2016 Hawaii - Oahu (Day 3)

I only had a couple hours free this afternoon. Instead of exploring a new spot, I fished Makai Pier. I had fished this location many times on previous trips, but I was more focused on catching predatory fish in the past. This time, I used #26 hook to try for the reef fish and caught many Saddled Wrasse, Green Damselfish and Reef Triggerfish. I tried for Moorish Idol, the various Butterflyfishes, Tangs and Parrotfishes but they would not bite. Just before the pier closed, I finally caught a lifer Fantail Filefish. A small Pufferfish bit off the hook my 2lb line and I decided to end the session on that note.

Fantail Filefish (Pervagor spilosoma) - Species #498

A couple of evening shots of Makapu'u point and the beach.

2016 Hawaii - Oahu (Day 2)

Jason had the morning off and we arranged to fish at China Walls and Makapu'u. As opposed to my previous summer visits, it was calm with only 1.5ft swell with 5kt wind. Jason was popping for papio for a while and then switched to whipping, with which he caught a Manybar Goatfish. I tried whipping squid strip and had one follow. Afterwards, I switched to 1/2oz micro fish finder rig with #20 hooks and ika (squid) for bait. I caught a few Hawaiian Gregory and Saddled Wrasse, but lost a potential lifer Fantail Filefish and a species of Sea Chub (Nenue).

Here's a picture of the Hawaiian Gregory.

Hawaiian Gregory (Stegastes marginatus)

With not much going on at China Walls, we went to fish the Makapu'u area. Fishing a tidepool, I found some gobies and blennies. I had to use #26 hook and 2lb fluoro since these fish had fairly small mouths. The Cocos Frill-goby was very eager, but it took me quite a bit of time before the cautious and spooked Rockskipper finally took the hook.

Cocos Frill-goby (Bathygobius cocosensis) - Species #495

* The Cocos Frill-goby is almost indistinguishable from the related Whitespotted Frillgoby. The Cocos Frill-goby has 10-12 predorsal scales nearly reaching upper edge of preopercle; while the Whitespotted Frillgoby has 15-20 predorsal scales nearly reaching the eye.

Rockskipper (Entomacrodus marmoratus) - Species #496

* The Rockskipper can be confused with the Zebra Blenny. The Rockskipper lacks the nuchal flap; while the Zebra Blenny has the nuchal flap.

Fishing the micro fish finder rig again, I caught more Hawaiian Gregory, Saddled Wrasse, Reef Triggerfish, Rainbow Wrasse, and finally a lifer Surge Wrasse!

Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum)

Surge Wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum) - Species #497

* The female Surge Wrasse is almost indistinguishable from the female Christmas Wrasse. Surge Wrasse has a longer head, shorter pectoral fins, and a "V" mark on the snout; while the Christmas Wrasse has a shorter head, longer pectoral fins and lacks the "V" mark.

As usual, Jason took me to Keneke's, our regular spot for plate lunch. I ordered the garlic fish (mahimahi) which was super affordable, absolutely delicious and completely filling even for my big appetite.

2016 Hawaii - Oahu (Day 1)

My friend Ji invited me to fish on his 17ft canoe that he custom outfitted with an outrigger. As we were rigging up rods before launching, I found a chipped guide on my 7' Rapala Baja rod. I would be down a rod for the rest of the trip.

In Ji's expert hands, we headed out of Kailua Beach into 4ft swells and 15kt onshore wind powered by a 2.5hp 4 stroke engine. We wanted to troll around the weather buoy but it was too rough, so we trolled to our bottom fishing spot hoping to pick up a Kawakawa but none wanted to play.

Once we arrived on location, we set up our rigs with a sliding 1oz egg sinker, a 3' leader and a #8 hook. I tried to go with lighter line but the triggerfish quickly snipped off my hooks. At the end, I found that 20lb provided enough sensitivity and prevented bite offs adequately.

The new species came quickly and all of them love the ika (squid).

Masked Triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) - Species #486

Manybar Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Species #487
Moana

* The Manybar Goatfish had been my nemesis for a long time. I had tried previously over 3 trips to Hawaii to catch one, but could not catch one even when my friends beside me caught them. They are now a common catch for me after catching the first one.

Boomerang Triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa) - Species #488

Wedge-tail Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus) - Species #489
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a

Blacktail Wrasse (Thalassoma ballieui) - Species #490

Stocky Hawkfish (Cirrhitus pinnulatus) - Species #491
Po'opa'a

Hawaiian Hogfish (Bodianus albotaeniatus) - Species #492

Blackside Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) - Species #493

Arc-eye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) - Species #494

Ji also caught a Bluestriped Snapper, a Cigar Wrasse, a Hawaiian Chub and a Bluefin Trevally.

On the way back, we trolled in the canal and found a couple of juvenile Giant Trevally and juvenile Great Barracuda to cap of a fantastic session.

Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis)