Fishing aboard the Meagan II from Waianae Hawaii
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fishing on 18 Jul 2003 with Walt Johnson and granson TJ
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Apr 13, 2003
Rick and Kim Peterson brought Branden, Phil, Derek and Tim to try and pick up some eating fish. We departed the harbor at about 650am and headed to Kaena pt again. On the ledge at Kepui, the starboard outrigger came down and the reel was screaming. Brandon jumped in the chair and set to work. after a short fight, the fish gave up and came right in. We boated a nice ono of about 20#. it was only 750am and we prepared for some good action. After reaching Kaena and fishing for about two hours, we still had not had our second bite but we got to watch some whales. We decided to try our luck on the 1000 fathom line.
We found several boats working a large pile of terns at about 7 miles and we caught one aku(4#) but the birds disapated so we headed for the middle(the water was getting sloppy). It seems that the fish had left town as we covered a lot of water without luck. We left S bouy at 3pm and headed for the harbor. Just outside the harbor, while clearing lines, the port rigger came down but didnt take any line. We quickly set up on the 130sw and reeled the small yellowfin to the boat. Was a slow day, but we had fun and we caught fish.
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Apr 12, 2003
Fishing with Mark Clark and his crew from Schofield(Aaron, Josh, John Jeff and Kyle) we left the harbor at about 645am and headed out to Kaena pt amid thunderstorm warnings.
The forecast was that the trades would blow the thunderstorms out, so we decided to chance it. Fishing was very slow, but we had a few bites. It would seem the first fish, a tuna of about 7#, would set the tone for the day. After a good fight on light tackle, Bob lifted the fish out of the water just as the light line broke. We had several more good opportunities but it seemed it was not our day. two ono, two mahi and another nice aku all got away. We did pick up one nice shibi(small yellowfin tuna) which Mark's son did not think was so little.
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Apr 2, 2003
anglers: Terry and Dean Wanner from Hawaii and friends Gigi, Greg and Jerrod
We left the harbor in good spirits for a 3/4 day of fishing. I had just returned from my vacation and was eager to get back to catching fish. Dean had stated that he preferred to get some small fish rather than go for that one big one. With this in mind, we headed down the ledge towards Kaena Pt. Working the 40 fathom ledge was a good way to pick up some small tuna and ono.
At approx 830am, just as we were approaching Kaena pt, the starboard rigger went and line began screaming out. Terry was in the chair and hooked up quickly but the fish quit taking line and instead just bulldogged against the big 130st reel. Terry was up to the task and in a few minutes we were gaffing a nice 30# ono.
After setting up again we continued to work the ledge, catching skipjack tuna in the 3-8# size sparadically on light spinning tackle. The larger one providing quite a fight.
We had eventually worked our way out to about 5 miles and found a school of dolphin and knew we werent going to find smaller fish there. after a brief sightseeing period, we went back inside towards the point. This, as it turns out, was a great day for sightseeing as we had great photo ops for 5 different pods of humpback whales and lots of pacific whitespotted dolphin.
Halfway back inside, the port rigger started screaming and a mahi mahi was jumping on the end of the line. Of course, Terry was up again, much to the guys chagrin. Terry went to work and made quick work of the Mahi(about 25 lbs). The we started to hit some non-stop action, with a triple yellow fin(8-10#) double skipjacks(6-8#) just kept happening. .
As I made a wide turn to return to the tunas, the starboard rigger took off again, this time Gigi was up. The ono(25#) didnt give her much trouble and we were able to gaff it quickly.
After spend all the time we could catching fish, we eventually had to turn for home. The bite had slowed down anyway. We rigged some large baits and trolled the deep looking for a big marlin on the return to the harbor. Unfortunately, none could be found but we still had a great day.
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Feb 15, 2003
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anglers: John Brannum from San Diego and Bill Fisher from Phoenix (day 6) local angler, Rowand Liu has joined us for the final day.
