The beautiful weather report, and the reports of some Ono around lead us to plan a Molokai run out of Hawaii Kai on my friend Chris Perez's Skipjack. I made up 2 dozen wire ballyhoo rigs, serviced the downrigger and reels, and met Chris and his friend Nick Robb at the boat ramp at 0400hrs.
We ran to Molokai's NW point, I rigged up a dozen ballyhoo, set the 5 bait spread, and started trolling the 40fa around 0630hrs. We picked up 1 mahi, lost one as we turned the corner. Picked up another small Mahi on the short rigger a little while later.
A little while after that, took a hit and a miss from an Ono on the Maurander on the short corner planer, then got chopped off by an Ono on the long center. Picked up a small Ono on the short rigger. We missed another Ono. Pulled the hooks on a Kawa while trying to gig him in the boat o the Marauder.
Got to Kalapapa and caught a nice Bull on the long rigger, laying under a net. As we approached the point the long center and long rigger erupted with splashes/boils. The hooks pulled on the rigger, but we brought a 16lb Shibi to gaff on the center. Then caught a nice 30lb plus ono on the downrigger as we rounded the corner, and a small 10lb ono further down the line on the long rigger. Heading back, we pulled the hooks on a nice ono that was fowl hooked on the Maurader, and got bit off by another Ono on the planer. Finally picked up a nice Ono on the planer at Kalapapa.
We were feeling good about our 4 Ono, 3 Mahi, 1 Shibi day as we headed back along the 40. Halfway back to the point, all 5 lines went off one-by-one. The two deep fish ran nearly 300yards off the 9/0s, so we focused on landing the 3 fish on the 130s first. One-by one we brought each fish to gaff, then tackled the last 2 bigger fish on standup gear. 25 minutes later we had 5 Ono on the deck, 2 in that 35lb class. We cleaned up the boat, threw out 2 heavy jets and speed-trolled the remainder of the ledge before pulling lines and running for home. Pulled the boat around 7pm.
Ended up going about 13 for 20 bites on the day.
We had a great day, great action, good company, great scenery.
I love it when a plan comes together.
John
..
That's awesome John...way to go! 8)
That's goo eating. Are you keeping them or are they going o the market?
Ron Jones
Excellent freezer meat. Congratulations.
Quote from: Ron Jones on April 01, 2019, 09:37:47 PM
That's goo eating. Are you keeping them or are they going o the market?
Ron Jones
My freezer is full, and this was Chris's boat so off to the auction block they went.
I'm guesin he got the gas money plus some back.
Now that's a great catch!
Joe
Wahoo realized $4/lb,
Mahi were $5.30/lb
Tuna was only $1.80/lb
This pays for 3 full days of expenses.
You can, in fact, sell anything in Hawaii.
Ron Jones
That looks like a fantastic trip,,,,, :D great job man,,,,,, ;D
Nice work John - stoked for ya!
Cheers for the trip report, Justin
that aint fishing that's catching! great job, and write up as always!
John
Lots of hoo John. Always nice reading your fishing reports. That's one fishing this past January that eluded me. With several yellowfin , 2 bull dorado, a nice sail and a striped marlin made for an epic day. I was good , but crew really wanted the hoo. keep posting John.
Great report John....good times were had for sure...Bill
great fishing John
Nice wright up John, and thanks for the pics, cheers Don.