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From Jan 01, 1999 To May 09, 2008
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Mar 22, 2005; 05:29PM - Hot water - hot fishing
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
It's amazing what a difference a few degrees of water temperature can make when it comes to peacock bass fishing.
On Saturday the water temp was 72 degrees with cloudy skies. We saw a few peacock bass, but they would quickly scatter anytime we landed a fly near them. Some guys were using live bait and having no luck.
On Sunday the sun was out and the water temp got up to 74 -75 degrees. The bass club tournament results showed a few peacock bass, the guys were using lures and mostly caught largemouth bass. A few peacock bass on streamer flys. At least I'm seeing a lot more fish even though they are ignoring me.
Monday.... clear sky and lots of sunshine. Water temperature is 78, 79, even 80 degrees in some places. The peacock bass are stacked up like cord wood.
Some are still a little skittish. Most seem to be paring up for spawning. Others have picked out a spot and are defending it. Fish are starting to get aggressive.
There was one other angler on the lake. He was largemouth fishing, but mostly catching peacocks. I was having a ball on my little 4 weight fly rod.
My plan had been to only target the red devils, but the peacock bass wouldn't leave me alone. Try catching a 3 pound peacock on a bluegill rod..... it is exciting.
Hoping for more sunshine
Aloha,
Stan |
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Feb 28, 2005; 06:45PM - Hawaii Report
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
The peacock bass are starting to pair up and look for spawning sights. There has been lots of rain and overcast skis have kept the water temperature in the 71 to 74 degree range. Not warm enough to get these 'tropical' Peacock Bass active and moving around much. We're seeing a lot more, but they don't seem interested in any thing live bait, flys, or lures.
Last week Friday the water temp hit 76 in the late afternoon and the action heated up. The largest that day was a 4 1/2 pounder. The red devils also got pretty aggressive. Good fun on the light fly rods we were using. All and all it's been some tough fishing, but next week....................
Largemouth action has been nice. Fish are averaging 2 to 3 pounds. Haven't seen any of those 5000 little 8 inch bass we stocked last spring. They are up around 12 inches now and usually all over the place and very aggressive. You don't suppose those big peacock bass.......... naw!
Hope this finds all you and yours healthy and happy. If you have any questions or anything, just ask.
Aloha,
Stan |
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Dec 18, 2004; 04:22PM - Hawaii Largemouth
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
Aki & Hirouki Ide were here in Hawaii for the Honolulu Marathon........ After finishing the race they still had time (and energy) for a little bass fishing. Tokyo offers some largemouth, but between strict government regulations and lack of places to fish it takes a dedicated angler to go for bass.
Now they have photographs of some nice largemouth and peacock bass to go with that picture of them crossing the finish line.
Water temperatures are starting to climb and the fish are becoming more active. I consider the action to be slow, with only 3 to 5 fish being landed on a trip. On the other hand, we haven't caught anything under 4 pounds....... so should I really be complaining?
Starting to see more Tukes from 1 to 3 pounds. If and when they get hungry, we'll have lots of fun action..
Aloha,
Stan |
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Dec 13, 2004; 04:35PM - Hawaii Freshwater Report
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
The water temperature dropped to 71 degrees and the peacock bass fishing has really slowed down .
We've only been catching 2 to 5 peacocks a day, but they were all in the 4 pound bracket.
Congratulations to Scott Wood on catching his first peacock bass. A nice 4 1/4 pounder . He did a great job using an ultra-light spinning rig and 6 pound test. The fly fishing just wasn't what the fish were looking for that day. Well, except for that 10 pounder that got in the trees and broke his 6 pound test tippet. (any fish that gets away always weighs at least 10 pounds)
The largemouth bass have been active with the cooler water. Mostly 2 to 3 pound fish. Almost all the action has been on white Senkos and spinner baits. Some times live bait will get them to hit when the fish just follow but not take the fly.
As soon as the sun heats the water backup, and the lake level drops 3 or 4 feet so the baitfish can't hid in the grass, the peacock bass action should really improve.
Aloha,
Stan |
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Nov 24, 2004; 06:57PM - Hawaii Freshwater Report
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
Even with high water levels, a drop in water temperature from 82 to 74 degrees and water visibility going from 4 feet to less than a foot........ the fishing action has been pretty good..
Chris is still in the hunt for the Tournament of Champions. The top 10 anglers in our club (Hawaii Freshwater Fishing Assoc) fish a special year end tournament. The largemouth bass action was good enough to keep the competition keen. Best bass lure, a white lizard.
