Unusual Catches by Isaac Brumaghim

After my latest adventure, I have a new respect for my lures. Recently Mike Ichiyama and I took his friend Brandon on a yak fishing tour to Kaena Point. It was a smooth journey to the point with a few exciting strikes but, none of us were able to hook anything . After going through all of their dead akule, Mike and Brandon headed back to Yokohama beach. I did see Brandon take a big strike but for the record only a seagull and moray eel made it on his hooks. Funny thing is that Craig had picked a huge puhi trolling around Makapuu the week earlier. Both animals were safely released. Heading back from the point I took a big hit in 200 ft of water. After a good 10 minutess I lost a monster. Disgusted and out of bait, I frantically searched my bag for a lure. I grabbed a small black and silver Yozuri Crystal Minnow. I had heard stories from Ed Kawasaki how he hooked shibis and aku on these. I started trolling again and in 200 ft of water I picked up a small shibi. I decided to troll over the spot again...Hanapaa! This time a bigger fish had taken it. As I am battling I notice the diagonal angle. Ono? Nah, I had tied the lure straight to fluorocarbon leader there’s no way it didn’t cut. After a 15 min battle I was surprised to see a 13 lb ono hooked in the side of his mouth. I bagged the ono and did what any fishermen would, back to the spot! Suddenly zzzzzzz big strike! This beast took more than 3/4 of my power pro spooled reel. I must have battled for a few minutes then ...oooh gone. Sigh, another lost monster. As I reeled in my line I expected not to find that little magic lure attached. But he was still there with one of its hooks on the back treble bent out like a paper clip. Big ono, shibi?  With a little upgrade this lure might have pulled in a giant. Better hooks for the next time.

    A few weeks earlier Ed and I paddled out to a little yellow barge on the West Side.  Its was a nice 2 hour paddle to and fro. At the barge we picked up some live opelu. Heading back in we took some aha strikes and were running our last live baits when I took a solid strike.  A week before I witnessed another kayaker battle in a 40 lb shibi (much props Mike).  The fish screamed line out at an diagonal angle. I though to myself  "I hope my lucky HFN cap is working today". Three times the fish smoked out line and I had to actually chase it down for fear it would strip my little 320 GT Penn reel. Finally I got over it and started the 10 minute struggle of bringing him up. It was only when I saw the beautiful stripes did I realize my trophy...an ono. At the yak I gaffed the hell out of him and hauled it on board. Well my HFN cap worked out great as my ono weighed in at a cool 37.5 lbs...mahalo to my friends down at Roys Fishing.  I would like to dedicate the photo to my friend Alex Kinimaka...aloha bruddah, FREE HI.