Lili, I wanted to give you some feedback on the Reel Luckey. We had a tremendous morning of fishing in late October. Captain Tad was superbly skilled and clearly knew all the spots. His downrigger style of fishing is apparently unique in Hawaii and produced every one of our 5 hookups that day. The top water trolling rigs (what everybody else uses) saw no action that day. The boathand Brian was very knowledgeable and personable and had the lines in the water. He clearly had a passion for … [Read more...]
Hinatea’s fall mahi and shibi
Guest reports: “Absolutely great day. My sister and I caught so many mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna that our arms ached! Got my personal best mahi-mahi in a large cow halfway thru the day. Gregg worked hard to put us on fish and Chris was a great cheerleader as to what to do. Can't say enough good things about the boat & crew. Mahalo!” Captain Chris Wong reports: "Clients they brought their luck! We captured 8 Mahi 15 to 30lbs and 4 ahi 'shibi'. Shibi are tuna under … [Read more...]
4 ono plus mahi on the fly!
Guest reports: “We had a fabulous 6hr fishing trip on Friday. Out at 0500 .... oh my god it's early .... Morning after the luau .... oh my god it's early... Filled the live well with mackerel and started fishing. The drag on my fly reel was pooched but Brian was able to come up with a washer that fitted the bill and at least I was going to get a shot with the fly rod. Deb hooked up on the fly rod first but it was not for long... strike 1. Tad put us into fish again and we boated 4 … [Read more...]
Whales and Maui fishing charters
Do humpback whales effect a Maui fishing charter? Well, yes and no. The fish don't care much, but captains are at the mercy of a humpback's movements. Federal regulations prohibit approaching humpback whales (by any means) within 100 yards (90 m) when on or in the water. These regulations apply to all ocean users, year-round throughout the Hawaiian Islands, except as authorized under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The first humpback whales of the season were sighted off Mala wharf in … [Read more...]
Trophies – what to do with your catch
So, your Maui fishing charter was a success. Whether that fish was a record breaker, or simply the largest or most beautiful thing you ever landed, you earned bragging rights! On Maui, you have three options available to you: Mounts, Prints, or Photos. Fish Mounts / Taxidermy In Hawaii, fish aren't "stuffed" anymore. Virtually every captain I know uses fiberglass fish replicas rather than traditional skin mounts. Unlike stuffed skin mounts, a fiberglass replica won't deteriorate over … [Read more...]
Hinatea Sportfishing: Drydock 2014
Hinatea Sportfishing, a 41' Hatteras out of Lahaina harbor, just completed her annual dry dock on Thursday, September 25. Hinatea was painted inside and out, had her props balanced, and what amounted to a full polish and spit-shine inside and out. They also had their bi-annual, out-of-the-water survey for which she received a perfect score...rare for any boat, particularly one as "seasoned" as Hinatea. What many don't realize, is that the Hinatea just celebrated her 45th birthday. … [Read more...]
Fall Fishing off Maui Hawaii
September, October, November FISHING: The larger blue marlin that show up in Maui waters during the summer months are tapering off, though a few big ones can still be caught in September. Big Eye" is the prize when it comes to Tuna. Not many of the larger yellowfin around this time of year. Quite a few smaller aku, "shebi". Mahi mahi (dorado) can still be caught in the fall too. Marlin hookups, while they do occur, are rarer as winter approaches. Strikes that do occur do so farther … [Read more...]
Marjorie Ann: August Recap
In most states, the month of August signals many things - wrapping up summer vacations, going back to school, and getting back into a routine that often involves baseball practice, band rehearsals and sleepovers. For fishermen in Hawaii, however, August signals another thing altogether - the Lanai Rendezvous Fishing Tournament. Going strong in its 43rd year, the tournament is by invite-only, with first priority given to those who have competed previously. A long-running tradition for many … [Read more...]
Ono Ceviche Recipe
Ceviche is traditionally made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with ají or chili peppers. Note that the citrus COOKS the fish. You will not be eating 'raw' fish. There many variations on the basic ceviche recipe. Almost any firm white fish or shrimp can be used, though I prefer making it with ono (wahoo). The firmness of the fish stands up well to the cirus juice without becoming mushy like mahi often does, but can still be considered delicate … [Read more...]
Review: Start Me Up
"So the day was not looking good in that one of the folks coming was late. About 5:50 or so his son shows up and said that his father broke his leg the day before and could not come. But the son, Ben, was coming. So we headed off with the full moon setting over Lana’i. Just about half mile from the harbor Capt. Denny said he could hear a noise, not that I could, so he had Ross the 1st mate go down to take a look. The noise was from the fan belt on one of the engines, I was thinking oh no, we … [Read more...]