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4 weeks in Hawaii


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#21 BenCantrell

BenCantrell
  • Moderator
  • Sebastian, FL

Posted 24 February 2016 - 11:13 AM

This doesn't even seem fair, those other poor lifelist guys can't possibly compete with this!

 

I know right??  Totally not fair.   :angry:



#22 MuskieBait

MuskieBait
  • NANFA Guest

Posted 24 February 2016 - 02:29 PM

 

I know right??  Totally not fair.   :angry:

 

Sorry Ben. But you did fish the Midwest and got some awesome lifers that I've yet to see in person. THAT was totally not fair (even if you did send an invite). :fishy:

All kidding aside, I think you and Ruoxi should plan a Hawaii trip in the future. ;)



#23 Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips
  • NANFA Member
  • Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 24 February 2016 - 08:36 PM

Wow, you caught more species on this one trip than my entire lifelist of 46! Nice job, I need to hit a reef sometime to wrack up new species and see what kinds of interesting fish are there :)
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage

#24 Betta132

Betta132
  • NANFA Guest
  • San Gabriel drainage area

Posted 25 February 2016 - 12:06 PM

Incredible variety! Did you get the chance to go SCUBA-ing or snorkeling with them? Also, what was your bait? I'll be going to Kauai at some point in the next few years, and this seems to be a much better way to identify fish than to just photograph fleeing tails and hope you can ID them from that.

 

On the subject of handling/photographing, I usually keep a flat container like a small plastic tank next to me with a gallon or so of water. When I get a fish, it immediately goes into the tank, and then I grab it and tilt it onto its side. Most fish I've encountered will freeze up and flare their fins in an attempt to make themselves harder to swallow. Makes for a decent photo- or it would if I ever had anything other than just my phone and if I tried for anything better than just a quick photo.

San%20Gabriel%20bluegill_zpsdojcwob9.png

Obviously there are species that can't be done with, including your boxfish (toxic) and your scalpel-tailed surgeons, but it might work for the harmless ones like butterflyfish. You're obviously quite careful with them, though, they seem to be in perfect shape.


Edited by Betta132, 25 February 2016 - 12:09 PM.


#25 Isaac Szabo

Isaac Szabo
  • NANFA Member
  • Marble Falls, AR

Posted 25 February 2016 - 12:19 PM

Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.



#26 MuskieBait

MuskieBait
  • NANFA Guest

Posted 25 February 2016 - 08:01 PM

Incredible variety! Did you get the chance to go SCUBA-ing or snorkeling with them? Also, what was your bait? I'll be going to Kauai at some point in the next few years, and this seems to be a much better way to identify fish than to just photograph fleeing tails and hope you can ID them from that.

 

On the subject of handling/photographing, I usually keep a flat container like a small plastic tank next to me with a gallon or so of water. When I get a fish, it immediately goes into the tank, and then I grab it and tilt it onto its side. Most fish I've encountered will freeze up and flare their fins in an attempt to make themselves harder to swallow. Makes for a decent photo- or it would if I ever had anything other than just my phone and if I tried for anything better than just a quick photo.

San%20Gabriel%20bluegill_zpsdojcwob9.png

Obviously there are species that can't be done with, including your boxfish (toxic) and your scalpel-tailed surgeons, but it might work for the harmless ones like butterflyfish. You're obviously quite careful with them, though, they seem to be in perfect shape.

 

I usually go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, but we were unlucky this time (jellyfish causing closure, President Day crowds, strong wind on other days). I don't have my PADI (maybe I will get it one day).

I've considered bring a flat tupperware, or even an old yoga mat, but in all honesty, we don't use them because 1) we're already maxed out with 50lb of luggage, 2) we're usually carrying 30lb+ of fishing gear in backpacks plus a few rods, a cooler and other equipment, and 3) we're often fishing on rocky jetties or cliff side where there's limited level ground.

What I've done, sometimes, is to put a fish I wish to photograph into our bait cooler while I get the camera ready. The cooler prevents the fish from injury (smooth sides) and calms the fish down a bit (cool temperature inside, but never put directly on ice or frozen cooler packs). I have also photographed the fish on the cooler lid on occasion, especially if we're fishing on a beach or really rough ground.

