Cool report. I caught a Hawaiian Ladyfish on CI earlier this year, they can get pretty long. Good luck catching the big bonefish.
Mix Plate
Yesterday morning I headed out at first light to a spot I hadn't fished in a long time and had never fly fished before. After a short hike I reached my destination. I stepped up to the shoreline and immediately spooked one of the largest bonefish I have ever seen. Well, at least the species I was targeting was around.
I started casting out from there hoping that one of his friends was still around. After a couple casts a fish took my fly. After a decent fight I had a half pound papio to hand.
There was a really strong offshore wind, so I decided to move down the beach a little to where casting would be more bearable. After a bunch of casts a fish hammered my fly and immediately began taking line. Then it started jumping. I got a good look at the fish and it looked like a bonefish, but it was jumping. I kept thinking, do bonefish jump?
The fight reminded me a lot of a really good Coho fight. The fish made many good runs and provided lots of acrobatics. I was finally able to bring it to hand and landed this:
![Fin Underwater Kitchen utensil Fish Marine biology]()
This was the first awa'aua (Hawaiian ladyfish) I've ever caught. The day ended with losing one other fish, having a big omilu (Bluefin trevally) come right to my rod tip, and landing a roi. All n all it was a fun morning with a unique mix of fish. I didn't get my bonefish, but am even more excited about the Awa I caught. In all of the years fishing Hawaii growing up I never caught one, and my first trip with a fly rod I unexpectedly caught one.
I started casting out from there hoping that one of his friends was still around. After a couple casts a fish took my fly. After a decent fight I had a half pound papio to hand.
There was a really strong offshore wind, so I decided to move down the beach a little to where casting would be more bearable. After a bunch of casts a fish hammered my fly and immediately began taking line. Then it started jumping. I got a good look at the fish and it looked like a bonefish, but it was jumping. I kept thinking, do bonefish jump?
The fight reminded me a lot of a really good Coho fight. The fish made many good runs and provided lots of acrobatics. I was finally able to bring it to hand and landed this:
This was the first awa'aua (Hawaiian ladyfish) I've ever caught. The day ended with losing one other fish, having a big omilu (Bluefin trevally) come right to my rod tip, and landing a roi. All n all it was a fun morning with a unique mix of fish. I didn't get my bonefish, but am even more excited about the Awa I caught. In all of the years fishing Hawaii growing up I never caught one, and my first trip with a fly rod I unexpectedly caught one.
