For the last ten years I've taken a rod (Sage XP 8wt 4 piece originally, and I have recently switched to a Sage Xi2 8wt) and a couple dozen flies every time I go to the Big Island and have spent my free time starting to learn the beaches and the fly-fishing ropes. Big Island shore fishing is fun, but not that productive. If you are heading there, take a rod for sure, but I don't think this will ever be a destination saltwater fly fishing location. The Hawaii waters are beautiful and there are many wonderful areas to be found with some exploring. Shore fishing is very popular among locals. At some of the beaches I go to, I do not always feel completely welcome, but being polite, respectful and talking fishing can usually keep things friendly.
Matt Sakai has an excellent general introduction to Hawaii shore-based fly fishing here .
A link with some light-tackle shore fishing advice is Bignami link
Here is a short article on bonefishing with Nervous Waters on Oahu bones link
And another article that showed up in 2005:
another
Hawaii bonefish link
Here is a nice site with local fish names: fish name link
It is fun to peruse the Hawaii record books.
Hawaii records
Finally, I toss all the fish I catch back, but if you are looking
for a meal, be aware that Ciguatera toxin is present in some Hawaii
near-shore fish. This sounds like a seriously bad experience:
Ciguatera link
The poison is a micro-organism that grows in marine algaes associated
with reefs and gets accumulated up the food chain. The larger
barracuda, jacks and trevally are good candidate fish to avoid eating.
Blue-fin trevally from the rocks south of Hapuna Beach (click on the image for a larger version)
There are several types of trevally you can catch from shore.
I've mostly caught bluefin trevally (`omilu) and they are a blast in
any size. The big boys I've seen caught and sometimes seen nosing around
in the shallow water
are Giant Trevally (`papio' as juveniles and `white ulua' when grown up)
The bluefin trevally seem to be at
most every beach wherever there is some structure. They are most common
in the size range between 1/2 and 3 lbs. At 3 lbs they are very
powerful fish, not overmatched at all by an 8wt. I've caught them on
shrimp/bonefish patterns, deceivers, bunny leeches and epoxy
minnows. The key is speed of the retrieve.
It is common to catch these blind casting.
Anywhere you can cast into water with a little depth (usually off the
lava edges) toss out as far as you can, count down
so you start near the bottom and two-hand strip like crazy. Fish will flash out
of nowhere (seemingly). Another place to find them is in or just beyond
breaking waves. I think an accelerating retrieve is most
effective. Start out fast and then go faster.
They seem to be visually sensitive to fishermen
so keep moving.
Even more fun is to keep your eyes peeled for singles and pairs
of larger trevally cruising rapidly along the beach or nosing around
in the rocks. Twice now I've seen 30lb fish right at my feet
when I walk up to the shore line. Lead them
and do the fast strip in their line of sight. Places where I see bigger fish
are at Kona Coast State Park, the Kawaihae jetties and the A-bay `flats'.
I have not quite figured out the
time-of-year variable. It seems that summer is a little better for
the larger trevally. Early mornings (unfortunately even pre-dawn) look like
the best times.
The brute of the reefs - Ulua (click on the image for a larger version)
I have twice hooked what feels like a freight train that
I have zero chance of slowing down or turning. I'm guessing these
are Great Trevally -- `white ulua' although it has been suggested
to me that they might be manta rays (and they could simply be
10lb bluefin trevally).
One day while fishing the bay near Spencer's State
Park a bait guy next to me caught two ulua on some heavy tackle. One
was maybe 15lbs, the other 20lbs and I would have had a very difficult time
dealing with either with the 8wt. These fish seem most common
where there is access to deeper water. A good time to catch them is when
the surf is up and the water is murky right offshore.
Fishing for big ulua is almost
a way of life for some hawaiians. There is specialized tackle and
techniques, legendary figures in the game and a WWW site devoted
to the pursuit where you can get a flavor for the culture.
Ulua talking
Papio
(click on the image for a larger version)
Peacock Grouper from the rocks south of Mauna Kea Resort (click on the image for a larger version)
These are beautiful fish that get up to 5 or 6 lbs. Apparently they
were imported and are having a negative impact on native fish in the
reefs. They lurk in the rocks and if you pull a baitfish imitation
in close to rocks they will dart out, grab it and then wedge themselves
in crevases. I keep the pressure on and they will often make a sudden dash
to another hiding spot and sit tight. They have a big jaw full of sharp
teeth and also a nasty disposition. Be carefully handling them.
