My girlfriends sister and her boyfriend were on the island for a few weeks and we thought it might be fun to let the girls go do a spa day while the boys go out for an afternoon bottom fishing trip. We opted to go on a boat called the "Hokua" that is operated by Aloha Blue Charters, and the girls opted for an aromatherapy massage at the Maui Spa Retreat in the upcountry town of Olinda.
Travel Blog #125 - Bottom Fishing Maui with the Mendo Boys
We got to the harbor a bit early and decided that it might help our luck to go and grab a beer at the bar that's located across from the harbor on the bottom floor of the aquarium center. We enjoyed ourselves there for about half an hour before it was time to meet the boat. We made our way to the slip just in time. Our Captain was there waiting for us. He introduced himself as Captain Matt and invited us on board his boat.
Within a few minutes everyone else was on board. Captain Matt fired up the engines and the boat began creep forward out of the slip. As soon as we were clear of the harbor Matt punched the throttle and we started to pick up spreed until we reached our trolling speed. The first mate of the boat (who was also named Matt) began to set out a pattern of lures behind the boat. Once they were all in the water he assigned let everyone on the boat choose a straw that had a number on the bottom. The lines were all numbered and the number on the straw corresponded to the line that we were assigned. When our line got hit, we were the one that was supposed to reel it in. We continued trolling until we reached our first bottom fishing spot. Our first mate brought in the pattern and Captain Matt eased off of the throttle until we came to a complete standstill exactly where his fish finder indicated a large outcropping of reef coming up off the bottom about 150 feet down.
The first mate went over the operation of the rods and reels before he passed them out to us. He also gave us dixie cups filled with squid that we were to use as our bait. We baited our hooks, crossed our fingers and dropped our lines to the bottom. My fishing partner, Justin caught a Kumu on his first drop. On the first mates suggestion he swapped out his smaller squid hook for a larger circle hook that he used to make a live bait rig for the Kumu. He dropped the little red fish back into the water and we watched it erratically drop towards the bottom.
We continued the process of baiting and dropping a few times before the bite really turned on. The little Kumu managed to get torn to pieces by another fish, but it did not swallow the hook
.jpg "Travel Blog #120 - Oahu Bike & Hike Excursion (By Jake)")
When you're in the middle of downtown Honolulu it is hard to believe that in just a few minute drive you can be in the middle of the jungle, without another person in sight.
Until I got to experience a ride on a glider for myself I had no idea how cool these machines are. When to tow line dropped and we were on our own we really were quietly coasting through the air like a bird.
The Mokuleia Islands (commonly referred to by locals as "The Mokes") off the eastern shoreline of Oahu are one of the most picturesque locations in the state.
Many people that visit Oahu leave the island thinking that the entire thing is covered in a dense urban sprawl, similar to what is found in Honolulu. However, for those that are daring enough to explore what lies outside of the city there are some amazing sites that are actually very close and easy to access.
Sea life park is an aquarium center that is similar to Sea World, but on a much smaller scale. Here there are many things to see and do including: penguins, seals, turtles, all kinds of fish, and a large pool where you can swim and interact with dolphins.
It all started one day when I decided to take a walk down the whole length of Waikiki Beach, starting down by the aquarium and working my way towards Ala Moana.
Related Information
The waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are some of the most pristine fishing grounds on the planet. As soon as you pass over the deepwater shelf (which in most cases is less then ten miles from shore) you will find yourself in a deep blue ocean that is literally more then 5,000 feet deep.
Related Activites
Drop your line off the southern shore of Maui and enjoy some tropical bottom fishing aboard the "Hokua". Fish for a variety of Hawaiian fish including Papio, Ulua, Wrasses and other Hawaiian bottom fish.
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