At this point I’ve gone kayak or shore fishing 11 times and besides a shark and hage, haven’t landed a thing. Out of 5 kayak attempts, 3 were so windy we had to cut the fishing short. Out of the 6 solo shore fishing trips, all either had tides too low for the predators to come in, or choppy conditions due to wind and waves. But I’m just making excuses for my bolo head streak, Thad was able to catch two large fish in the same conditions, at one of the spots I tried and failed. Here’s how he did.
It seems that just as I’m getting close to catching fish, something new gets in the way. When I kayaked the deep with Kelly, he caught a nabeta on damashi at 100 ft and I had some scarred baits that looked like they had been raked by nabeta. Even had a good drag puller come off. Here’s the write up for that trip. The next time I went out to that spot solo, the conditions were too rough to safely fish. I’ve given up with kayak fishing the south side until after the fall, when the wind and waves drop.
So I wade fished a spot on Thad’s recommendation and had a bunch of kaku strikes on my go-to sub-surface lure but none stuck because I had changed the rear hook to a strong Owner inline single hook. I went back with that same type of lure sporting stock treble hooks and the wind and waves cloudied the water and made it hard for the kaku to find that lure.
Albino pipihi on the upper left
But I didn’t come home empty. I gathered some pipihi (those small, black salt water snails you see on black rocks when the tide recedes) for my Toby puffer since he’s been getting tired of frozen shrimp. Toby couldn’t break into the tough shell so all the pipihi crawled out of his tub! I crushed one for him and he sniffed it and pushed it around for awhile, then figured out how to eat it. I put the remaining pipihi in another tub that didn’t have any fish and they crawled out of the water but didn’t flee like they did earlier. Pipihi are a lot smarter than I thought. Well one was hanging out on the outside of the tub, and since he was a flight risk, he became Toby’s next meal.
I figured I’d check the spot I last fished in April, hours before the historic flood that tragically dumped mud in East Oahu homes. I was horrified to find the water looking like this, 6 weeks later. There was so much muddy silt on top of the sand that it was actually slippery to wade. The normal bait was gone and the few bait fish I saw were darting all over the place because they couldn’t see predators coming. The tide was also too low to fish, so I just waded around, wondering how long it would take to flush out all this silt and debris.
I consulted the guys to see what I could do to end my bolo streak. Kelly said I needed to get a “bolo head” haircut to accept the bolo and move on. This “side bolo” was the shortest I could handle. Maybe my catch will improve to a side bolo of at least a consolation fish?
Do any of you have any other suggestions for me? By the way, I’m loving my new prescription Maui Jim Twin Fall wraps, but only wish I was seeing fish on my hook with them.
Aloha Scott, tobyʻs are pretty aggressive on shellfish, I had a 1.5 Cowry shell freshly picked and I suspect the toby ate the meat and left the shell intact. On the other hand I have a tank with Ala ihis in another tank and they donʻt touch them, the cowry prances in the front of the tank with confidence eating up my algae on the glass.
Hi Kelly S.,
So the Toby somehow pulled the cowry out of the shell? After I crush the pipihis slightly, my Toby slowly eats everything but the shell and the hard base of the “foot”. I think this Toby nipped at the big oama that was in the tank and caused it to commit suicide by jumping out!
-scott
Yup, I’ve got a suggestion.
You have to come fool circle.
Most people that fish their whole lives start with a bobber and a worm. Then progress to something else and keep progressing, on and on. You are at the fake bait part of the circle.
Toss a piece of the “secret” bait out under a bobber and see what happens……
I’m a fool and it works.
Very valid point Justin. I’m trying to test a bait casting reel, and that reel throws light lures extremely well. Just haven’t tested its drag on a fish yet. I’m trying to complete the “cast-retrieve-hook a fish on a lure-fight it-bring it in” effort.
I’m finding out that during the “slow season”, picking the right tide, water clarity, wind and swell conditions really makes a difference.
thanks,
scott
Ouch, I’m sorry to hear about your cold streak, I know the feeling all too well. I just finished the Memorial Day weekend 0 for 2 myself, while my partners on each outing picked up fish. It’s hard but sometimes you just gotta embrace the suck and realize that it will pass. To be fair, I do think this is going to be an off-year at least for in/nearshore fishing, and it has proven to be thus far. I think we’ve all been spoiled by the last few El Niño years!
I knew you could appreciate my bolo streak Jason. You also like to stick to your preferred ways to catch fish (fly fishing with gear you’re trying out) and are limited to conditions where the fish can see your fly presentation.
It does seem like an off year so far. Some great catches are being reported but it has been slower than this time last year.
-scott
Grab all your fishing gear and put in the kayak. Grab some Hawaiian salt and sprinkle it at the front, rear and two sides of your kayak and fishing gear.
Pack a small ti leaf and stash it somewhere on your kayak the next time you go out.
Thanks Rich, and if I’m wade fishing I should sprinkle the Hawaiian salt on myself and wear the ti leaf?
Maybe I should be more selective about when I fish. The more desperate I got, the worse conditions I ended up fishing in.
Idk uncle I went the kaku spot this weekend and t&r a 5-6lb oio, t&r a 1.5lb white papio, and I caught a bunch of kaku it forgot the tags. I also was using the same lure as you for the kakus but a different color that uncle Thad gave me. Idk but maybe you just have a bad luck curse on you right now. Maybe try going to a temple and get blessed or next time you see a Buddha rub the belly for good luck. Lol
I heard about your white papio and oio catches this weekend Reef! You have many weapons to choose from to fish that spot.
This bolo streak is making me more aware of all the conditions that help or hinder the catching of fish. Tonight is the full moon, that’s not helping…
And on the bright side I haven’t had to wash fish slime off my net or tag applicator, and my hands haven’t smelled like fish unless I used fish for bait!