There are two species of barracuda in the near-shore
waters. The Great Barracuda (Kaku) and the slimmer, smaller Heller's
Barracuda (Kawele'a). I've seen some big boys (36") right there in Kona
off the
seawall but most commonly I catch juvenile kaku.
Two good spots are the fish ponds
just south of the airport and at A-bay. They lurk right next to shore. If you
drag a fly behind as you walk along the beach you'll often be surprised
with a strike and hookup. The biggest I've caught are only 18" or so.
You definitely want to have a wire leader or at least a heavy bite tippet.
I've discovered `Tyger Wire' -- a knotable multistrand wire with a nylon
coating. It is thin enough in the 15lb version that you can use it
pretty much all the time and be ready for the odd kaku.
Kaku from the rocks south of A-Bay (click on the image for a larger version)
After many hours fishing the Kona Coast beaches, in Jan 2004 I had my first
excellent shot at a school of bonefish. It was at A-Bay, just north of where the
ancient pond empties into the bay. The tide was going out, I
was stripping in a black bunny leech. 30 feet out I realized there was a group
of about 10 big (8 - 10 lb) bones right behind it. A little twitch and two of
them rushed over. The first one grabbed my fly -- I jerked it right out of
the fish's mouth! Second one then grabbed it and I did the same thing.It is
enough said that I had a few more shots and blew every one. But! it seems classic
shallow water bone fishing is sometimes available in the Big Island!
I'll work at this a little harder and update this section as I learn more.
(click on the image for a larger version)
Got this little guy at A-Bay in October 2006.
There are plenty of carnivorous fish out in Hawaii. I sometimes catch Lizard
Fish that are typically not much larger than my fly. I get many strikes from
needlefish ('aha -- sometimes the 1-foot small guys and much more rarely the
3-foot long giant needlefish) but have only one time hooked one. I
discovered that a long bit of yarn will catch in their teeth.
The various kinds of goatfish can be aggressive and fun to catch. This is
a Moana Kali.
(click on the image for a larger version)
lizardfish
(click on the image for a larger version)
Beautiful Hawaii flatfish
(click on the image for a larger version)
(click on the image for a larger version)
Awa-awa, also known as ladyfish (they look alot like a larger version
of the ladyfish I've caught in Florida). These are not the same as awa which are
vegitarian milkfish. I caught this one at A-bay one evening in Aug 2005. Great
leaper.
(click on the image for a larger version)
is reached by turning west off Highway 19
just a few miles south of the airport on your way to Kona. There
is a fair bit of good access to the water here. One of my favorite
spots to fish is reached by turning right at the head of the harbor and parking
in one of the big lots for people launching boats there. There
are a couple of trails to a natural 2 acre pond/bay. This is
a popular spot for people looking for sheltered swimming. I walk up to the
ocean end of the bay and cast out to the break in the reef where the
water flows in and out. Lots of omilu and occasionally barracuda in the
more sheltered parts of the bay. On the north side of the harbor entrance is
also a good spot especially early in the morning.
H-harbor pond
Just north of H-harbor is a dirt road with a gate (open till 3:30pm).
West on this road
takes you to one of the large, ancient fish ponds. This is where I
have seen the largest number of barracuda. It is a little muddy along the
shore of the pond.
This is just south of the airport. There is a parking area, restrooms
and a shower (place to clean a rod and reel) and a mile or more of coastline
with a cliff ranging from a couple feet to 10 feet above the water level.
There are many possibilities here, but this is big water. Often this
area gets slammed by big waves. You have to be extremely careful. I've
caught papio and peacock grouper in the little bays and slots and have a feeling this
would be someplace to concentrate on if you are looking for bigger fish.
Looking south from the north end of A-Bay (click on the image for a larger version)
Looking north toward the Hapuna Beach(click on the image for a larger version)
Hapuna is a classic tropical beach. Great place for kids and adults to
swim, play in the surf and snorkel. Lots of white sand. The fishing here
is at the north and south ends of the beach where you can
go out along the cliffs and find spots to drop down close to
the water. At the first point on the south end I've caught some nice
papio to 3 lbs.
