Hawaii- What should I bring?

[DementedFish]

Going to Kauai monday. I'm gonna fish at probably every beach I go to, and fish the harbors, and fish on a charter.

Here's what I'm planning on bringing:

• Grubs
  2 and 10 pound test
  Spinning reel and rod combo
  Fly rod
  small trout lures
  Lip Ripperz and other trout worms
  Power Nymphs
  Various trout artificials for the surf.
  My Trinidad
  Plastics and swimbaits
  

Anything else you would reccomend guys?

[trout guy]

25lb combo can use it for almost everything in sw. id bring along a smaller baitcaster as well. a combo for calicos would work great. bring some kastmasters, krocks or some other kinda spoon almost anything will eat those. top water lures would probally work good over shallow reefs large crank baits would probally work well too. bring plenty of terminal gear if all else fails fish bait. o yea if ur fishing from shore near reefs or rocks expect to catch alot of little aquarium fish.

[DementedFish]

What should i use to catch the reef fish with? bread? lol

[tunakid]

ya dont even bother with the 2 lb cuz u will get spooled before u no wat happen. ive heard that surface iron can work well too. Also heard that spoons and swimbaits work too. dont really need ur trini either. the type of fishing they do there is either trolling or hawaiian rock fishing, and ur trini wont be able to handle either one. fishing for pelgetics(spelling?) there is very different than wat we do here, so just use the stuff they have on the boat. its all nice stuff(internationals and tiagras is wat i saw on most boats)

[DementedFish]

They supply all the tackle on the boats. What im concerned about is the stuff i should bring to the reefs and beaches.

[oubearjinx]

Trust me, You cannot bring that many tackle on flight, size they are all over size. you gonna have them damaged big time. I have been to Kona and Kauai more than 7 times in the pass three years! Each time My tackle are less and less, until now I only bring my Tiagra 30WLRS and IGFA 80lb Bent butt 2pc throlling rod.

You will fish no lighter than 15lb line no matter where you go. Trout fish, that is some thing I've never have done in Hawaii before!!! Simply... too many big fish to catch don't weast your time on the small ones. Did you know 2-3 years ago, one guys caught a 300lb + Marlin with 25lb line on the surf in Kauai!!!

Fish 20lb over, you will get some desent Bone fish or Amber Jacks on the shore, and so is other varities of fish. Size are 15-30 average, and they are great fighting too! So light line will be suck!

For charter, if you dont have your favorite Throl Reel/Rod, dont worry. Most Charter boat fully equiped with Tiagras and Penn Int'l 2spders. from 30lb - 130lb class you named, you will get to use them including rigs and lures for free. You only pay one price to fish all day! Depends on the boat size, price may varies too. More importantly, don't fight the fish with your Cpt & Crew, they will work hard for the fish. And you will not get to keep all of them, they will give you only about 20-40lb meet for cheers. They get to sold rest of it to the market. So don't fight over the fish that you caught, you had your fun already, all they want is the money!

You have bring your own food and drinks, cuz they will not supply you any water and snacks!! Becareful, DO NOT bring any Banana On broad, since they will kick you out of the boat and keep your payment too! Banana is serious bad luck for them.

Oh, also!!! Don't forget to ask the locals for some OX Tail Soup meal!!! You will love it for your life!! Ever since I test it, that is all I have for lunch in Hawaii!!!!

[DementedFish]

What do they catch the bonefish and amberjacks on?

[trout guy]

Originally Posted by DementedFish

What should i use to catch the reef fish with? bread? lol

they should hit ne of the smaller lures. if that doesnt work strips of squid always gets em

[oubearjinx]

Bring you best cast rod/reel for 20-30lb only! I love those 9' shimano travler 3pc rod (Come with carry case too) and Daiwa Grandwave 30SHW. Use only TopDog Surface lure (Classic Red/white) and 1/2-3/4oz leadhead with fast action swiming plastics (Mahi Green/Yellow is the best)!! You gonna catch some serious fish with that.

Oh, Oh, Oh, YOU DO NOT EVER forget to spool backin spectra with Fluoro!! It is very important for surf fish, dont ask why now. You will know when you there fishing!!!

