Marlin Fishing in and around the island of Oahu, Hawaii
Blue and Black Marlin are large apex predators, they are in charge and when hooked they adopt an angry attitude that says I'm going to kick somebody's butt. A marlin's primary diet is tuna and wherever tuna congregate you can expect to find marlin.
The large schools of Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna that take up residence on the Makaha Coast are marlin magnets and Shannon and the crew of the "Live Bait" know how to catch them. Unlike the boats coming from Waikiki, Haleiwa, Ko Olina, Pearl Harbor or Honolulu which primarily use the troll and pray methom of Marlin Fishing, the "Live Bait" uses a live skipjack tuna and because the "Live Bait" doesn't have a several hour run to get to or from the area Shannon will often catch a marlin (or two) long before the other charter boats arrive and long after they leave.
Along with Black and Blue Marlin a lot of other billfish frequent the Waianae coast of Oahu and the "Live Bait" catches lot's of Striped Marlin and Spearfish and occasionally a sailfish. Schools of Billfish are fairly common in the calm waters along the Makaha coast.
The "Live Bait" caught the
biggest marlin in the 2008 "Ahi Fever" Fishing tournament on Oahu, Hawaii and also in the
2010 Ahi Fever Tournament.
Fishing for Mahimahi and Wahoo (Ono) on the island of Oahu
Another big game species the frequents the western shore of Oahu is the Mahimahi. Although not as large as the Ahi and Blue Marlin, Mahimahi are ferocious feeders and fun to catch. A large bull mahi (male) will weigh in at 60 to 70 pounds and a large female at 35 to 40 pounds. Mahi travel in harems with one or two big bulls and a group of females. The "Live Bait" has developed a system, using live mackerel (Opelu), that allows them to catch
most of the harem.
Wahoo are another big game fish that are frequently caught on the Waianae coast. They tend to congregate on deep water ledges and around floating debris. When the "Live Bait" locates a school of Wahoo (Ono) they will use wire line and downriggers to catch them.
Ahi Fever - Fishing for Yellowfin Tuna
On the Makaha coast of Oahu, Hawaii
Giant Yellowfin Tuna (Ahi) school in large numbers along the calm Makaha Coast of Oahu. Unlike the north shore of Oahu where the fish occasionally migrate along the coast, every summer large schools of Ahi stop offshore of the Waianae Boat Harbor, sometimes staying in the same area for months at a time.
While other charter fishing boats are traveling for hours from distant harbors like Haleiwa, Ko Olina, Waikiki, Pearl Harbor or Honolulu to reach these fish the "Live Bait" is just minutes away. Because this annual congregation of big Yellowfin Tuna, the Waianae Boat Harbor is home to Waianae Hawaii's
Ahi Fever Fishing Tournament.
Shannon and the crew of "Live Bait" missed a first place finish in the 2009 Ahi Fever Tournament by two pounds but were happy to go home with a second place in the
2009 "Ahi Fever" Hawaii's most prestigious fishing tournament.