With calm winds and gentle southerly surf, my friend Makani has been doing a lot of bottom-fishing lately. I have joined him a couple of times and we have caught plenty of fish: snapper, goatfish, triggerfish, Hawaiian bigeye, queenfish, and, on our last outing, some large needlefish. . The "needlefish" usually served in sushi restaurants … Continue reading Needlefish Sashimi
Category: Fish Species
Trevally Fishing in Tahiti
Our trip to French Polynesia this Summer was especially interesting because I had a chance to explore the differences between one tropical Pacific island chain and another. In doing my pre-trip research, I realized that the Leeward Islands of French Polynesia had extensive barrier reefs and relatively small tidal fluctuations. This got me very excited … Continue reading Trevally Fishing in Tahiti
Fishing from a Sailboat
We spent two weeks in May sailing through the Leeward Islands of French Polynesia. Our shipmates were two good friends, who actually know how to sail! Together we chartered a bare boat (meaning without crew), the 43 foot Utrillo. This is our second sailing adventure. Two years ago we joined the same friends for an … Continue reading Fishing from a Sailboat
Another May
Looking back I realized that I started this blog eleven years ago this month. . During that time, many of my favorite blogs have disappeared. Their authors have gotten busy or moved on to more current social media platforms, but about once a month I still sit down and post something. I don't use "hashtags" … Continue reading Another May
Oregon 2018 Part 3: How to Catch a Sturgeon on the Fly
The demise of our inflatable boat changed my fishing strategy. I had planned on using the boat to fish for carp on a number of backwaters and lakes connected to the Columbia River. Instead, I had to focus on places with shoreline access. Despite this turn of events, the fishing only got better and the fish … Continue reading Oregon 2018 Part 3: How to Catch a Sturgeon on the Fly
Oregon 2018 Part 2: Listing to Starboard
Ever since we started visiting the Columbia Gorge, Tara has wanted to paddle across the river from Oregon to Washington (visiting different states is a bit of an obsession for people from Hawaii). Last spring we packed up our Sea Eagle inflatable kayak and brought it to our cottage on the Columbia River. I was … Continue reading Oregon 2018 Part 2: Listing to Starboard
Oregon 2018 Part 1: Mount Hood Country
We are back to our regular lives in Honolulu. Back to our cat, our garden, our jobs, and back to the salt - the waves, the tides and trade winds, bonefish and papio. A month away is a long time. Significant things happen in a month, and mundane things too, like old water heaters and … Continue reading Oregon 2018 Part 1: Mount Hood Country
Pilgrimage
I have gone papio fishing a few times this Summer, but mostly I have been fly fishing. It's not that I prefer fly fishing, rather it is that I have an ulterior motive. This July will be our annual pilgrimage to the Columbia Gorge. I am hoping for some excellent carp fishing, but to … Continue reading Pilgrimage
O.P.B.’s
If Ed Tamai is Oahu's most venerable bonefish guide, then Makani Christensen is the Island's most energetic and ambitious. Both men are dedicated professionals and I can tell that spending time on the water with them has started to push my fly fishing game to the next level. The other week Ed, myself, and … Continue reading O.P.B.’s
The Aqua Maze
It was overcast and rainy, but the wind was calm and the water was glassy so we packed the SUP boards for a one-way paddle along the East side of the island. The first mile was deep and sandy but we soon found ourselves paddling along the back edge of the barrier reef. I … Continue reading The Aqua Maze
The Fishing Dojo 