Rockfish is fun in Hawaii, but not in Kauai!! Kona & Kauai are famous for their billfish games!!! you dont wont to miss that out. I did alot surf and button rockfishing in the first 2-3 trip there, you will caught some weird fish it was fun and now I only charter out the boat for 1-2 overnight for some serious island to island bill fish only. Did I tell you latst year in July, on my wifes birthday. I caught a 253lb AHI (YFT) on a 10 hour boat, and plus many Mahis and Wahoos!! I have never caught over 300lb marline before, But I am going back there again this year is Sept for those Blue Marlin only.

Anyway, don't you ever forget about those damn Spectra and Fluoros.

[Cuban_Fish]

looks like you guys got him covered but here are my two cents. i reccomend you take a 25 or 40 lb outfit both if you can. most of the boats only have BIG tackle and it can be overkill if you get into some dorado or tuna that are school size. as for the surf krocs and topwater are king, dont fish topwater on light line, you will lose it to the grouper, cabrilla and snapperes that saw you off in there caves, same goes for bottom fishing there. take really little hooks for the reef fish and fish them with little pieces of bait. have a good trip and takes tons of pics.

[kayakfishermen]

I wouldnt take any big gear. The boat will have em, use and abuse their gear.

As for shore fishing, I would ditch the lip ripperz and most of your trout stuff. For lures bring a few kastmasters and krocs. Bring a bunch of grubs, big hammers, and jig heads. Also a bunch of hooks, swivels, weights, leader material, etc...Also big topwater baits if you got them....

I am unfamiliar with the local beaches you will be hitting, but I have fished all over Oahu and the Big Island for and figure it will be similar.

For the sand areas, the best bet for fish will be oi'o (bonefish), weke (goatfish), papio (small jacks). Couple simple rigs - most people in hawaii that bait fish do not use egg weights. Instead they use a bank sinker (1 oz) a three-way swivel and leader to hook...The line you tie to the sinker is usually a lot lighter than your main/leader line since you will probably lose it in the rocks. When fishing in sand you can get away with an egg sinker. For bait hit any market and get squid (cuttlefish) or shrimp. Bonefish prefer squid while the other fish prefer shrimp. For lures work the krocs and kastmaster also the grubs. I prefer bait fishing over teh sandy areas.

Hit up the reefs for better action. My favorite rig for bigger jacks (ulua) is a bobber (orange or white balsa wood ones) with a 2 foot leader to a 1/4 or 1/8 oz jig head with a black curly tail. That is a killer rig. Throw it out and work it insanely fast over the reefs and through the whitewater. Also a pili chugger (topwater) worked in the same insanely fast method will work. The grubs again in black, red glitter, or clear glitter produce. I would imagine big hammers would have a similar effect. Krocs will get you some barracudas and needlefish. For bait fishing, use the rig described above or just get a few split shots and use a bobber to drift over the reef. You will be surprised with a small hook how many varietys of fish you can hook. Just watch some have some spines. Again shrimp and squid will be your bait, though if you can get it octopus is like candy.

A tip if you do some homework first, night fishing in Hawaii is pretty good too. Find the same reefs or rocky areas and work a 1 or 2" clear glitter grub over those areas. You will catch a bunch of mempachi or aholehole ( i think they are forms of squirrel fish mempachi are red and aholehol are silver).

As for rods and reels...I would stick to maybe a baitcaster with like 15 lb and a spinning reel with 8 lb. Best bet would be to buy the tackle there. Hawaii has a lot of specific techniques and gear. Fishing gear is readily available almost everywhere, walmart, longs drug, some super markets, all carry gear.

Edit - Most of the jacks and bonefish you will catch will be under 10 lbs....more in the 5 lb range...They will run and try to break ya, but a good drag should be ok. If you want the bigger jacks (up to 100 lbs) different tactics and tackle will be needed

[DementedFish]

Thanks for the help guys!

[cst]

Hawaii- What should I bring?

you should bring me, DUH!

[DementedFish]

Originally Posted by cst

you should bring me, DUH!

Thanks for the help Chris! LOL jk.

[cst]

glad to be of service