| You're an avid fly fisher and your family has voted | | | | fish use as trails in between the deeper and inshore |
| that this year's trip will be to sunny Hawaii! "Sure," | | | | waters. Remember that Hawaii fish are more inclined |
| you think to yourself as you quietly bemoan the fact | | | | toward fast or erratic action and are very savvy in |
| that here are two more weeks you'll be away from | | | | taking advantage of the sharp coral to cut lines and |
| your beloved mountain stream especially when your | | | | disappoint anglers. |
| spey casting technique is just a few throws from | | | | A number of areas like those shallows that have |
| perfection... | | | | sediment deposits from rivers would offer a less |
| Don't forget to pack your fly fishing gear!! | | | | appealing bottom to the anglers but are nonetheless |
| Hawaii fly fishing is definitely under the radar when it | | | | attractive to hungry trevallies (papio), bonefish (o'io), |
| comes to fly fishing destinations but those willing to | | | | barracuda (kaku), and ladyfish (awa awa). All of |
| give it a try will find in this unlikely place is some of | | | | these will give you a fight that you will remember all |
| the best fly fishing to be found anywhere. First off, | | | | of your days! |
| you've got more choices than many locations, and | | | | If you don't like walking in the water, areas near |
| access... real easy access, to spots with good | | | | harbors and river mouths, breakwaters, and piers, will |
| prospects for near shore game fish guaranteed to | | | | generally give you access to these same fish. And, if |
| strip your reel! | | | | you're really bent on success (vs. the simple |
| Fresh- and Saltwater Fishing Options | | | | enjoyment of working your line) there are a number |
| Albeit very limited, Hawaii fly fishing options do include | | | | of guides that you can hook up with who can take |
| opportunities for freshwater fishing. But, hey, you | | | | you out and increase your chances tremendously of |
| can do that at home! There are only a few rivers | | | | getting the fly fishing tale of your life! |
| throughout the island chain and the streams are | | | | The deeper waters of Hawaii's bays and harbors are |
| virtually devoid of anything large enough to take a | | | | also the spots for seasonal game like big-eyed scad |
| fly. A few of the reservoirs and rivers offer some | | | | (akule) and their juvenile siblings, halalu. When these |
| good prospects for the likes of bass, tucanare, | | | | are running close to shore, you'll notice scores of |
| perch, and others. You can even find a couple spots | | | | anglers casting into congregating schools near the |
| with trout. But those bodies of fresh water which | | | | shore and getting a spot that will allow you some |
| offer any fishing prospects all require a license which | | | | room to work your fly might be a bit tricky... but it |
| while quite inexpensive and easy to obtain still mean | | | | certainly is worth trying to work the outer |
| an extra step, right? And, anyway, since some of | | | | perimeters of the crowd in search of the roaming |
| these areas require a lottery or limit entry to certain | | | | fish or the larger predators lurking in the hopes of |
| times, most folks simply gravitate to the easiest | | | | preying on unsuspecting school members! |
| fishing grounds of all, the ocean! | | | | Open Ocean |
| Requiring neither a license nor special access | | | | Hawaii is one of those spots that also offers the |
| privileges, Hawaii's beaches offer almost unlimited | | | | opportunity for deep sea fly fishing. And although the |
| opportunities for fly fishing or any other fishing venue | | | | threat of lines being cut on rocks is non-existent |
| for that matter. And, especially suited to fly fishing | | | | when you're angling from a boat, the size of the |
| are the sheltered waters of harbors, bays, and reef | | | | game is really something you have to consider when |
| areas where bonefish, trevally, barracuda, and other | | | | presenting your stream- or river-appropriate gear. |
| shallow water predators patrol. | | | | Out in the deep, should you decide on going on a |
| A drive around any of the islands will yield a number | | | | charter boat, the targets are dolphin (mahimahi), tuna |
| of spots where the bottom and water conditions will | | | | (aku and ahi), wahoo, sailfish, marlin, and anything else |
| appear suitable for fly fishing and chances are if it | | | | that has contributed to Hawaii's reputation as a |
| looks good, it probably is! Unlike freshwater spots | | | | world-class sport fishing destination. |
| where the fish are either there or not, Hawaii's shore | | | | Just Do It! |
| fishing grounds are visited by fish which roam quite | | | | Whatever type of fly fishing you think you might try |
| liberally and what might be a dead spot on one day | | | | here in Hawaii, keep in mind that unless you hook up |
| could very well be a hot spot the next. | | | | with a guide you won't find a lot of others, if any, on |
| Since you from the mainland know a heck of a lot | | | | your ventures into Hawaiian waters. However, do |
| more about freshwater fishing fare than we could | | | | know that there are a number of anglers who are |
| ever hope to learn here in the islands, this article will | | | | pursuing the sport with a vigor matching the most |
| instead focus on Hawaii's saltwater fly fishing | | | | ardent fly fishers from the shores and river banks of |
| prospects! | | | | Alaska to the flats of Florida and everywhere in |
| Reefs & Flats | | | | between. |
| As you travel around the islands you'll notice a | | | | Hawaii is probably the next place to explode in |
| number of beach locations where the water depth is | | | | popularity on the fly fishing circuit as it offers serious |
| quite minimal and the bottom is a mixture of coral | | | | fishing opportunities along with attractions for the |
| and an occasional patch of sand. These grounds are | | | | rest of your family. So get out of your depression in |
| conducive to game like small trevallies and bonefish | | | | looking for luaus and fire dancing shows and start |
| along with assorted goat fish, wrasses, and | | | | prepping your fly fishing gear and doing some really |
| barracuda all of which are capable of giving you a real | | | | enjoyable research. |
| run for the money! | | | | Your trip to Hawaii might just be the biggest fly |
| You can walk these shallows working your fly/popper | | | | fishing experience of your life and one even most |
| into the sand pathways that you'll notice and that | | | | local folk have yet to discover! |