The weather appears more co-operative as we leave the harbor at 730am under clear skies. We proceed to S-bouy and find it "lifeless" so we head out toward Nanakuli lineup. Shortly we recieve a report of "very nasty" water out there and little life so we change plans and head for R-bouy. At r-bouy we are greeted with half a dozen other boats working the inside to avoid the nasty water outside. A friend informs me he has picked up a "shortnose" spearfish at R-bouy so we continue to work the area. After a short period we were greeted with a solid strike on the long rigger(Shiroma) and we set up with Bill on the rod. The fish did not put up much fight, even on the 50w and was quickly subdued. A small mahi-mahi was brought aboard and supper was secured.
after returning to S-bouy we let out some small baits for the skipjack that had been prevelant in the area all week. One of the small rods started screaming and we were hooked up, but definately not small aku. Bill was again on the rod and worked the fish up and down. A brief glimpse revealed the fish to be yellowfin(approx 20 pounds) just as the fish approached the boat and made a dive for the bottom. This was too much and the line parted with a crisp "snap".
We continued to work the area without success and decided to visit the ledge(40 fathom) prior to returning to the harbor. We were treated to a pair of Humpback whales, leaping out of the water, over and over. What an awesome sight!
At the harbor, we sat around and recounted the week and past fishing days and gave thanks for good friends who make times like this possible. Aloha, Hank
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Feb 14, 2003
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anglers: John Brannum from San Diego and Bill Fisher from Phoenix (day 5)
The entire island is socked in under thunderstorms and rain. The Kids were planned for 1/2 day so the trip was just cancelled.
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Feb 13, 2003
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anglers: John Brannum from San Diego and Bill Fisher from Phoenix (day 4)
We left the harbor at about 730am and headed back out to the vicinity of CO-bouy after rouching base at R-bouy. Conditions were considerably different with thunderstorms threatining and generally low light conditions all over. The sea was still flat, but the water a bit cold. we worked the area until about 11am and decided to call it a day. We raised just one fish, a striped marlin about half way between r-bouy and co-bouy but he didnt get the hook and wouldnt come back to teasing.
All in all, a disappointing day, but we still managed to raise one fish and catch a dozen skipjack.
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Feb 12, 2003
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anglers: John Brannum from San Diego and Bill Fisher from Phoenix (day 3)
We left the harbor at approx 620am and trolled towards S-bouy but there was no apparent life here so we trolled towards R-bouy, but there was no apparent life there, so finally, we headed out towards CO-bouy in hopes we could finally find some action.
At about 930am with Co bouy in sight, we took a hard strike on the short rigger. It appeared to be a 50 pound striped marlin, after teasing him over and over, we set back up and raised another marlin on the long rigger, but it came off right away. Starting a turn to work the area, we were greeted with a solid strike and hook up on the short rigger(black soft head). The small stripe was solidly hooked up and boated within about 10 minutes by John.
The ensuing battle between mate and marlin was classic. We all sat on the flying bridge and laughed until our sides were sore at Bob westling with this small striped marlin.
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 Bob losing the stick gaff.....  Bob wrestling with unruly 30# striped marlin, sans gaff  .....Bob screaming in triump after 15 minute battle
after boating the 30 pound striped marlin, we worked the area for another hour but were only able to pick up some skipjack. We proceeded east toward Nanakuli and followed signs of life all the way down the line. Picking up skipjack up to 8 pounds with regularity, but could not raise any more marlin. Begrudging, we headed in and raised another marlin at about the ten mile point, but he came off immediately. as we proceeded farther inwards, we raised another marlin at about the 6 mile point outside of R bouy. We quickly set up on him but it was just in time to see him jump his way off the hook.
we worked the area for half an hour and then decided to call it a day. we trolled back to the harbor and continued to pick up skippies in the blind.
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Feb 11, 2003
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anglers: John Brannum from San Diego and Bill Fisher from Phoenix (day 2)
We arrived at the boat at about 715am and decided to complete the installation of the two bridge seats, so after three trips to the hardware shop and some tinkering, we departed the harbor at about 915am.
Heading out into calm waters, we proceeded to S bouy. There was a nice concentration of skipjack breaking the surface so we were confident of finding a marlin there. We finally decided to leave the bouy to investigate reports of a large blue in Nanakuli valley when a good sized striped marlin began greyhounding towards the long outrigger(black softhead). We all braced in anticipation of the strike, but it never came. We spent some additional time trying to raise the fish again, without success and finally headed out to Nanakuli valley.
