As planned, my well earned sleep was chattered by the horrible sound of the alarm clock. I slapped the snooze button and lie there for a moment, just listening. The sound of light rain hitting the roof overhead almost made me go back to sleep, and just forget about going kayak fishing . Big waves or big wind was becoming a familiar barrier between me and fresh fish.Three weeks in a row I had launched my kayak and three times I had to turn back because of unsafe sea conditions. Although it was raining , on this morning there was no wind, and there was no swell in the forecast.I rolled out of bed and proceeded to convince my wife Cindy, that getting up at 5:30am was a good idea.I was eventually successful . An hour later , the rain had stopped and we were paddling out of Mahukona, on the Kohala coast of the big Island. My hopes of a big catch were not high. This year was starting out slow for us and other kayak fisherman, The pelagic fish just weren’t cooperating. The guys on O’ahu had made some good catches on inshore fish. Issac Bumaghim scored a killer Cuda that weighed in at 45 lbs. , And Mike Ichiyama picked up a rainbow runner and some nice Uku. Reggie Pare’ had wrestled in a couple big Ulua, here on the Big Island , including a 45 pounder he caught in front of Keahou bay. Reggie also caught and released two monster Ulua while fishing off south point. Reggie estimated their weight between 60 and 70 pounds.
On March 3rd Reggie was able to score an 18 lb. Ono, one of the first Kayak Ono of the year. Reggie also landed two 15 lb. Mahi mahi. He caught one on the 5th ,and the other a week later ,on the 12th of march. At least the pelagic curse had been broken. Cindy and I continued out to the 30 fathom line before we dropped an Opelu over the side. Although the rain had stopped there was still a breeze building from out of the south west. We paddled into the wind so we could set up for a down wind run along the 40 fathom line. As we made the turn I stopped to check my bait. My Opelu was only 15 ft from the boat when a nice Mahi mahi came ripping in and nailed it. He peeled 40 feet of line from the spool before making an awesome jump, and then spit the bait right back at me. I cursed my self for not setting the hook better, and started picking up line as fast as I could. I wanted to re-bait as quick as possible. Where there is one Mahi mahi there is probably another.Sure enough, as I brought in what was left of my opelu, another smaller Mahi was right behind it. I stopped my retrieve and let the line fall. He circled twice, but wasn’t interested in the sorry remains left on my hook. By the time I reeled in my line, and attached a proper bait, those mahi had disappeared . But now I knew the fish were there.Cindy and I began to work the area by paddling against the wind ,and then either drifting or paddling back with the wind. To my surprise things were dead for the next hour.
I finally picked up a nice Kahala while drifting a weighted bait . It was a great fight, but not what we were really hoping for.I had just finished releasing the Kahala, when Cindy’s rod doubled over in the holder. She was only 30ft away, she had let her bait sink while she took a couple still pictures of my kahala.Because her bait had been down deeper, my first thought was another Kahala, or an Ulua.So when a bull Mahi mahi in the 30 lb. Range came sky-rocketing from the water I was a little surprised.The fish turned down wind and went for the horizon, with Cindy 100 ft behind him. As her kayak picked up speed, Cindy yelled “ YEE-HAAAA ! “ like a Paniolo riding a bull. Cindy uses 30lb line and a penn 8500 reel. With a 7ft “ugly stick” rod. I new it would take a while to wear this fish down.As usual , Cindy did an expert job of fighting the fish. Within ten minutes she had whipped him into submission, and I was gaffing and boating him.
The fish weighed in at 29 lbs. The best part of Cindy catching that fish was the next morning. This time, when the alarm clock rang, Cindy was the one shaking me, telling me to get up and go fishing.So, again we launched from Mahukona, and again we set a course into the wind. As we crossed over the 30 fathom line, the wind began to pick-up out of the southwest. Rather then trolling down wind, we dropped our lines over the side and started to drift back. Letting the wind push us along the drop off. I again was using a weighted bait, while Cindy fished her bait un-weighted. This way we we’re covering more of the water column. The wind began to pick up, and things were getting choppy. I told cindy that we would finish this drift and call it quits. Two minutes later Cindy yelled hanapaa ! Again to my surprise, a 20 lb. Mahi mahi broke the surface. I was just reaching for my paddle to go assist, when my rod started screaming. I got the rod from the holder, tightened the drag and set the hook. Another 20 lb. Mahi mahi. Cindy and I went round and round for the next 15 minutes. The fish seemed to want to stay together. I thought Cindy and I would run into each other at one point in the battle. I finally got my fish landed, and then helped Cindy with her fish. By now the wind had really picked up and it was time to get off the water. As I paddled into the harbor with 40 lbs. Of Mahi in my lap, I could feel the first few drops of rain hit the back of my neck… Talk about good luck. Mahukona is located on the Northwest end of the big Island, and is my favorite place to fish. I don’t get to fish there much however. Usually , the wind in that area is blowing straight out to sea. When the trade winds are blowing Cindy and I fish further south where the mountains block the wind. The wind is a Kayak fisherman’s worst enemy. A beautiful day on the water can turn in to “the trail of Tears” if the wind starts blowing the wrong way, and your forced to paddle againts it to get back to your launch point.All fisherman have a favorite spot, but sometimes we just can’t fish were we would like to. It’s always a good Idea to have alternative launch areas. Her on the big Island I know that a North wind means its going to be safe to fish the south point area. An east wind means the Keahou area is the place to go.Knowing where you should go for the days conditions, is safer and saves you driving time.
