As the mainland moves toward winter weather we once again enjoy the warm sunshine, beautiful waters and plentiful fishing off the Kona Coast.
Since our waters are protected and deep sea fishing is always turned on we look forward to more visitors taking advantage of the ultimate outing. Our Kona Fishing fleet is ready for your visit. You will never experience a finer crew and better appointed vessel. Humpback whales we will be entering our water by mid December and seeing one of these magnificent mammals is likely. We look forward to being your host in the future.
Sharks have been a hot topic this summer – they were spotted all along the coastlines of the United States, especially alongside the east coast. Because of the recent news about sharks, we thought it’d be interesting to compile a list of shark facts – and discuss the species of sharks you might see here in Hawaii. We may be a few weeks late for Shark Week but it should be fun to see if you have learned anything new about humanity’s favorite carnivore.
10 Awesome Shark Facts!
There are about 40 different species of sharks around the Hawaiian islands – most absolutely harmless to humans! One species of shark is only 8 inches long while another species can grow to be over 50 feet! The four most common sharks seen in Hawaii are the sandbar shark, the white-tip reef shark, the scalloped hammerhead, and the tiger shark (which isn’t as common as the other three).
Sharks respond to a sound in the water that let’s them know an injured fish is nearby. This is an infrasonic sound that injured fish make, drawing sharks to an easy meal.
Most shark species can be found in open water, allowing them plenty of space to swim and an abundance of fish to eat, although some are still found closer to shore looking for other types of prey.
Sharks can generate up to 40,000 pounds per square inch of pressure in a single bite. That’s enough to chomp off a limb of an animal.
Pygmy sharks are among the tiniest sharks in the world. They measure an average of 8 inches (20 centimeters) in length and can make their own light.
Sharks can actually tan, although it’s not for beauty alone! Some hammerheads tan near the ocean’s surface. The darkening of their skin helps them establish better camouflage which allows them to catch more prey.
There is actually a way to track tiger sharks in Hawaii here. The tracking has helped scientists realize that tiger sharks occupy a large range of territory in the Hawaiian islands, instead of just sticking to a particular place or area.
It was only just recently discovered that sharks can live inside active, underwater volcanoes which is one of the coolest things ever. Recently, ocean engineer Brennan Phillips led a team of researchers to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific to investigate the hydrothermal activity – exploring a volcano that was buried in the ocean in layman’s terms. What he discovered there was astounding – sharks, stingrays, and other large creatures were all living inside an active underwater volcano.
Sharks are an important part of Hawaiian culture. Sharks have provided the people of Hawaii with tools for a long time. Shark teeth were used as knives while shark skins were used for hula drums. Sharks, however, weren’t just used for practical purposes. They also played a large role in Hawaiian spirituality. Some sharks were considered equal to Hawaiian royalty (ali’i). If a family member died, it was sometimes believed they could be reincarnated into a shark and this shark would become their guardian spirit and protector. Also, at least nine Hawaiian gods are associated with sharks: Kamohoali’i, Kua, Kuhaimoana, Kawelomahamahai’a, Kane’apua, Kaholia-Kane, Ka’ahupahau, Keali’ikau o Ka’u and Kaehuikimano o Pu’uloa.
Electroreception allows sharks to notice changes in saltwater electricity conduction. Blood changes conductivity and sharks can smell it in the water. This is why people say that you’ll attract sharks if you’re bleeding in the water. Because they can smell that something is injured. Even though they don’t aim for human prey, they sometimes make a mistake. Still, shark attacks are very rare, just stay alert and be careful.
Omnivores or Carnivores? All shark species only eat meat which makes them carnivores. However, sometimes it seems as if some species of shark eat more than meat. That’s because certain species of shark, including the tiger shark, often eat anything in its path including trash. They derive no healthy benefit from this, only from eating meat.
If you want to test your knowledge about sharks the state of Hawaii has a quiz available for you to take. So go on, see if you know your stuff after reading this post. Perhaps you’ll learn something else.
You’ll learn plenty on the Kona Fishing Charters fishing charters when you come out to fish with us. We can tell you about sharks and the fish they eat while you catch your own meal. Call us at (808) 960-1424 to book your fishing trip!
If you are new to the art of angling, fishing terminology can seem almost like an entirely new language, overwhelming and exhausting any novice angler. However, you should not worry, because the vocabulary within fishing isn’t overwhelming or exhausting. In fact, the fishing terminology is quite simple, and once it’s explained, it makes a lot of sense to even the most novice of anglers. We hope this guide helps you learn the fishing terminology so you’ll feel excited about your fishing trips. We hope you join us on the Kona Fishing Charters. Call us at (808) 960-1424 to book your fishing trip out on the beautiful Hawaiian waters.
FISHING TERMINOLOGY GUIDE
Angler/angling: An angler is a person who goes fishing with a hook and line. Angling is the act of fishing with a hook and line.
Bait: Something used to lure in fish. Can be live or artificial.
