Christmas Eve Oahu

I went out today for about 6 hours trolled fresh bait.   I had two hook ups, but no catches.  The first I think was a large barracuda and the second was a Mahi Mahi.  The Barracuda towed me around for a while, but I don't think the hook was even in his mouth.  The bait looked like someone put a screw driver in it ten times.  The Mahi Mahi I saw jump when I set the hook, but came off right after. I did have a pod of about 100 dolphins that kept coming by, but no more fish excitement.  Overall great day of fishing and wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

what kind of hook? for some reason I had good luck with small circles on 4" of wire for barracudas.

J

I was using a Ballyhoo hook on braided wire.  It is a real long shank j hook that lets you rig the ballyhoo with the hook in the center of the body.  I think I tried to set the hook too early on both fish I have to let them chew a little more.  It is hard to wait when the clicker is going so hard.  The Mahi was really small, I think if the bait was alive the bait might have bit the Mahi, so I know I didn't let it eat it long enough.  I may go to a double circle hook rig and give that a try.

Ed, so you had fresh dead ballyhoo? sure seems like a ballyhoo hook on wire is the right thing,
at least for the bigger fish.

I guess the 4" wire and circle is just a poor man's ballyhoo hook and chain rig for smaller fish.

but maybe it's worth it using a smaller rig to get more hits but from smaller fish?

if you want to target some smaller fish, a 'strip' bait with a short length of single strand wire (like 27lb?)
could be a pretty effective trolling bait. you use a 'pin' of the wire at the front of the strip and leave
the hook in the middle of the strip. this was good on smaller barracuda like the 4lbers. I met some old
dude catching barracuda after barracuda, using the stomach section of one to catch the next few.

take a look at vic dunaway's 'bait, rigs and tackle', he has a ton of info on light saltwater fishing, wire
rigs and the like, perfect for florida and hawaii fishing. your rig sounds like a good one for the larger fish,
but maybe something smaller would be good for getting more action?

wish I was in your shoes!

J

Great pic's and report, I can't wait to get back to Oahu. Hopefully this summer.

Craigh

I am so intensely jealous...as I sit here in the rain    Beautiful! Looks sweet.
 
I had a hard time getting hooked up with pelagics the first few times I gave it a go too.  I switched to circle hooks, and then got enough time in baja to get patient.  If you have a big bait like a ballyhoo and a dodo grabs it, its going to take what feels like forever for it to eat the hook.  Turn the clicker off so the fish can run, ride the spool with your thumb, and say the pledge of allegiance slowly.  When they are on the run, just putting it in gear will sink the hook.  Good luck, and look forward to more reports.

Good pics Ed!  Wish I was near there!   Hopin ya' get that BIG CUDA your huntin'!

AWESOME pics. Thanks for the report.

aloha houle  keep the reports and pics comming 

aloha houle  keep the reports and pics comming 

Hey man it's Haole... get our soleless names right.. JK braddah!
Where's the shaka emoticon??.... 

Z

    I'm jealous.  Thanks for mercifully not including a photo of you wearing nothing but your swim trunks and sun shirt.   Happy New Year to you and family.