Kona Hawaii fishing report - Archive -

Kona Hawaii fishing report - December 28th, 2003

Small billfish tops this months report as the most common catch. Striped marlin, spearfish and small blues are all here but the bite is still quite spotty as far as area goes. The water temperature has changed drastically in the last few weeks and there`s been a split current so, keeping up on recent "hot " areas is key. Current lines have been productive also even though there has been little debris in them. Mahi mahi are still here (not too cold yet) and the billfish have been following the current lines also. A few big blue marlin have been around but it's mostly a light tackle kind of a bite. I've been running three Penn 30 stand-up rigs except for a couple of big lures close to the boat on 80`s or 130`s. Luckily all my mahi mahi, stripes, spears and small blues have been on the stand-up rigs. Not much fun hauling in a fish that is severely out-classed by the tackle. I`ve had a couple of shots at bigger blue marlin recently and luckily they hit on the bigger rods. It's only a matter of time `til a big blue eats one of my small lures though so I just hope I have an experienced angler on the boat when it happens.

There are a few yellowfin tuna coming out of the porpoise schools but the main source of tuna now is the shibi on the buoys and in the ahi koa`s. Even though it`s not season for `em, there`s been a steady source of otaru on the grounds. The ono bite is reel slow and the ones that have been caught are small.

The bottom bite is pretty slow but worth the try…. IMHO, the best way to work the day is try it all! Some of this style, some of that. It makes the day more interesting and most likely one or more of the styles will produce fish. 2003 is nearly over and for the seventh year in a row (no one can catch me now), I`ve out-fished every captain in Kona because I mix up my fishing styles throughout the day. I`ve got some new tricks up my sleeve so I`ll be fishing even more styles and targeting an even wider variety of fish in 2004 along with great non-stop light tackle action for the kids and novices.

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