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?