If a fish proved to be too incooperative (thrashing around too much), I simply release them unless it is a new species I wish to document. If it is a new species, I try to rest the fish in a tidepool, or in the cool, or in a net..etc...until it calms down a bit.

Surgeonfishes, in general, are actually very cooperative. I have little trouble photographing them in a prompt manner. The Boxfishes are also very good too. Their hard body make them very easy to handle. They do this little funny thing where they flap their pectoral fins and vibrate, making them spin like a top sometimes if you place them on their belly on a flat surface. Quite comical. But they are darlings and don't cause a lot of fuss. Squirrelfish, on the other hand, likes to flop a lot and they have toxic spines...so they are rather difficult to handle. Large ones can be lipped, but small ones are a handful since their mouths are too small to lip. Morays...they are a headache all the time. Once I've caught one specimen of a species, I try not to catch other specimens of that species. They are just a pain to handle and to photograph. One and done.

Anyways, regarding bait, bread and shrimp worked very well for us. We also had most of our success using really light lines (2-4lb) and very small hooks (#20 and #26). The bonus with the small hooks is that the puncture wound is usually so tiny it doesn't harm the fish (and almost rare to gill hook a fish). The fish do swallow them occasionally, but our hooks are bronze and light wire, so they should rust out in a couple of days. If I don't rinse my hooked with freshwater after fishing, they will start to rust overnight.



#27 Betta132

Betta132
  • NANFA Guest
  • San Gabriel drainage area

Posted 26 February 2016 - 12:17 AM

If space/weight is a concern, Freegrace collapsible buckets work quite well. They're durable, they stand up well even when full, they hold a good bit of water, they're quite lightweight, and they hold a lot of stuff if you want to use them for transport. They also work pretty well on uneven ground. Might be a good place to give a fish a breather without worrying about losing them or having them run into anything hard. 

Your technique obviously works quite well, though. Kudos for taking such care with your catches! Especially the ones that cause trouble- those morays sound frustrating. 

A boxfish top is about the funniest mental image I've had all week. I saw a few of those while snorkeling, but never for very long. For poisonous fish, they're quite shy. Cowfish are, too, and they move fast when they don't want to be somewhere. They swim like Marvin the Martian runs. 



#28 MuskieBait

MuskieBait
  • NANFA Guest

Posted 26 February 2016 - 12:07 PM

If space/weight is a concern, Freegrace collapsible buckets work quite well. They're durable, they stand up well even when full, they hold a good bit of water, they're quite lightweight, and they hold a lot of stuff if you want to use them for transport. They also work pretty well on uneven ground. Might be a good place to give a fish a breather without worrying about losing them or having them run into anything hard. 

Your technique obviously works quite well, though. Kudos for taking such care with your catches! Especially the ones that cause trouble- those morays sound frustrating. 

A boxfish top is about the funniest mental image I've had all week. I saw a few of those while snorkeling, but never for very long. For poisonous fish, they're quite shy. Cowfish are, too, and they move fast when they don't want to be somewhere. They swim like Marvin the Martian runs. 

 

Thanks for the collapsible bucket suggestion. I actually have a small collapsible bucket on this trip. A friend of mine was cleaning out his gear and gave one to me. But this one doesn't even hold 2L of water and it's a bit small for most fish, so I didn't really use it. But I do like the idea (which is why I brought it along on the trip).

I find that large fish in general are much easier to handle. Smaller fish are hard to get a good hold and slip out of hand often. It is probably where the collapsible bucket comes in handy most.

Boxfish and Cowfish are hilarious. They are one of my favourite reef fish to see in person. Lots of personality and very cute. The Spotted Boxfish is quite common in Hawaii. Look around jetties and shallow reefs and you should see a few. I've seen up to 4 together off a jetty. I don't worry much about their toxin. I just make sure not to get poked or cut (where toxin could directly get into bloodstream).



#29 BenCantrell

BenCantrell
  • Moderator
  • Sebastian, FL

Posted 26 February 2016 - 06:07 PM

Who you calling hilarious?  :fishy:

 

DSC03854.JPG



#30 MuskieBait

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  • NANFA Guest

Posted 26 February 2016 - 08:43 PM

Exactly! :biggrin:





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