After proceeding to the Nanakuli lineup via the 500 fathom line, we headed outward on the lineup. After a couple of hours working between 5-15 miles in and out, we went back to the 500 fathom around the power plant but were still unable to raise a fish.
Working our way back to S bouy resulted in catching quite a few skipjack, but no further marlin action. as we worked the area around S bouy we spotted a fish and quickly rigged to livebait the next available aku. We quickly obtained a bait and were set to go. Immediately we had a pickup on the bait and John attempted, without success, to set the hook. We brought the bait in for inspection and it was alive but really weak. Because of the time we decided to stick with it and set up again.
We saw a large blue marlin tail come into the pattern and everyone became quiet and intensely focused. We waited but nothing happened. After an uneventful 5 minutes, the bait went and John again tried to set the hook. Then, while we were all focused on the live bait, something swirled the teaser. John immediately put down the live bait and pitched a dead aku to the teaser and it was immediatly taken. Then we saw the bottle nose dolphin. We had been hornswoggled by the pirate. Dang. We picked up lines and headed for the harbor, returning at approx 530pm.
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Feb 10, 2003
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anglers: John Brannum from San Diego and Bill Fisher from Phoenix
On a nice clear Hawaiian morning we left Waianae Harbor approx 730am. We set lines almost immediately and proceeded to troll toward S bouy. We were working with two 80w and 2 50w outfits rigged for stand up fighting.
At approx 830am, a nice striped marlin came in hot on the starbord rigger(purple softhead) and he hooked up. Bill took the chair and buckled up as the fish took to the air. Alas, on the 3rd leap, the fish tossed the lure back at us. Darned, another one that got away. Even more frustrating is the fact that Bill has never caught a marlin despite being so aptly named(BillFisher)
We set up and worked the area, but no other fish would rise. We worked the 500 fathom down to kolina resort, and then back to S bouy. We picked up some small aku(skipjack tuna) on the feathers and kept them for pitch baits later.
After hearing from another boat, we decided to try the area on the 1000 fathom curve outside of R bouy, but still were unable to raise a fish. I decided to go back to the area where we had raised the fish earlier.
As we approached the S bouy we hooked up a pair of small aku and were in the process of landing them when I saw the marlin trying to eat one of the hooked fish. We immediately bridled one of the aku and pitched it back. Nothing. After clearing all the trolling lines, we decided to continue with the live bait around the area.
Just for a little insurance, we rigged a small aku as a pitch bait and ran out a short teaser. At 4pm we were running out of time when Bill spotted the telltale stick behind the teaser. John quickly pitched the bait to the fish and he took it. Then he dropped it, took it again..and then dropped it again. It appeared that the fish had lost interest, but we tried to pull the bait away fast and the fish grabbed it and hooked up solid.
John passed the rod to Bill and the fight was on. the fish was hooked on 50 and was about 65 pounds so he ripped off about 150 yards of line on the initial run. As we backed on the fish a little, he settled down and Bill got him turned. After another 15 minutes of pumping the fish, he came to leader fairly docile.
Bill Fisher had captured his first billfish!
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Feb 8, 2003
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anglers: Dave Hafey and his lovely wife Barbara, Bob Ehlert, from Seattle area, and Lara and Faye from Alaska
At about 7am we departed Waianae harbor into calm seas and headed for S bouy. At S bouy we were able to land 3 small tuna(skipjack) and then proceeded out to the 1000 fathom curve. About a mile away from the bouy we were attacked by a small marlin that tried repeatedly to eat the short rigger(purple softhead) without success. We worked the area for another 30 minutes before heading back out to the 1000 fathom line. after trying the 1000 for a couple of hours, we headed back inside to R bouy and picked up some more tuna(skipjack) after which we were surrounded by a large school of dolphin that played with the boat for a half hour. Leaving the dolphin we proceeded inside the bouy and spotted a humpback whale that we watched for about 30 minutes before continuing back to S bouy.
after picking up some more small tuna at S bouy, unable to raise another marlin, we had run out of time and proceeded uneventfully toward the harbor.
We reached the harbor at about 4 pm with everyone in good spirits and we all vowed to return and go after the "one that got away"
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