Kona Fish Spotlight Part Four: Ten Fun Mahimahi Facts

by | Jun 10, 2015 | Latest News

When you fish with us at Kona Fishing Charters, you will see and experience many kinds of amazing and wonderful fish from the Pacific Sailfish to the Mahimahi fish. We knew our readers might enjoy 10 cool facts about each of these spectacular Kona fish that you’ll see with us at Kona Fishing Charters. Today’s blog article is dedicated to the beautiful Mahimahi fish, which you will hopefully see (and possibly even catch) when you fish with us at Kona Fishing Charters!

 

Ten Fun Facts about Mahimahi:

  1. The Mahimahi’s appearance is notable due to their brightly colored exterior which typically dazzles. The Mahimahi’s back is an electric greenish blue while its lower body is either gold or silver. Their sides have a mixture of dark and light spots. Mahimahi are often mistaken, at first glance, to be a relative of the pompano dolphin but they are not. Their dorsal fins extend nearly the entire length of their body. That is not the only thing that differentiates the Mahimahi fish’s appearance from the pompano dolphin – there is also a very wide square tooth patch on the tongue of the Mahimahi fish that is not present on the pompano dolphin. Male and females look different due to their different head shapes. Adult males have a square head shape that is high and sloping but females have a more rounded head that’s much less steep.
  2. Once out of the water, the Mahimahi will change color, going through several hues before finally fading to a muted yellow-grey upon death. However, since we practice catch and release at Kona Fishing Charters, we will hopefully not see that color when fishing the Mahimahi.
  3. Mahimahi can live up to 7 years of age when they are not killed by a predator, however most only live up to 4 or 5 years making Mahimahi a very short lived fish species.
  4. Mahimahi are rapidly growing fish. There have been cases of Mahimahi’s growing over four feet long in its first year of growth, and can grow up to 6.5 feet in four years.
  5. Mahimahi’s name is derived from the Hawaiian term of “very strong”. Mahimahi’s other name, which is the common dolphinfish, is possibly related to the Mahi Mahi’s large size (they range in size 12 – 70 lbs and average at about 4.5 feet) causing some to mistake it as a pompano dolphin at first glance. Although, as mentioned above, the dorsal fins of the Mahimahi’s are quite different than the pompano dolphins.
  6. The location of Mahimahi is spread out across the world as illustrated in the image below. The Mahimahi prefer water temperatures that vary between 74 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
  7. Mahimahi is a top predator of many species of fish. The Mahimahi feeds in surface water during the day and will eat many different types of species present in the sea including pompano dolphins, young tuna, octopus, squid, and jellyfish. Typically, the fish they eat are smaller than themselves.
  8. Despite Mahimahi’s reputation as a top predator, the Mahimahi is still preyed upon by other fish and even seabirds. Their common predators tend to be large tuna, marlin, sailfish, and swordfish.
  9. Mahimahi have a social structure that is especially prominent when they are young. However, they do not have support or nurture from their mother or father, unlike the marine mammals they resemble. Since they have no natural familial support the Mahimahi often travel in schools of 50 (or more) at this point in order to prevent being attacked by predators. However, as they get older, the Mahimahi is less likely to travel in such a large group, sometimes only traveling in pairs.
  10. Mahimahi (as well as many other fish) often swim near debris that often hold a complete ecosystem from microscopic creatures to seahorses and baitfish. With the help of an experienced fishing guide, like you’ll find here at Kona Fishing Charters, you will be able to tell what kinds of fish are underneath the debris based off the seabirds that are present, although we’ll typically be in the open sea.

There are even cooler facts about the Mahimahi fish that you can read about on the other websites that we have linked to in the above article which include NOAA. Or, when you come mahi mahi fishing in Kona with us out on the beautiful Pacific at Kona Fishing Charters, we’ll answer your questions about the Mahimahi fish (or any other Kona fish) as best we can. But there’s nothing like seeing the Mahimahi fish for yourself, especially once you hook it and bring it aboard the boat!
Next time in our series of Kona fish facts, we’ll give you some interesting facts about Tuna, another Kona fish you will probably see when you come out to fish with us at Kona Fishing Charters! Call us at (808) 960-1424 to book your fishing trip!