Bait casting: Fishing with a revolving spool reel and bait casting rod. The reel is mounted on the topside of the rod.
Barb: It’s a pointed part of a fish hook that projects backwards in order to prevent a fish from coming unhooked.
Bobber: Is a device that “bobs” or floats on the water. It’s attached to a fishing line and used to keep bait off the bottom of the water. Can also be called a float.
Bobber
Catch and release: Instead of keeping the fish, an angler returns the fish to the water quickly after catching it.
Chum: Cut or ground bait that is dumped in the water to attract fish to the area where you’re fishing.
Deep Sea Fishing: We’ve covered this definition in-depth in a previous blog, but, essentially, deep sea fishing is a form of angling that requires deep waters and usually takes place further away from land. Is also called offshore boat fishing, sport fishing, and big game fishing.
Dry Fly: Dry flies are artificial flies that are used on the surface of the water.
Flies: A lure dressed with hair, feathers, or other synthetic materials that are tied to hooks and are made to resemble insects or fish. Used as bait.
Fly-fishing: It’s a technique where the weight of the fishing line is used to cast a very lightweight fly. This fly wouldn’t be heavy enough for typical spinning or casting rods.
Jigs/jigging: These are lures with a fixed hook and weighted hook often dressed with fur or other synthetics like a plastic body/tail. Jigging is a technique in which the jig is moved up and down frequently.
Leader: A leader connects a fishing line to the hook. It’s made up of monofilament, wire, or other material and is tied between the end of the line and the hook or lure.
Livewell: Compartment in a boat that holds water, used to keep caught fish alive.
Lures: Artificial bait that look like live bait.
Offshore Fishing: Fishing done on the ocean away from shore. Synonymous with deep-sea fishing.
Plugs: A type of lure made of wood, plastic or rubber and designed to imitate live bait. Can float or sink.
Reel: A device that for winding, casting, etc. that is attached to a fishing rod.
Rod: It’s the pole of a fishing pole – can come in various sizes and strengths.
Sinker: Weights used to prevent lures from floating in the water.
Spin Fishing: It’s a fishing technique where a spinning lure is used. Also the spin fishing rod doesn’t have a trigger attached the base of the fishing rod differentiating it from the bait casting or fly fishing rod.
Strike: A sharp pull on the fishing line signaling that a fish attempting to take the lure or bait. Synonymous with the term “hit” in angling.
Tackle: Refers to fishing equipment used when an angler goes fishing.
Trolling: Fishing from a moving boat. You cast the bait behind the boat while the boat moves forward at a slow speed. Another way of trolling is to do something called back-trolling where you do the same thing but the boat motor is turned in reverse allowing the driver to make turns or changes easily. Typically, live baits are used for this type of fishing.
We hope this gives you a basic idea of the kind of fishing terminology you will hear when you go fishing. Be an angler and have fun using this vocabulary while you’re trolling or deep sea fishing. We hope you will have the time of your life fishing in the gorgeous Kona waters, and come out fishing with us on the Kona Fishing Charters. Call us at (808) 960-1424 to book your fishing trip!
Saltwater fly fishing is a great fishing experience when you’re fishing on the shore. These are tips for those who want to learn how to saltwater fly fish and are interested in trying it out. We offer our own fun fishing experience on the Kona Fishing Charters, where you can rent us out and book an offshore fishing trip!
Casting
The first thing you will need to learn is to cast. Casting is different with saltwater fly fishing than it is with other types of fishing. There are many video on Youtube and other websites that teach anglers how to properly cast their reel when fly fishing. However, we’ll try to explain what you should do here in case you find the videos unhelpful or need to supplement what you learned in a video.
First, you need to understand that you’ll be casting something called the “Double Haul”. This casting method allows you to lengthen the cast so you can reach fish farther out in the ocean.
How To Perform a Double Haul Cast?
With a short downward pull, draw down about five to eight inches of fly line on the back cast.
Bring up your hand and line everything up. Let the fly unroll behind you like you would do in an overhead cast.
Do the same as you did in step one. Draw down about five to eight inches of fly line in the back cast (however make it equal length to the length you did in step one). Do this in acceleration of the forward cast.
Bring your hand holding the fly line quickly forward – then complete the cast.
Keep practicing this until you have the hang of it.
If you’re still having trouble then you should consider casting lessons at a fly shop. But before you do that, you’ll need to have a saltwater rod. Saltwater rods are very different than other types of rod, and they will require practice.
The farther you can throw your line, the more likely you’ll catch a great fish! And this is especially true when you’re working in saltwater because you can only get so close to the fish. That’s why it’s so important to have a long cast.
Pick a Quality Fly
Of course, to really start fly fishing, you’ll need some artificial flies! The point of fly fishing is to get the fish to bite on an imitation of a bug or bait fish on or just below the water. Flies are typically made up of thread, wire, beads, feather, yarn, and hair and are created to look like insects and bait fish. You can purchase the right flies for the right fish as all fishes are attracted to different types of insects and bait fishes at different levels of maturity.
