A Club I'd like to be a Member of!!

**Indian Angler** · 17-06-2006, 11:16

Hi,

I'm spending my saturday afternoon surfing the net. Just came across this...

http://="http://www.hawaiifishingnew....cfm?order=ID"

Some awesome fish caught, this is a Club I'd like to join.

Indian Angler.

Oops... the link doesn't work

I guess one would have to cut and copy www.hawaiifishingnews.com

and then go into the 100lb+ Club.

**PanamaJack** · 17-06-2006, 16:06

Hi Indian Angler
A 100lb plus Giant Trevally (Ulua in Hawaiian parlance) has to be a tremendous challenge from the shore.

The techniques they employ though are quite different to the ones you’re familiar with. No popper fishing and explosive surface strikes here. The islands are volcanic and the shore fisherman are casting, usually at night, with 'very heavy' surf casting gear into water that’s usually 100’ (30 metres) plus deep. On some of the spots, like South Point on the ‘Big Island’ (Hawaii itself), the water is literally 150’ deep at their feet!

Given the nature of the bottom the norm is to cast a heavy lead, equipped with springy soft ‘grapple’ wires but without a hook or bait, out first – normally whilst it is still light. This ensures accurate placement and anchors it securely. Once it’s dark they then slide the trace and baited hook down the main line. The bait is normally something tough like a fillet of Moray Eel or a small Octopus, a live bottom fish and even a whole Skipjack Tuna.

Throughout the session though smaller fish will often strip some of the baits so, throughout the night, they will periodically slide replacement baits down. When the strikes come ………. well you know exactly what a GT strike is like!

I know that a modification of this technique is occasionally used by anglers in the UK. But these guys are usually using something like a 6/0 Senator reel loaded with 80lb test, a 12’ rod comprised of a trolling rod blank as a tip back up by a bamboo butt, and a 10oz weight! Maybe not sporting tackle but certainly effective.

Fingers crossed that you’ll get one big enough to join that Club.
Dave