Kona Fish Spotlight Part Three: Ten Amazing Facts about the Wahoo (Ono) Fish

by | Jun 3, 2015 | Latest News

When you fish with us at Kona Fishing Charters, you will have access to experience many kinds of amazing and wonderful fish in the Pacific Ocean from the Pacific Sailfish to the Mahi Mahi fish. We thought our readers might enjoy 10 specatcular facts about each of these spectacular Kona fish that you’ll see with us at Kona Fishing Charters. Today’s blog article is dedicated to the Wahoo (Ono) fish, which you will hopefully see (and possibly even catch) when you fish with us!

 

Ten Amazing Facts about the Wahoo (Ono) Fish:

  1. The Wahoo (Ono) fish is known as the wahoo fish worldwide. This is possibly because when European explorers first mapped out the Hawaii islands, they discovered that the Hawaiian fish is plentiful around the island of Oahu. Oftentimes, Oahu was misspelled (by the European explorers) as Wahoo. This is where many people believe the origin of the Wahoo fish’s name is from. However, in Hawaii, the Wahoo fish is  known as the ono fish. Ono, in Hawaiian, means “delicious” or “good to eat”.
  2. As mentioned above, the Wahoo (Ono) fish is known to be delicious and it  used in many recipes throughout the world. It is mildly sweet tasting with a firm texture, moderate fat, and flakey when cooked. However, the shelf life is fairly short, so it must be cooked fairly quickly in comparison to other fish.
  3. The Wahoo (Ono) fish is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, including Hawaii, the Carribean, Florida, and Central America, although the Wahoo (Ono) fish moves to more temperate waters in the summer months. The Wahoo (Ono) fish is mostly available in Hawaii during the summer and fall, from May to October. The Wahoo (Ono) fish is part of the Scombridae family of fish species. This family includes mackerels, tunas, and bonitos.
  4. The Wahoo (Ono) fish has a long body built for speed. It is covered in small scales and it has a blue back and silver sides. There is a pattern on the sides, full of vertical blue bars. In terms of its teeth, they’re razor sharp, making it easier to bite and catch their prey. When the Wahoo (Ono) fish dies, the colors in the scales fade away, making it a much duller color.
  5. The Wahoo (Ono) fish is known for its speed – it can reach up to 60 mph on the open sea, which makes it easier to both escape their predators and catch their prey.
  6. The Wahoo fish is fairly solitary. They are never found amongst large schools of their own kind, the most you will see at once will be Wahoo fish composed of loose knit groups that typically only have two or three fish.
  7. The Wahoo (Ono)’s lifespan is about nine years, which is relatively short compared to many other subtropical/tropical fish.
  8. Female Wahoo (Ono) fish are longer than male Wahoo (Ono) fish. Males, when reaching maturity, are about 2.8 feet in length when females, when reaching maturity, are about 3.3 feet in length. Wahoos can weigh up to 100 lbs, but in Hawaii, they typically weigh anywhere from 8 to 30 lbs. They also grow fairly fast, as they one study tagged a Wahoo (Ono) fish, released it and found that it had gained 22 lbs in ten months.
  9. The Wahoo (Ono) fish is capable of eating fish larger than themselves. The Wahoo (Ono) fish’s sharp teeth possibly make it easier for them to both catch and chew up the larger fish into bite sized pieces. The Wahoo (Ono) fish typically goes after many types of fish as well as squid.
  10. All Wahoo (Ono) fish are line caught, however trollers (with bait and lures) can be used to catch the Wahoo fish. However, this method is not as successful as line catching the fish, as you’ll see when you go fishing at Kona Fishing Charters!There are even more amazing facts about the Wahoo (Ono) fish that you can read about on other websites that we have linked to in the above article! Or, when you come fishing with us out on the open, Hawaiian sea at Kona Fishing Charters, we’ll answer your questions about the Wahoo (Ono) fish as best we can. There’s nothing like seeing the Wahoo (Ono) fish for yourself, especially if you get to see it close up after you catch one!Next time in our series of fish facts, we’ll give you some interesting facts about the Mahimahi, another fish you will probably see when you come out to fish with us at Kona Fishing Charters! Call us at (808) 960-1424 for more info on Kona fishing charters!

