Kona Hawaii fishing report - Archive -

Kona Hawaii fishing report - April wrap up -

The blue marlin bite remained pretty decent in April. Not as many big ones as last month and the overall total seemed to be less but it's not even the start of peak blue marlin season yet. If the pre-season numbers and sizes are any indicator of what's to come this summer, Kona again will prove to be the Pacific Blue Marlin capital of the world. There were even some straggler striped marlins caught this month. The spearfish bite should be at its peak right now but there aren't many around. They came in early this year so I'm sure we'll be seeing that bite going hot and cold for the next couple of months for spearfish. .

Mahi mahi tops this months report as the most common catch. We're right in the middle of the peak spring run on those. Normally the fall season run produces the bigger mahi mahi and the spring season run is the smaller schoolie dolphin. The average size being caught this spring season is pretty big with most weighing over 15 lbs. and the average being close to 20. Ono season is starting off with a bang. We're just at the beginning of the season for them now. Last year the ono bite started off real good at the beginning of the season but went to almost no ono being caught in the peak season. Because of what happened last year, you won't be getting any predictions from me on how that bite is going to turn out this year. It's just a "wait-n-see" on that one. .

The bottom bite has picked up pretty good. Lot's of big sharks in the area also. After catching and releasing a 120 lb. amberjack earlier this week, we hooked up another close to the same size right after and it was eaten in one quick gulp by one of those big eating machines. Just the day before in the same area, we caught a giant trevally and a tiger shark followed it right up to the boat. All I could say is that it was HUGE! If you're looking to catch something that's a lot bigger than you are, Sharks (also known as tax collectors around here) are the guaranteed catch right now. Last month I mentioned jigging and the modifications I've made to the Penn 9500. I did get some emails about it so I made a page up on my web site showing the mods and added a really good knot for joining braided line to mono. The URL is FISHinKONA.com/jigging.htm and there will be more info being added as time permits. Because of the sharks in the area, I've had to put jigging on hold. As I said last month, those Shimano jigs are expensive. The tax collectors (sharks) cost me way too much this month. Anyone else feel that way in April?

See 'ya on the water,
Capt. Jeff Rogers
http://FISHinKONA.com