The cold water stopped the peacock bass from chasing shad, but didn't hurt their appetite. Craig Johnston, visiting family from the mainland, took his two boys for a day of fishing. Craig and Logan are the fly fishermen and caught some peacock bass cruising the shoreline. They missed some really nice fish. Eleven year old Conner used a light spinning rod and live bait to land fish in the 3 1/2 to 4 pound range. Several times The fly fishermen would spot a large fish or have one chase their fly. Quick as a flash, young Conner would toss a small live tilapia at the excited peacock bass for an instant hook up and the fight was on. Next time he said he would Dad and older brother catch some of the big ones. .... LOL
Aloha,
Stan |
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Nov 19, 2004; 06:49PM - TV fishing show
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
It seems strange being on TV again. I left the Let's Go Fishing show in 1988. It's now called Hawaii Goes Fishing with Ben Wong. The water in Lake Wilson was super high from the rains and the temp. was 76 degrees. But we were still able to catch enough peacock bass for a small segment.
Man, I forgot how much work it is to do a fishing show....... But we had a great time. Thanks guys.
Aloha,
Stan |
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Oct 26, 2004; 06:00PM - Tiny Senkos
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
Weather: Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Humidity 89% Temperature 81..... Feels like 87.
The glassy calm of the lake was broken only by the schools of shad that dimpled the surface. 'Nervous water' they call it. Then everything would explode. Tiny baitfish leaped from the water as schools of 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pound peacock bass went into a feeding frenzy.
The peacock bass ignored our larger lures, so we finally settled on the 3 inch white Senko rigged Texas style with no weight. On 6 pound test spinning tackle it was lots of fun.
Hanyu Yoshiro, from Japan, had never fished for bass, but his skills as an avid angler quickly showed that he could handle the feisty peacocks. Even a nice 3 pound largemouth. His friend, Dr. Min Li, also had no trouble with light spinning tackle. When ever one angler hooked up, the other would grab a camera and start recording the emotion and excitement of the moment.
I'm not sure how many fish we caught, but it was 3 hours of the most exciting fishing I can recall in a long time.
Aloha,
Stan |
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Oct 18, 2004; 05:05PM - Piranha or Pacu? Any ideas?
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
Piranha or Pacu? Any idea?
It was a wild strike. The 'fish' hit a live tilapia tossed to a cruising Peacock bass. The 'fish' took the bait, ran about 10 feet and the hook came out. It turned and attacked the bait again.
The fight lasted over 8 minutes. (Chris was using #4 test) It even jumped twice.
We called the Hawaii Aquatics Division to see about getting a positive ID. There have been unconfirmed reports of piranha being caught in Lake Wilson. Piranha are illegal in Hawaii.
Some friends suggest it might be a Pacu (vegetarian piranha)
which are legal. With the teeth on this bad boy, it could husk coconuts.
The picture is posted in the Picture Gallery of my web site.
hawaiibassfishing.com
We figure that the 'fish' out grew it's aquarium and the owner tossed it into the lake. If you have any ideas about what it is..... please let us know.
What ever it is......... illegal or not.......... it's the new State Record. LOL
Aloha,
Stan
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Oct 2, 2004; 05:21PM - Ultra-Light Peacock bass
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
It was a Holo Holo fishing day. Just fishing for the fun of it. The peacock bass were schooling, chasing tiny shad. We figured 'tiny shad'..... tiny lures and ultra light tackle. Using 4# test spinning outfits and small white road runner jigs, we set off for a day of fun.
And fun it was. The fish averaged 1 to 2 pounds. The largest peacock bass weighed just a little over 4 pounds.
When the fish broke the surface, shad leaping from the water, any lure landing in the feeding frenzy would attract a strike. When the fish were down, we used live talipia with one BB size split shot. Those little bait fish would really get excited when a tuke or bass came around.
It was really exciting having 3 people hooked up using 4# test line. OK every one...... your on your own!
Aloha,
Stan
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Sep 27, 2004; 07:27PM - Dogs spot fish.
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Category: Hawaii
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Author Name: Stan Wright
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Author E-mail: stanwright@hawaii.rr.com
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Report Description:
While flyfishing for peacock bass along the shore we heard these two little dogs barking at something at the waters edge. Turns out they had spotted two nice peacock bass chasing small baitfish against the bank. Water levels are down about 3 feet this week and the baitfish had no grass to hide in.
Mr Kuroda cast his white streamer fly right at the dogs feet and started stripping. The smaller Tuke, a 4 pounder, took the offering and the fight was on.
Later, the dogs started barking again and we came back to find them following the school of peacock bass along the shore line. Why can't it always be this easy.
Aloha,
Stan |
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