SDHunter11 Report post Posted June 23, 2010 I was fortunate enough to go to Oahu, Hawaii the last few weeks and decided to get some fishing in while I was there. I spent quite awhile searching fishing forums and asking friends for advice on which charter to chose. I ended up going with Magic Sportsfishing after hearing great reviews. My expectations for this trip were relatively high after talking to the captain and learning that this is the peak of their big yellowfin (ahi) tuna run. I had checked previous years catches and it was typical for a single boat to catch 1-2 100+ lb tuna per trip. The boat used on this trip was a 50' fishing vessel equipped with outriggers. There would be four anglers on the boat with two deckhands and the captain. This means if a fish is hooked, it is luck of the draw as to who gets to catch it. This captain had a system of giving each angler a number and drawing cards to see who gets to fight the fish. I would just have to get lucky and have my number drawn. We departed the harbor at 5:15 am on Thursday, June 10th. The first stop was to catch some mackeral for bait. The deckhands did a good job of getting around 15 mackeral for the days trip. The seas were very rough (8 foot swells at one point) so we decided to head to the back side of the island and get out of the wind. We trolled for the 2 hour trip, but did not get any hits. When we got to the other side of the island, we started to see pods of dolphins. The captain explained to me that the tuna liked to hang out undernieth the pods to feed. I was quite surprised that we were so close to shore. The captain swung the boat in front of the pod of dolphins and yelled for the deck hands to throw out a couple mackeral. The deckhands threw out two poles with a mackeral on each and we waited. It took about five minutes and one of the rods was bit! The captain yelled out a number that wasn't mine and a very nice older gentlemen jumped in the fighting chair. After about a 45 minute fight, the fish was galfed and brought on the boat. The captain estimated its weight at 180lbs! At this point I was sure this would be our one fish and I had missed out on getting the lucky call. We went back to find the dolphins and try again. This time when we threw the bait out both rods were bit instantly! My number was called and I was in the fighting chair as fast as I could get there. The other rod was taken by a 14 year old kid on the boat and the captain informed me we would bring his in first since he had the larger real(130). After a quick 20 minute fight, his fish was in. This fish was around 100lbs. I had been holding on to the rod this whole time and now I could bring mine in. 1 hr later, the fish was galfed and brought over the side. It was a nice fish at around 160 lbs. I was pretty tired and very satisfied at this point. I got a quick drink of water as the captain swung the boat around to get back with the dolphins. We got in front of the dolphins again and threw out the bait. Bam! Another double! The small real (50) was screaming as line was being stripped off of it. The captain yells my number again! I grab the small real and realize this fish is much bigger than the first. The large real is taken by the last guy and he fights his fish for about 30 minutes. the deckhand galf it and pull it over the side, a nice 150lber. This whole time I am trying to gain a small part of the line back, but every foot I get the fish gets 2 more. I fight this fish for another hour with little progress when the tension on the line goes slack. After realing in the extra line, a hook that has been broken in half comes out of the water. The giant fish had broken a hook that was as big around as a pencil! I was beyond tired at this point and it was getting into late afternoon. The captain said "lets give it one more shot" so we headed back to the dolphins. Bait was thrown out and both rods screamed again. Another double! The captain yelled two numbers that were not mine, but the young kid did not want to fight another fish, so I jumped at the chance. 1 hour later, and both fish were in the boat. Each around 115 lbs. Literally exhausted, we drove back to teh harbor reflecting on an epic day of fishing. I hope everyone gets a chance to catch one of these monsters one day. I am in the middle of the last picture holding the bigger of the two fish I caught. The weights on the paper do not include the guts and gills. The captain estimated this adds an additional 12-15 lbs to the fish. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kilimanjaro Report post Posted June 23, 2010 Yea buddy!! Great ahi! He should eat very nicely. Fishing in paradise!! I absolutely LOVE Hawaii!! I want to retire in Kona (the sooner, the better!) I can't wait to get back! Only 11 more months... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted June 23, 2010 Wow those are some nice pics and great write up. That water is really blue lookin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted June 23, 2010 AWESOME! I've heard a lot of the boats in Hawaii keep the fish that are caught and the fishermen get nothing. Hope you got some of that tuna because it's awesome. Had some yellowfin last weekend. It was very good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted June 23, 2010 Awesome!! Great write-up and some great fish! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SunDevil Report post Posted June 23, 2010 wow - that is awesome. did you get any of the meat? typically anglers are required to sign a waiver that fish of that caliber are owned by the boat. if the angler does not sign the waiver than they are required to pay for the fish in addition to whatever they paid for the charter service. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SDHunter11 Report post Posted June 24, 2010 wow - that is awesome. did you get any of the meat? typically anglers are required to sign a waiver that fish of that caliber are owned by the boat. if the angler does not sign the waiver than they are required to pay for the fish in addition to whatever they paid for the charter service. We did not have to sign a waiver, but the captain told us before we went out that any fish over 100lbs would be sold whole as sushi grade Ahi. If the fish were under 100lbs, then we would get a share of the fish. So I did not get to keep any of the fish we caught, but I did go eat some fresh Ahi that night! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted June 24, 2010 that sucks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingW Report post Posted June 25, 2010 Nice fish !!! Great story and pics as well.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted June 25, 2010 Awesome trip - gotta do that some day. I really want to catch a sail on spinning tackle too. Thanks for sharing your awesome adventure with us! I think I'd have tried to wrangle at least a coupla steaks off one of those bad boys Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madx250 Report post Posted June 25, 2010 That's killer-thx for posting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZ FSJ'r Report post Posted August 25, 2010 If I ever get lucky enough to be in that part of the world I will Look them up. I LOVE TUNA!!!! YUM!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Sniper Report post Posted August 25, 2010 Catching the fish = AWESOME Not being able to keep the fish = BOOTY - You did all the work and they made money off it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trophyhnter Report post Posted August 26, 2010 Does anyone know why they keep the tuna? Is it a state law, ordinance, game and fish regulation???? Or is that charter operators have you be the short hairs and can dictate what’s what! That said, assuming you could find a boat to rent yourself, can you keep your catch? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted August 27, 2010 Charters are also pretty cheap because of that and most people just want to catch fish and don't want any and can't take care of it. The Captain will usually give you some if you ask for it and your Motel can cook it for ya. I've paid as little as $650 for an all day charter and caught YF and Marlin. The islands are basically mountains with the peaks sticking out of the water. You can be a few miles offshore and in 5000' of water. You haven't seen anything until you see a local and his 8 yo daughter come back into the Marina on a Jet Ski draging a 150# YT with them caugh on rod and reel in three foot seas. Some very tough people and dang proud of it too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
