The halalu (baby scad) have been schooling in the lagoon and the shoreline is busy every day. It's another example of how the seasons in Hawaii are marked by changes in the ocean. . Another seasonal sight are the humpback whales that migrate from the North Pacific to rear their young and wait for the … Continue reading Presents from the Sea
Fishing Dojo Blog
Single Variable Fly Selection
There are several important variables when it comes to choosing what fly to use: how heavy, and how the fly is weighted, the size and shape of the hook, the size and profile of the fly, and color. In my experience, the actual fly pattern is probably the least important variable when it comes to … Continue reading Single Variable Fly Selection
The Pictures We Take
I have been fishing almost every week recently. Most days we have gone out, everyone has hooked something, so it's fair to say that the fishing has been good, but it hasn't been great. If you asked, I would say that nothing particularly noteworthy has happened. But when I sit down and start to look … Continue reading The Pictures We Take
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
My motivation for fishing is manifold. I enjoy the physical and mental challenge, the aspect of exploration, and developing a relationship with my natural surroundings: the weather, the winds, the water, and the fish themselves. While I am usually a catch-and-release type of person, once in a while I am also motivated to catch fish … Continue reading Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Feels Like Summer
Big O'io There are some places on the flats where big fish regularly feed, but they are crazy-difficult to catch. When I see these fish I go directly into stealth mode, with lots of crouching low to the water and slow-motion steps. Most of the time, no matter how stealthy I am, the fish turn … Continue reading Feels Like Summer
All-In
I remember reading somewhere that human beings are more likely to return to something over and over if the outcome is uncertain. We quickly lose interest in the sure thing, perhaps because it's a sure thing. I don't remember where I read that, but I believe the point was that we are psychologically hard-wired to … Continue reading All-In
Year of the ‘Cuda
We paddled out to look for bonefish on a nice day in January. I couldn't get any bonefish to eat, but on the walk back to where the SUP boards were anchored I spotted a barracuda, lurking hungrily on the reef. . The barracudas that we find inshore here are not very big, but they … Continue reading Year of the ‘Cuda
Loose Ends
I think we can all agree that 2020 was not the best year, with a smorgasbord of tragedy and disappointments, globally, nationally, and close to home. Looking back however, I am slightly stunned to realize that 2020 was, against all odds, a pretty good fishing year for me personally. I have written about most of … Continue reading Loose Ends
Spotting Bonefish (in Hawaii)
This post is an attempt to answer an important question that was posed in the comments on an earlier post. The question was about how to spot bonefish while wading. When I mentioned this to Tara she replied that the best way to learn is to have someone point the fish out to you. That's … Continue reading Spotting Bonefish (in Hawaii)
Pow Pow!
Ed picked me up early and we marveled at the clear sky and calm conditions on the ride to the boat ramp. The weather was ideal. "Why can't every day be like this" we kept asking each other. The marina parking lot was mostly empty and we rigged up the fly rods and launched the … Continue reading Pow Pow!
The Fishing Dojo 