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Thread: Big Island Rock Hoppin'

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    Default Big Island Rock Hoppin'



    Went over the horizon to the island of Hawaii. Stayed at the Mauna Lani.

    Walked north to where I could see they fish for Ulua and gave it a shot with a Kastmaster. Caught one enormous nunu - I swear that thing was at least 24" long. Immediately after I lost the Kastmaster. The very next cast after that I lost my second - and last - Kastmaster.

    Switched over to an egg float and 3"gulp sandworms. I know it's been said before, but, that stuff catches everything. Wide open for a time on slab kūpīpī - which was weird because these fish don't school and tend to be highly territorial - did the gulp really draw them all to that spot???. Also caught the ever-present hīn lea-‘aki-lolo - not surprising - and then one nenue - again not too surprising - but then a humuhumunukunukuāpua‘a - which, I admit, surprised me a little and then I hooked what I thought was another big kūpīpī only to discover it was a massive manini - which kinda blew my mind because they are grazers and the mouth on this thing was just about the size of the diameter of the gulp worm it ate. What do they put in that stuff anyhow?

    called it a day. went to a grocery store to pick up another egg float and learned how the locals whip carolina-rigged grubs just like we do here - only they never let it touch the bottom.

    Went back to rocks the next day - this time with a camera - and proceeded to lose half-dozen carolina rigs until I got the hang of just skimming them over the coral... and then finally hooked up with the fish pictured above. Not a large papio by any means, but man, those things are tough.

    all fish pictured and not pictured were released.

    If you ever find yourself bound for the islands, I think you could cover most shore situations with a your standard So Cal surf setup, 3/8oz carolina rigs (bring lots) a few bobbers and a couple bags of gulp.
    Last edited by City Dad; 07-09-2018 at 04:11 PM. Reason: spelling is harxd

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by City Dad View Post


    Went over the horizon to the island of Hawaii. Stayed at the Mauna Lani.

    Walked north to where I could see they fish for Ulua and gave it a shot with a Kastmaster. Caught one enormous nunu - I swear that thing was at least 24" long. Immediately after I lost the Kastmaster. The very next cast after that I lost my second - and last - Kastmaster.

    Switched over to an egg float and 3"gulp sandworms. I know it's been said before, but, that stuff catches everything. Wide open for a time on slab kūpīpī - which was weird because these fish don't school and tend to be highly territorial - did the gulp really draw them all to that spot???. Also caught the ever-present hīn lea-‘aki-lolo - not surprising - and then one nenue - again not too surprising - but then a humuhumunukunukuāpua‘a - which, I admit, surprised me a little and then I hooked what I thought was another big kūpīpī only to discover it was a massive manini - which kinda blew my mind because they are grazers and the mouth on this thing was just about the size of the diameter of the gulp worm it ate. What do they put in that stuff anyhow?

    called it a day. went to a grocery store to pick up another egg float and learned how the locals whip carolina-rigged grubs just like we do here - only they never let it touch the bottom.

    Went back to rocks the next day - this time with a camera - and proceeded to lose half-dozen carolina rigs until I got the hang of just skimming them over the coral... and then finally hooked up with the fish pictured above. Not a large papio by any means, but man, those things are tough.

    all fish pictured and not pictured were released.

    If you ever find yourself bound for the islands, I think you could cover most shore situations with a your standard So Cal surf setup, 3/8oz carolina rigs (bring lots) a few bobbers and a couple bags of gulp.
    My friend just got back from there last week and caught a few fish. I'll post up his video of this trip

  3. #3

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    Since your here try to get a Hammer Bomb & trail anything behind it. Getting good with the local names!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scuba Chris View Post
    Since your here try to get a Hammer Bomb & trail anything behind it. Getting good with the local names!
    Thanks for the info, SC.

    we're back in LA now, but will remember that for the next (hopefully soon) trip out there.

    Are you on the big island?

  5. #5

    Default

    Nice report Tim! My parents grew up in Kona, so spent a lot of time out there. One of my favorite rigs is similar to how we use a splasher and feather locally for bonita...large cast-a-bubble with a long leader and a 2" grub (instead of a bonita feather) trailing behind. It's a blast watching fish blow up behind the bubble. Sounds like you had a great trip. Hope you get back there soon!!!

    Don

  6. #6

    Default

    I'm on Oahu. I do fishing videos on YouTube under Scuba Chris Videos. You can look-up Hammer Bombs on my channel, one was with the inventor. I show actual hook-ups using HB & over 100 vids on the type of fishing you did there. Just hit 5K subscribers & was just asked to be part of a large Fishing Company.

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