Fishing by the light of the moon

[molokaipake]

Okay, the offshore fishing is dead, unless you are extremely lucky. The moon is full so I can't do the Akule thing. What's a guy to do, but make use of what there is. So that's what I did last night, went fishing by the light of the moon.
I haven't been out fishng for Menpachi for years, so I had to re-remember all the tricks etc, to catch some fish, even where to go, as landmarks do change over years. Of course, now we have GPS, and that helps tremendously, once you do find the fish.
Spent the day getting gear together, but first had to find it first, been so long. Dust everything off, throw away the rusty hooks and tie new ones, untangle lines and make new ones, all that kind of preparatory things, just to go fishing for a species that is not high on most fishermen's list of kind of fish to catch.
I like Menpachi because it has a very unique flavor, unlike any other fish. It also has a huge eye ball, yum.
Long story short, after finally getting to the right area, losing a few lines and getting back the "strokes", we caught fish, not teeny ones, but nice, healthy, tasty specimens, almost a whole cooler full, even after such a long hiatus. Home by 2 am.
God is good, all the time. Plus, with the new fuel injected, Honda 50 outboard engine, we had the fastest ride home on the Hiki No, in the dark ever, as the water smoothed out and we came home by the light of the moon.

[Uli Kai]

Great post again Capt. Clay. How deep of water were you in?

[MANAPUA MAN]

Way to go Capt. Clay..........
Menpachi is my favorite fish......
When I go Big Island.......I pound at the Kona Bowling Alley.....
Order plenty crispy fried with plenty rice......
Nice catch...... Wish Oahu had.
Oahu wipe out already.......

[force21]

Way to go Capt Clay....my wife loves menpachi for her "boullaise" stock! Excellent eating!

[Mingo]

Those are cool looking fish......do you eat the eyeballs raw or cooked?

[pepekauai]

NICE GOING CAPT CLAY! How do you like the fuel injected Honda 50? Its supposed to have unreal gas mileage and run super quiet.

[patfishhi]

Capt,
Good goin on the red fish; that was the only way to get my wife to go out fishin' with me was to leave at 10pm, menapachi at night and she would usually committ to a few hours of trolling. We typically did pretty good at night but she was very lucky when it came to trolling. Wish i could get her interested again, it's been years.

Way to Go!!

Pat

[aj1976]

Nice catch Captain. The fish look nice and brined! I'm starting to get my things together for next weekend. Hoping for some nice weather!!!

[bigjsandyballs]

I love those little guys. Caught a bunch of them one time when I was on vacation at the King Kamehameha Kona beach hotel fishing off that big pier they got out front. Watched the locals and learned that golf ball-sinker rig. Also, fished for papio with live akule but wasn't able to land one as I was only fishing 20lb test and they kept cutting me off on the reef. Nice catch!

[hiloboy]

Mahalo fo bringing back da good ol'days! I remember back in high school, going to catch opai down at Queen Lilioukalani Park wit da scoop net, 5 gallon bucket and small live well pump. Den going down towards da Puna side, Kapoho, or Kalapana and fishing fo menpachi and aweoweo all night! Auwe! as was some fun!

[russell kato]

What can I say! Great catch on a full moon night! Is there any fish you don't know how to catch? You never cease to amaze me with your breadth of knowledge about local style fishing. I am looking forward to working on Molokai and after I pau hana I hope to spend some time fishing with you and gain some valuable insights to fishing.

[jonesd055]

Nice catch Captain Clay. I'm still hoping your next DVD will be one on bottom fishing. When I lived in the Virgin Islands menpachi were as thick as hagi are here-no one ate them. Never ate one yet, anyone got a good recipe?

Aloha,
Jonesy