Kona Fish Spotlight Part Two: Ten Cool Facts About Sailfish

by | May 27, 2015 | Latest News

At Kona Fishing Charters, you will get to see all sorts of amazing fish from the Pacific Sailfish to the Mahi Mahi fish. We thought our readers might enjoy 10 cool facts about each of these spectacular Kona fish that you’ll see with us at Kona Fishing Charters. Today’s blog article is dedicated to the Sailfish, which you will hopefully see when you fish with us!

sailfish

Ten Cool Facts about Pacific Sailfish:

  1. The sailfish are related to the marlin and swordfish, as they belong to the Istiophoridae family of fish. They are also classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Perciformes. This means that much of their appearance, and sometimes their behavior, can be similar to the marlin and swordfish.
  2. The sailfish is considered a saltwater fish, and the sailfish is typically found in warm and temperate waters, in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. The sailfish usually stay near the surface as they prefer water temperatures that range from 70 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. The sailfish grows to be this length and weight. Their range is from 6 feet to 11 feet long, the longer ones are typically found in the Pacific. In the Atlantic, sailfish average out at a mere 60 pounds, while in the Pacific, the sailfish’s average weight is 100 pounds. Another reason to fish for sailfish in the Pacific!
  4. The sailfish was named for its looks, as it has a wide, high dorsal fin, that is almost the length of its entire body. They also have a second, smaller dorsal fin and two anal fins. The fin is deep blue with black spots. The rest of its body’s colors vary from dark blue to gray, with a silver or white underbelly. Since they are a member of the Istiophoridae family, they, like many of the Istiophoridae family members, have an upper jaw that juts out well beyond their lower jaw and forms a distinctive spear, in order to stab its prey. It also has small scales embedded in its skin.
  5. The average lifespan of a sailfish is 4 years long. When they first hatch, sailfish larvae are only 0.125 inches long, but grow to be about 4 to 5 feet long in their first year alone!
  6. Sailfish, as stated earlier, are typically found near the surface of the ocean, far from land, feeding on schools of smaller fish like sardines and anchovies (in the Atlantic). In the Pacific, jacks, anchovies, sardines, triggerfish and ribbonfish are the sailfish’s typical meal.They also feast on squid and octopus.
  7. The Atlantic sailfish is Florida’s State Saltwater Fish and has often been featured in different documentaries, typically alongside the swordfish and marlin, its close relatives. This is because Florida loves sport fishing and knows that the sailfish is one of the best fish for fishing.
  8. The sailfish is not fished for its meat – the sailfish is considered a tough meat so it’s not widely eaten. However, while human beings find the sailfish meat too tough and undesirable, that does not mean other fish do not find the sailfish quite delectable. In fact the dolphinfish, otherwise known as the mahi-mahi (which will be covered in another blog post at a later date), is one of the sailfish’s primary predators. Other larger predatory fish and seabirds also feed on sailfish, regularly.
  9. The sailfish are good game, they will fight against the hook, leaping and diving repeatedly, hoping to tire out the fisherman they’re fighting against. They’re powerful and it will often take hours for the sailfish to be caught.
  10. Not only is the sailfish powerful enough to keep the fight going for hours, the sailfish is also the fastest fish that science knows of in all of the seven seas, according to National Geographic. Sailfish have been seen and recorded leaping out of the water at 68 miles an hour and it’s quite possible that they move faster than this. This makes fishing for them some of the best sportfishing possible.

There are even more cool facts about the sailfish, that you can read about on National Geographic and other websites. Or, when you book a trip for a day of Kona fishing with us out on the open sea at Kona Fishing Charters, we’ll answer your questions as best we can! There’s nothing like seeing the sailfish for yourself, especially if you get to see it close up after you catch one!
Next time in our series of fish facts, we’ll give you some interesting facts about the Wahoo (Ono) fish, another fish you will quite possibly see when you come out to fish with us at Kona Fishing Charters! Call us at (808) 960-1424 to book your fishing trip!

