Tropical Skittles from the Big Island
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:03 pmJust got back a bit ago from a trip to Kona to shake off the chill. I thought these might thaw a few of you out that enjoy the type of Ichthyological Skittles Bowl I serve up from time to time. Of course, I always plan time out on the big blue, but even a rigged Psycho Chicken could not draw a strike on the day we went out to chase shortbills and mahimahi. Nothing would come up to play……
Not to worry, I set about having fun with an assortment of reef species in Technicolor glory on a variety of krill, estaz, shrimp, marine worm and spider patterns……..
It is surprising just how strong many reef species are. I’ll never forget the “HOLY ##it” that came out of my brother-in-law’s yapper the first time he hooked a Hawaiian reef fish…..
Bonus points for anyone who can identify this beach……………
My girl with a little papio (trevally) …….
Hiking at the convergent zone where lava and coral meet………….
A day trip to the rainforest to see Akaka Falls………..
Only in Hawaii…this dude came rumbling up to the restaurant we were eating lunch at with his dog on the handlebars and he was NOT going slow!
Getting some shots of sea turtles on the Kohala Coast……………….
On Day 5,, something most unusual happened………I could not draw a strike from a trevally at a certain spot so I switched to seaweed patterns. I only brought an 8 wt into this spot, and that turned out to be a wise choice. I was glad for the extra pulling power when I got a hit from a species that is very rarely hooked on rod and reel…………..a parrotfish! The bend these things will put in a flyrod is pretty amazing…….
This is a Stareye Parrotfish, in the genus Calotomus. This type also grazes on leafy algae in addition to the usual parrotfish diet of coral polyps (coral polyp flies are a BITCH to tie…..) but all parrotfish are generally only taken by speargun or 3-prong spear. They are very rarely captured on hook and line……you should have seen the looks on the faces of my Hawaiian friends when I showed them the photos and told them I released it!
Check out what he did to the hook of the Limu Soft Hackle fly he hit…..I gotta get some of these tied on stronger hooks!
The ancient Hawaiians were very proud of their junk……….some things never change…….
Some trips are not about the size of the fish………sometimes you just have to soak in the beauty of the fish you catch and enjoy what comes your way. Aloha.
Not to worry, I set about having fun with an assortment of reef species in Technicolor glory on a variety of krill, estaz, shrimp, marine worm and spider patterns……..
It is surprising just how strong many reef species are. I’ll never forget the “HOLY ##it” that came out of my brother-in-law’s yapper the first time he hooked a Hawaiian reef fish…..
Bonus points for anyone who can identify this beach……………
My girl with a little papio (trevally) …….
Hiking at the convergent zone where lava and coral meet………….
A day trip to the rainforest to see Akaka Falls………..
Only in Hawaii…this dude came rumbling up to the restaurant we were eating lunch at with his dog on the handlebars and he was NOT going slow!
Getting some shots of sea turtles on the Kohala Coast……………….
On Day 5,, something most unusual happened………I could not draw a strike from a trevally at a certain spot so I switched to seaweed patterns. I only brought an 8 wt into this spot, and that turned out to be a wise choice. I was glad for the extra pulling power when I got a hit from a species that is very rarely hooked on rod and reel…………..a parrotfish! The bend these things will put in a flyrod is pretty amazing…….
This is a Stareye Parrotfish, in the genus Calotomus. This type also grazes on leafy algae in addition to the usual parrotfish diet of coral polyps (coral polyp flies are a BITCH to tie…..) but all parrotfish are generally only taken by speargun or 3-prong spear. They are very rarely captured on hook and line……you should have seen the looks on the faces of my Hawaiian friends when I showed them the photos and told them I released it!
Check out what he did to the hook of the Limu Soft Hackle fly he hit…..I gotta get some of these tied on stronger hooks!
The ancient Hawaiians were very proud of their junk……….some things never change…….
Some trips are not about the size of the fish………sometimes you just have to soak in the beauty of the fish you catch and enjoy what comes your way. Aloha.
