Hawaiibassfishing Forum

Recently I decided to do a afternoon holoholo trip into my private secret waters.
I had my nephew Chase, and #1 son Isaac along. Today we targeted Kaku aka "Mr. Stinky", and 'Awa. We trolled lures, and in just a few minutes Isaac got a hit which at first didn't feel real strong but whatever was on the other end realized it was hooked then it started screaming drag on Isaac's 8 lb. test outfit with light rod. We had to follow this buggah around for about 10 minutes before we had it in the boat a nice 10 pound Kaku. Da buggah wen swallow da lure halfway down it's throat, and no way I could get it out without killing it so we put it on ice for dinner! The last lure was totaled and still in the Kaku so I gave Isaac another new lure and we set our lines out again. In just a matter of a couple minutes Isaac gets another hit, We just all happened to be looking back at the lure spread when we see this HUGE Kaku hit Isaac's lure from underneath and get airborne 6 feet in the air and come crashing down. This Kaku was easily double the size of his first. This buggah screamed Isaac's drag to the limit, and I had to chase after it through the whole fight. I have never seen as tenacious a Kaku as this one, it giving us a spectacular show going airborne 3 times at least and I mean 6 plus feet in the air and cover 20 feet each bound! Chase said just like Marlin fishing which it was! After 30 minutes of this tug-of-war it was finally tired enough to safely boat. This Kaku was easy 25 pounds! Isaac insisted we do all we can to revive and release this large wahine Kaku so we very quickly took pictures and returned her to the water. I had the boys paddle forward while I cradled her in my hands along side the canoe, and after a minute of water running through her gills she snapped back into shape and strongly swam away free. We dragged lures another 30 minutes but no more bites so I anchored in our secret 'Awa spot and tossed out our secret 'Awa bait. As usual yesterday's secret bait turned out to be today's leftovers the 'Awa pretty much ignoring our offering with the exception of two hits I got. While waiting for the 'Awa to bite I decided to kill time and whip topwater lures and while doing this I got my two 'Awa hits of course. ::)
I did hook and land a nice 24 inch Kaku, and Chase also hooked into and landed it's twin so we all wen catch, no skunk! Both of these C&R'd. Getting late so pulled anchor and headed home. I told boys might as well troll home for Kaku. In only a minute into our trip back look back to see a Kaku hit and miss my lure! A few seconds later Chase gets a screaming hit on his lure and his rod was heavy action with 30 pound line. I circle around to gain line and after a couple minutes this large Kaku goes ballistic right next to the canoe launching straight up into the air several feet and at the same time the lure shoots straight out of it's mouth and lands in water on other side of canoe. This Kaku was comparable to the last one Isaac hooked, she was a beefy girl! Quick automatic C&R, what a great way to end the day!

Isaac's first Kaku


Isaac hooked into his second Kaku


At boat side (no look da secret lure!)


Isaac's WHOPPER Kaku!


My turn, my feisty Kaku


EH! NO LAFF MY HAT, I bachi you! Da helmet-cam mounted on a pith (no I don't have a lisp) helmet. LOLO forgot how fo' turn um on. ::)


Chase hanapa'a!


Chase hanapau!


This is private waters with limited access but there are a few who abuse their privilege to fish here, and keep every Kaku they catch not caring that this fishery is finite and can be irreparably damaged with uncontrolled keeping of fish especially the larger breeding stock. They justify this by saying they are not breaking any laws. This selfish way of thinking makes me sick. My last trip out I did not get a single strike in almost 2 hours. Legal and ethical are not the same thing.

There is nothing that can compare to 'Awa in fighting ability pound for pound not even the Kaku. Very difficult to hook, and land. Here's some 'Awa action shots.

My son Isaac's 'Awa catch




My last 'Awa

Well, I think I'll leave my ultra-lite 4# test spinning rod at home.
WOW. no wonder we never see kids swimming in there.

For several years there was a HUGE 6 feet plus fat wahine Kaku in there estimated at 100 plus pounds. I've personally seen her 4 times up real close, and she was BEAUTIFUL in her own scary way. I'd never see her when I had a camera handy but twice had my bro-in-law with me as a witness, and once she swam by me and my son just 2 feet away.
I haven't seen her in almost 2 years and I'm hoping she was not killed for bragging rights but I fear the worst as the population in general looks to have plummeted in the last year. C&R should be mandatory for these large breeding size Kaku.

Several years ago, long before I was interested in fishing, I painted a house on that secret body of water. One morning, we looked out to see a log floating near the shore. A closer inspection revealed that this was no ordinary log. It was a giant kaku just sitting there like a submarine. One of my employees brought his rod every day after that, but we never saw this giant again. Awesome fish !

Solid catches Ahnko! I miss the kaku in your private lake. They were so much fun on the topwater. I forgot how hard those kaku can fight! I caught two in Langkawi last week and the first one caught me a little unprepared and I almost lost it when it dove under a set of floating docks and had line rubbed against some oysters. Lucky I had a 25lb fluoro leader as a rub line.

I'll say it again...those 'Awa are AWESOME!!! You da best!

Ken wrote:Solid catches Ahnko! I miss the kaku in your private lake.

What lake?

Ahnkochee wrote:

Ken wrote:Solid catches Ahnko! I miss the kaku in your private lake.

What lake?

You know...that place that is so calm it looks like a lake