Fly selection is also very dependent on where you will be fishing. There are certain fish here in Hawaii that won’t be attracted to the same flies in other parts of the United States, and you need to take that into consideration when planning to fly fish. That’s why there are literally thousands of different fly patterns out there that are designed to imitate specific insects in an area. Others don’t imitate anything at all, actually, but look delicious to many fish. Some flies sink to the bottom and others float to the top – it all depends on what kind of fish you’d like to catch.
There are three basic fly patterns: dry, nymphs, and streamers.
Dry flies float on the surface of the water (that’s why they’re dry) and imitate adult insects. These flies can vary in shades, shapes, and sizes in order to imitate specific types of adult insects.
Nymph flies are flies that land just below the surface. They imitate insects as it leaves the larvae stage. Many fish feed on nymphs so it’s good to have some nymphs available in case you’re having a difficult time catching fish.
Streamer flies imitate smaller fish and other types of aquatic life, floating in the water rather than just below or above the surface. These attract larger fish that are waiting for their next meal.
You’ll learn plenty more about the different types of fishing on the Kona Fishing Charters boat when you come out to fish with us. We can tell you about fly fishing and the best types of flies while you learn how to fish offshore. At Kona Fishing Charters, you will have tons of fun fishing with. Call us at (808) 960-1424 to book your fishing trip!
If you have never been deep sea fishing on a charter before, you might be nervous as to what this type of fishing entails. This is especially true if you’re used to freshwater fishing. Some questions that may be floating in your mind when you think of your upcoming deep sea fishing trip could include: What should you bring, how is it different than “normal” fishing, and etc.. Today’s article should help you understand what to expect when deep sea fishing on a charter boat. We hope we’ll see you out on the Kona Fishing Charters charter boat with us after reading all about what to expect when you go deep sea fishing. After all, there’s nothing like experiencing deep sea fishing out on the Hawaiian waters.
What is Deep Sea Fishing?
Deep sea fishing requires deep waters. It should be at least 30 meters in depth and take place farther away from the land and shore than most other types of fishing. It’s also called other things such as sports fishing, big game fishing, and offshore boat fishing. Typically, in deep sea fishing, an angler will be attempting to fish for large open-ocean species of fish (like the ones we have covered in previous articles). Fighting big game fish can be a fun challenge for a lot of anglers.
Big game fish such as sharks, marlins, tuna, and others, are typically found in the open ocean rather than by the shores because they have more room and prey – causing deep sea fishing boats or charters to travel far out, sometimes beyond the sight of land.
What to Expect When You Go Deep Sea Fishing
If you’ve never been deep sea fishing in Kona before, you may only have a vague idea of what it entails. Most of what you know about deep sea fishing may in fact be from television shows and movies, which are often stressful examples (especially Deadliest Catch). However, most often you will have a very relaxing and fun time. The best part about deep sea fishing is not knowing what you’re going to catch.
First thing you should do is introduce yourself to the captain and listen to any instructions. He may instruct you where to place your gear – if he doesn’t, try to avoid putting it on the deck. It gets slippery and everyone needs room to walk on the deck without tripping. Once your trip has begun the captain will speak to you again giving you more instructions as well as what to expect for the day (which will depend on weather and other unique factors), and tell you how to rig up. It could take up to an hour to reach the destination of where you’ll be fishing that day so try to enjoy the ride to the fishing spot.
Once you get to the fishing location, wait for the captain to tell you to drop the lines after you find a spot on the rail. Don’t take out your bait (if it’s live fish) until you are ready to fish! If you bait your hook early it won’t attract a fish to bite. Check your live bait ever so often to make sure it’s still alive.
When your awesome day of fishing is over with, make sure to gather your gear together. Depending on what type of sports fish you caught you may be able to bring it back to shore for pictures and weighing. At Kona Fishing Charters, we can filet Tuna, Wahoo and Mahi Mahi for guests to take home.
More Basic Deep Sea Fishing Tips
If you’re prone to seasickness make sure to take some medicine beforehand, or bring some aboard. Ginger is a natural way of curbing nausea so possibly bring along some ginger ale or ginger cookies if you’re worried about this.
If you’re fishing with live bait, check on it often.
Listen to the captain and crew
Have fun and enjoy yourself!
We hope this gives you a basic idea of what to expect when you go deep sea fishing. Our FAQ should have more information if you’re interested including questions about what you’re allowed to bring. The FAQ however, refers to our own information for the Kona Fishing Charters. But where else would you go but to the Kona Fishing Charters when you want to go deep sea fishing off the Hawaiian coastline. There are lots of sports fish all year round and you can’t go wrong with the beautiful weather while you angle for a marlin or a swordfish. Have the time of your life out on the Kona waters and come out fishing with us on the Kona Fishing Charters. Call us at (808) 960-1424 to book your fishing trip!
