It rained hard the night before and continued to shower on the Windward side but the wind was projected to remain light. Since fishing in the rain the previous time was phenomenal, I put on a light rain jacket and paddled past the runoff browning out the launch.

Because the current was too strong to pull the bait tube out deep the week before, my plan was to try to catch opelu inside, and then drift ’em around to find the elusive Windward uku that has eluded me. A 12 inch opelu bit on the first drop, followed by perfect, bite sized 7 inch opelu on subsequent drops. Normally opelu are hard to catch after sunup but it was overcast and raining and the fish thought it was dawn I guess. With such perfect, small baits I decided to try to paddle the 1 mile out to 250ft.

Using the Bixpy motor, the current was manageable and I got a hookup at 160ft. It had been months since a fish has stayed on longer than 5 seconds and I was stunned. The fish ran so hard, and so deep I thought I was fighting my first shibi (yellow fin tuna under 100lb) but after 6 mins a really round kawakawa came to color.

I was so out of practice I knocked the kage in the water and had to tail grab the fish. Good thing the kage floats!

The circle hook, which was lightly snagged on the roof of the kawakawa’s mouth, fell out when the fish was in the kayak. Man, I was lucky to land it. After so many pulled baits on J hooks and a few on circle hooks, this was the first pelagic landed in 7 months.

I did manage to get out to 275ft but nothing took the next 7 inch opelu so I paddled back in to the shallow dropoff. The rain was falling lightly but consistently. Since I was wearing the rain jacket over my long sleeve shirt, I felt fairly comfortable.

Sure enough everything wanted to eat the CHL Minnows on the damashi. Nabeta on the bottom, opelu on the top, lai in the middle and even a baby uku! An aha (needlefish) took the opelu I had been free lining, and nothing took the next opelu I dropped down with a weight. The mature uku had eluded me again!

I wanted to give the nabeta a rest, just took 3, released the rest of the damashi fish and headed in as the rain abated. Was nice to dry off while I cleaned up.

The kawakawa felt like it was close to 20lb because I was used to catching fish under a pound, but ended up weighing 14lb after being bled. It fought spiritly but the St Croix Mojo boat rod and Avet SX Raptor in low gear sealed its fate.

I do love these overcast, light wind, light rain days that really get the fish going!