Kona Fish Spotlight Part One: Ten Awesome Blue Marlin Facts

by | May 20, 2015 | Latest News

At Kona Fishing Charters, you will get to see and experience all sorts of amazing fish when you go fishing with us – from the Pacific Sailfish to the Mahi Mahi fish. We thought our readers might enjoy ten cool facts about each of these different Kona fish. Today’s blog article is dedicated to the Pacific Blue Marlin.

 

Ten Awesome Facts about the Pacific Blue Marlin:

  1. The Pacific Blue Marlin is part of the Istiophoridae family which includes over 10 species of fish. These 10 different species of fish are mostly made up of varieties of sailfish and marlin species (blue and white marlin). They are also considered a continental shelf species.
  2. The Blue Marlin’s Hawaiian name is A`u but the Blue Marlin is called kajiki in the Hawaiian marketplace. So if you see kajiki at a fish market when you visit us in Hawaii, now you know what you’ll be buying – a beautiful Blue Marlin.
  3. They can reach up to a weight of 1800 pounds (or up to 1985 pounds according to National Geographic) although that’s fairly rare and female Blue Marlins are more likely to reach this weight than male Blue Marlins, as females typically are 3 to 4 times larger than males of the species. Females also can reach lengths of 14 feet. However, many Blue Marlin don’t reach even 1000 pounds – only a fraction reach this mark. Despite this, Blue Marlin are still very large though, the average weight ranges from 200 to 400 pounds. They also are usually about 11 feet long. Because of these large weights and long heights, the blue marlin is considered the largest game billfish.
  4. In the Pacific, Blue Marlin are found as north as Japan and as south as New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty.  In Japan, Blue Marlin are considered a delicious delicacy and are served, raw,  as sashimi and they have been fishing blue marlin for centuries. However, so have Hawaiians, as the Blue Marlin has been making its trek across the oceans for a very long time.
  5. They not only live in the Pacific, but the Blue Marlin can travel to the Atlantic and Indian Ocean.  They’ve been found as south as Cape Town, South Africa and Perth, Australia. The Blue Marlin is a migratory wanderer, it likes traveling from ocean to ocean following the current, it especially likes warm oceans, but you happen to be going fishing at one of the best spots that the Blue Marlin wanders to!
  6. Blue Marlins prefer the higher temperatures which is why you’ll see them swimming in the surface rather than deep in the sea. They are carnivores, who feed on mackerel and tuna (especially yellowfin tuna), but will abandon the warm surface water to feed on squid, who are deep below the the surface water.
  7. Blue Marlin’s are fairly distinctive looking, although they do look similar to the black marlin. Blue Marlins are cobalt blue on top and silvery white below, with a pronounced, pointed dorsal fin and a long, lethal, spear-shaped upper jaw. The Blue Marlin uses its spear-shaped jaw to injure its prey, eventually catching it after inflicting enough injuries. Black marlin, on the other hand, have a shorter bill and a rounder (and lower) dorsal fin. Their pectoral fins are also more rigid than its counterparts.
  8. Blue Marlins rely on its eyesight to hunt, which is why the Blue Marlin hunts during the day (which means it is a diurnal animal). They can also reach speeds of 50 miles an hour making it easier for them to catch their prey… and avoid being prey themselves.
  9. In the novel, The Old Man and the Sea, written by Ernest Hemingway, the fish the old, Cuban fisherman is trying to catch is a Blue Marlin. He has a difficult time doing so, battling the fish for a large portion of the novel, and you’ll have to read (or Google if you’d rather just be spoiled) to find out if he succeeded in catching the fish.
  10. Blue Marlin are known to put up a fight when they’re caught, making the fishing experience fun and exciting, something you’ll experience with us at Kona Fishing Charters.

These are only some awesome facts about the Blue Marlin, there are even more cool facts about the Blue Marlin that you can look up on National Geographic. And, of course, we’ll tell you some more fun facts when you come out on the ocean with us at Kona Fishing Charters! There’s nothing like seeing the Blue Marlin for yourself, especially if you get to see it close up after you catch one!

Next time we’ll connect you to some awesome facts about the Blue Marlin’s close relative, the sailfish, which is another fish you’ll see when you fish with us at Kona Fishing Charters. Call us at (808) 960-1424 to book your fishing trip!