Hawaiibassfishing Forum

Hey guys, wondering if anyone who has caught some Oio with lures could reccommend some for me. I am currently stateside and will be returning to Hawaii in a few weeks, I wanted to pick up some lures while here to use down at Hickam flats when I return. Anyy suggestions? thanks

We mostly go for oio (bonefish) with fly rod and flys. These are some of the Crazy Charlie flys I've used. Note the big lead eyes. Bonefish feed on crabs and shrimp and stuff on the bottom. So we use heavy flys to get down into the sand and then hop it along. You can get flys at Nervous Water Fly Shop.


I've heard of spinning rod guys using small jigs on the bottom. Like the Foxee Jig By Blue Fox. I think the weight was 1/4 to 5/8 ounce. They stand up on the head and wave the bushy part up in the air... looks like a crab or crawdad or something. I think I got the jigs from Charlie's Fishing Supply.

What ever you use, remember that bonefish are bottom feeders. If your using spinning tackle, just a piece of shrimp or ika on a single hook, (no weight), works. You might also sweeten your jig with a little piece of shrimp or ika too.

I use to fly fish at Hickam flats a lot and orange wooly bugger flies worked really well. If you don't fly fish maybe you could bubble rig them. Or probably tying them to like a 1/8 oz jig head would be better(less splash). Those marabou crappie jigs I guess would be the same thing. For the flies I would tie a few different weights. Some with just bead chain eyes, some bead chain with a small lead wire tied under the body and some with the heavier lead eyes. I would start with the lighter flies and as I waded out further I would go heavier. The main thing I would try to achieve is having my fly just ticking across the rocks and grass without getting hung up to often. If I started to get hung up too much I switched to a lighter fly. But if I wasn't feeling the bottom at all I didn't get many bites. Don't need to work it very fast. If you plan to fly fish a 8wt is ok and a 9wt is better. The wind picks up pretty good around 10am or so. When I waded out there I would see A LOT of mantis shrimp most were a orange to red color..some a light shade of brown. The orange ones seemed to have pronounced white bands Hope this helps. Oh one more tip.......go about 1 hour before low tide, then by the time you get out to the edge of the reef(where most of the action is) it will be at it's lowest point. I'm only 5'5" so I would bring a milk crate with a rope tied around it and carry it over my shoulder. If I got into water that was too deep I would stand up on it so I could cast better and not be up to my chest in water.

There are guys in Kaneohe who bring a step ladder... or even a 6 foot folding ladder and sit on top of that and cast.

Anything that looks like an Opae or shrimp.
http://www.ulua-fishing.com/hff/viewtop ... =14&t=9930

Those are pretty!

Very nice... Ahnkochee,
Where did you "buy" them?


Just kidding. beautiful work. I bet the Red devils would like those too.

I used to dunk for oio in Kaneohe walk out past casting distance then throw in sand pockets it's about 3-6 deep at high tide. Do you folks actually see the oio then cast or just blind cast. Are you fly fishing at low tide probably easier to see I usually only fish when the tides are changing. Never seen any but caught a bunch maybe just to short to get the right angle.

Amazing

When I would first start the day(in the shallows) I would sight fish to start then as I went further out blind cast to areas that look good. I did much better blind casting the edge of the reef.

Right on guys, thank you for the info. When I get back from the states I will only have about 6 months left in Hawaii , so hopefully I can get a couple before I leave.
Another question... if using shrimp or ika do you just cast it out and let it sit till you get a bite, or do you actually work the bait like a jig?

I've caught quite a few just letting the shrimp sit on the bottom.

WOW! Great looking flies! Respect!