To get to this beach you drive into the Mauna Kea Resort entrance
and ask for a beach pass. The rocks/cliffs at the south end are
good -- be careful for snorkelers. Just around the south corner is a bay
with some very deep water (in front of a nice home). At the south
end of this little bay is a little lava island. Wade out to it and you
are looking at some deep water. I put on a sinking head and
find this to be a quite productive area.
Spencer's is a small park with a nice little sandy beach. There are some rocks
on the south end that are OK fishing, but the more interesting place is
the little bay at the north end of the park. Often in the morning you
can see small blacktip reef sharks cruising here. I've tossed flies out
in front of these guys ALOT and only one time hooked up (whether it was a take
of a foul-hook I'm not sure). I guided the shark toward shore and it was
as if it all of a sudden realized something was up and took off. As I
got well into my backing, I put on some pressure and broke it off before
testing my arbor knot. There are many mullet in the
bay and I have seen some big ulua taken by bait guys here. There is
a small outcrop of lava with a tree midway up the
bay where you will often see fishermen.
The big jetties that have been used to create a harbor provide
some interesting opportunities.
To get there you now have to go through a little security and show some
ID. Out in the jetty area there is a shower and stair down into the water
and always a few people hanging out. It is a great place to watch the
Sun set, at low tide there is a pretty good break about 100 yards off
the jetty where people surf and this is a popular spot for spearfisherpeople.
The water is 10 - 20 feet deep, has good motion and lots of interesting
creatures cruise through. I've seen big (10lb+) trevally cruising through here
next to shore, lots of turtles, manta rays and sharks. The casting
is a little challenging because if you drop down to the rocks by
the water, the parking level is 8 or 10 feet above you and backcasts
are tricky. I use a sinking head here.
In the sheltered water between the jetty and the shore there are some old
concrete structures. I have often seen small papio working schools of
baitfish in here (although I have yet to catch anything in this
water) and for some reason I see lots of the giant needlefish in this quiet
water.
If you drive through Kawaihae to the parking area at the boat launch there
is a little breakwater that gives access to some really deep
water. I've caught papio on the inside of the breakwater, nothing on the
outside, but it still looks good.
I use a fast 8wt and used to always use shooting heads, mostly
an intermediate
9wt 30' head. Sometimes I switch to a type III or IV sinking head.
I like the intermediate 0.31" running line from Scientific Anglers (it is
the light-blue stuff). Easy to handle and
it doesn't tangle too seriously. The last few trips I've switched to
a full-length intermediate line. I have the "Bermuda Triangle Taper"
line from Wulff lines. I cut about a foot off the front taper to make it a
little more WF and love the line. I end up rollcasting alot and
it works great for that. It only comes in clear in the intermediate.
At first I didn't care for that, but I've grown to like it just fine.
My typical `leader' is 3 feet of
20lb Maxima and 3 feet of 12lb Maxima. The wind blows alot and pretty hard in Hawaii.
If it is too wild where I am fishing, I go someplace else looking for
protection via cliffs or trees. The rocks can be
extremely slippery. I tried lots of different water shoes and sandals
that supposedly have
sticky rubber, but have switched over to these ugly little sock booties
with felt bottoms (called tabis) for $20 in
lots of stores in Hawaii. They work very well.
One of
the common tabis brands.
(click on the image for a larger version). The green and yellow ones from the
fishing stores have stiffer soles and a little more protection on the side of
your foot. Meltons (drive from the airport south and turn left at the gas
station plaze just before H-Harbor) carries a $40 nice neoprene version.
I mostly use relatively small deceiver-like flies and light-colored clousers
(hook size 2) to make it easier to cast in the wind.
My most productive bonefish fly
Acknowlegments:
My guru for local tricks, names and access spots is Jon Chock.
The Fish
Trevally
Ulua
Peacock (or spotted) Grouper (`blue-spotted roi').
Barracuda
Bonefish (O'io)
Update Feb 2004:
Caught a nice bone there at the north end of A-bay!
Update October 2004.
I now realize there are lots of bones along the
Kohala Coast. All the sandy beaches have them. Incoming tide is the
best time, early morning before alot of swimmers arrive is always better.
Misc Fish
The spots
I'm just starting to get to know the Kona/Kohala Coast. Send me
information about other possibilities and I'll check them out!
I've found that you need to be able to cast within range of water
with some depth to catch things and some kind of structure is important.
Here are the beaches/access places that have worked for me, starting just south of the
Kona Airport.
Gear
Michael Bolte- bolte@ucolick.org