. The papio fishing definitely has. Thanks for the feedback.
-scott
For me, July was good for papios and August was good for o’ios. But yeah, was really hoping the papio bite would pick up. After looking through my records, September is when I get the most action, so hopefully it hold true this year as well. Either way though, just get out there and keep casting. Can’t catch any fish if you not trying. Good luck!
Hi Jeremy,
It’s very interesting how the oio bite is much more consistent than the papio bite, even in the colder water months. You’re wise to adapt to what is biting! Please let us know how September does shape out for you. Are you seeing less bait in the water than normally is around?
thanks,
scott
Been having a lot of white wash days lol. Picked some up north side but nothing too crazy
Hey Dino,
We needed a north and west side reporter. We welcome your reports whenever you can serve ’em up!
thanks,
scott
I mainly fish northeast side from Kualoa to Hauula. The papio was definitely biting more in June and July and now getting some o’io in August.
Thanks for the North East report Travis! That’s consistent with what Matt experienced on the south side. We made the prediction that the bait season would start early and be a banner season because the mango season started early. Well the papio season started early but fizzled out like the mango season did. Definitely some tie in there.
thanks,
scott