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Fishing for the Omaka run at the KMCB Pier, Kaneohe – June 6, 2012




Bummed about my recent finger injury from rock climbing, I have been quite restless and have somewhat been resorting to less demanding activities like fishing. Not that I don’t like fishing, but not having the choice of picking climbing is a real downer. Eric Aoyama, an avid fisherman that I met at the climbing gym had been posting some awesome pics of Omaka (Yellowtail Scad) he had caught on his Facebook/Instagram feed. Naturally jealous, as I had not caught Omaka in FOREVER, I asked if I could tag along on one of his fishing fiascoes…


For those of you who are not familiar with the golden fish, it is an inshore marine fish, belonging to the Jack family, Carangidae. It is most similar locally to Big Eye Scad or Akule (juveniles: Halalu) locally, but it somewhat more oily in flavor. They feed on small fishes and crustaceans, and often spawn in bays and inland areas throughout the Indo-West Pacific to Hawaii.


We (Eric, his friend Elise and I) headed out to the pier at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base, just after sunrise to an attempt to catch the morning bite.


One of the more common methods to hooking Omaka, is by using live-bait. Fortunately, there were large schools of Nehu (Hawaiian Anchovy) swimming around and under the pier, which can easily be caught using light tackle Damashi rigs (pre-tied string of ~6 flies/lures and hooks).


Elise was a pro at hooking them, and often hooked several on the same rig.


Another fisherman was netting the Nehu with a large coned-shaped net that he drooped over the side of the pier. He would sometimes chum (palu) and wait until the dense school of fish would swim over the net, when he would pull the cone upwards. I guess this is legal, but I had a hard time accepting this as “not cheating,” lol. Seriously, he netted them by the 100s and probably had thousands in his cooler.


Anyhooo… we had enough for ourselves. After allowing them some time to recover in the bucket, the Nehu were lightly hooked through the upper jaw, and using a dunking rig, they were dropped off the side of the pier and stopped several feet above the bottom. NOTE, hooking Nehu almost anywhere else on their body results in a preemptive death, as they are somewhat weak fish. This is also why most fishermen need a number of them, as they have to change their bait often.


A short time later, Eric hooks up with an average sized Omaka.


Which can be made to look “MONSTA’ (larger)” if held close to the camera, haha. Jedi mind-trick / fishermen secrets revealed. =X


Another fisherman next to us, who was using dough for bait (mix of bread, flour, water, sardines, and tomato paste, etc.), hooks up with something bigger than an Omaka, and struggles to get the fish in on light tackle.


After what seemed like an epic battle, we found out it was a nice sized Pualu that may have been almost 2 lbs. Pualu (similar to Palani) is a Surgeonfish which is common in Hawaii, and is known for a good fight and is decent eating.


Fishing for Omaka can be fruitful, depending on the time of year you fish. There always appears to be some around, but the best time is likely in the early summer months when they gather in large numbers in bays to spawn. I’ve heard stories of them attacking Nehu schools from below, making the water boil as the baitfish flee for their lives. Omaka can be prepared in several ways, but the most common recipes either include; light flour, salt and pepper, and deep frying them; or “Chinese style,” steaming and eating with ginger, scallions, shoyu (soy sauce), and peanut oil… recipes can vary, and might get slapped from my relatives for detailing this part incorrectly. Furicken hungry now. Hope you learned something.

To view this location on a Google Map also known as my “Adventure Map“, Click Here. For more adventures of the Lost Trailblazers, either look at my other blogposts and “Adventures with the Lost Trailblazers” photo gallery. Thanks for visiting and come back again soon!

Questions??? Just ask!!!


7 Comments for Fishing for the Omaka run at the KMCB Pier, Kaneohe – June 6, 2012


Jason Brennan

Cory, you definitely should get this linked to some tour guide for HI. Your ability to capture awesome images along with a great story is so unique. I send my friends who are visiting HI on vacation to your website so they can get a glimpse of what HI is really about. Keep it up! Very impressive!!!

Reply

    Cory

    Aloha Jay,

    As you mention, I just like documenting an active, adventurous lifestyle and sharing it with people (both local residents, locals who’ve moved away, and visitors from all over the world)… hopefully making them appreciate their/our island home more, and/or to spend more time outdoors. As many of the things I do are not safe and sometimes not legal, I will do my best not to commercialize the site or make any profit off of Aloha from 808. It’s just nice knowing that people care or are interested in what I have to share. Mahalo for you praise and everything else you have done for me in my younger years (which is by far too much to list here)!! I hope all is well with you and your beautiful family.

    Aloha,

    Cory

    Reply

Gary

Enjoyed reading your post Cory. i was stationed on Kaneohe in the late 80’s. A good friend Ray Nakamura introduced me to omaka fishing. I fished many mornings around the air station . We rigged small mylar flies in tandem that were dropped behind a clear plastic bobber. We would find a school attacking baitfish qnd throw this rig out in front of them and retrive in a jerking motion. Sometimes we would catch several on a single cast. Lots of fun. This brings back many good memories. Many thanks.

Reply

    Cory

    Aloha Gary,

    Thank you for sharing your fishing story with me. I thoroughly enjoy it when others share / exchange such tales, especially if it was from a time when I was just learning about fishing… brings back good memories! 🙂 Hope all is well and that you are still making time to go fishing.

    Mahalo nui for visiting my site,

    Cory

    Reply

Mike

Cory…………….You definately have the gift………………… WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have returned home after 33 years of being on the mainland. I lost touch with all that you are putting here. I have searched and I have spoken to many people but your photos and descriptions have enlightened me to everything that I want to do AGAIN since I ve returned home. Mahalo so very very much for your descriptions and photos of all of the fish. It sure beats looking at the drawings in the regulation book. I now am able to see what all the fish are thanks to you. You are EXTREME in the best way MAHALO

Reply

    Cory

    Aloha Mike,

    Welcome back to the islands and mahalo nui for your kind words. I’m glad that I could help you get back to your roots. Take care and hope you get some hanapa‘a soon!

    Aloha no,

    Cory

    Reply

chad

looks like good stuff over there!!

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