Ala Wai

[Stan Wright]

Debbie and Matt ask me how the peacock bass
fishing was going this week. They wanted to
catch some large ones. I told them with the
rise in water level and the cooler temperatures,
looking for big tukes was a waste of time...
that's when we went to "Plan B"

Using the 4# test spinning tackle, 4 inches
of wire leader on a small worm hook and the
little white two inch Senkos..... we searched
the Ala Wai for barracuda. It was a rising
tide all afternoon and the cuda rushed in
as fast as the tide.

Debbie with the first fish on the day... a lai.


The 4# test gear was a per perfect match
for these guys.


We got a lot more strikes that we didn't land.
Those cuda are real jumpers. Just ask Matt.


This is about the average size. It's wild
seeing them chase the lure. Those smashing
surface strikes and high jumps really
get the heart pumping.

[roadwarriorsvt]

That sounds like a fun alternative to catching peacocks. I wouldn't mind trying that sometime.

[Stan Wright]

I got to thinking about all the fish we missed using our single hook rig. So I started researching "Cuda Lures". We would probably have had a lot more hookups if we'd been using a "Tube Lure".

The regular surgical tube seems to work just fine. You can get it in several sizes and thicknesses here locally. It also comes in several colors...if you can find them.

Another idea if you want color choices is those little tubes they use to keep your sunglasses on. For the size barracuda we were catching, that is the perfect size.

Don't know what it is about the "tube lure" that excites barracuda, but from what I've read.... it's the lure of choice.

[Pegasus]

Did you get any papio ? I may have to throw my kayak in and give it a shot one day. That wire leader is a must. The cudas cut me off out by the reef runway alot when I am just whipping for papios. Those were some fun fish you guys got ! Is the Kapahulu end better than closer to the ocean ?

[Stan Wright]

We got into several schools of small papio where Manoa Stream flows into the canal. Chase, chase, chase, but couldn't hook them. The papio were probably too small for the hooks we were using. Also saw a few singles, but again, no hookups. I figured we would have caught a lot.

Remember:
The fishing is so good in the Ala Wai because even the locals are afraid to eat fish caught in there.

[Pegasus]

Thanks for the tips. I saw the Ala Wai golf clubhouse in the background of one pic. That tube lure works. I have seen ahi hit it when they won't even touch a regular lure on the troll. Crazy ! I tried to tie my own flies. My friend gave me a cheap kit with a vise and a little bit of stuff to tie on the hooks. And the bobbin thing to hold the thread. The vise broke after my third fly. After that, I just held the hook and kept on going. I used all kinds of household items. A white and gold speckled pipe cleaner was a winner. Caught lots of little tucs on them, but not as many as my partner , who was using Clays little green one with the brass head. Really crude work, but the fish chased them anyway. Lots of fun.

[Stan Wright]

Clay and Sean are really good about giving tips on how to tye certain flys.
I still show them a picture or a fly and they show me how to tye it... most are pretty easy.

(They are also happy to sell me the needed hooks and materials too)

[OO7:BASSINASSASSIN]

[quote="Stan Wright"]I got to thinking about all the fish we missed using our single hook rig. So I started researching "Cuda Lures". We would probably have had a lot more hookups if we'd been using a "Tube Lure"

I must be doing something wrong, I think I missed the last 10 strikes in a row on that lure.