Blue Water Fishing Techniques

Trolling

Trolling involves the charter vessel moving through the water at about 7 – 9 mph and having multiple artificial lures trailing behind the boat, attached to fishing poles, and imitating swimming or wounded bait fish. Most widely used fishing technique in all of the Hawaiian Islands.

Live Baiting

Live baiting involves “slow trolling” live baitfish through the water behind the charter boat at about 2 mph and attached to a designated number of fishing poles. The anglers on board must generally catch the “live” bait. When live bait is available, the captain of the vessel employs this fishing technique often, as it is probably the most guaranteed form of catching any fish swimming in the waters off Hawaii Island.

Dead Baiting/Cut Bait

Dead bait fishing or cut bait fishing means that the vessel is either moving along very slowly or stopped with a designated number of fishing poles attached to the dead bait or cut bait. Primarily used when fishing “floating” debris or during the winter months in Hawaii where ballyhoo baitfish are an abundant food source for our migrating fish. This technique is also very successful when fishing the inshore reefs.

Bottom Fishing

Bottom fishing is a technique used to catch fish that are located on the bottom of the ocean or inshore reefs. This technique is used with the vessel is stopped and drifting along the sea surface above the ocean floor. The depth of water fished using this technique is usually from 20 ‘ to 300’ of water depth. The species usually caught are amberjack, shark, snapper and all types of reef fish species.

Fly Fishing

Fly-fishing is a rare form of gear technique and the passenger on board must bring along his or her own fly-fishing tackle, as none are available on board the vessel. This technique involves casting an artificial “fly/lure” imitation out to feeding fish. The purest form of fishing there is!

Jigging

Jig fishing involves using metal lures from a spinning rod when the vessel is stopped. Jig fishing can be done when the vessel is in shallow water or in deep water depending on what fish species are being targeted. This technique involves the angler “free spooling” or casting the artificial lure to fish suspended near the bottom or near the surface of the ocean. The lure retrieval technique is usually performed utilizing “spinning reel” tackle and can be learned on board quickly by novice anglers.

Heavy Tackle

Heavy tackle is defined as any rod and reel combination in the 80 lb. to 130 lb. main line class. This tackle is generally used to subdue fish from securely mounted deck fighting chairs, as it is quite heavy for most anglers to use standing up.

Light Tackle

Light tackle is considered any tackle in the 20 lb. – 50 lb. line class and generally much lighter in weight than heavy tackle. Light tackle fishing is generally used with the angler standing and holding the rod and reel combination.