Posts: 23
Threads: 9
Joined: Apr 2014
My family and I had another lovely visit to the BI in June. During our stay in a rental in HPP, we tried fishing from the cliffs (an art form we never mastered!). We also tried deep-sea fishing off Kona but are curious about fishing from the Hilo side, since we are likely to end up there after retirement. How is the fishing off the east side and what is the minimum size boat you think we need in those waters? It looks fairly treacherous but we don't know how far you have to venture off the coast to catch some good eating fish like Ono and Ahi. Thanks for any advice and input!
Posts: 147
Threads: 4
Joined: Dec 2007
With the loss of Pohoiki, I'm thinking...gyrocopter on floats. Doubles as escape vehicle if an eruptive vent opens on your street. Cost may be a little higher than a Boston Whaler...
Posts: 31
Threads: 5
Joined: Feb 2016
Im interested in the answer to benthudd's question as well.
Posts: 785
Threads: 6
Joined: Apr 2012
As much as I respect the other members of this forum, and my comments are not meant as disrespect to them, my advice would be to not rely on ad hoc advice from this or any forum for making decisions on boating off the east side of the Big Island. Your best course of action, I think, would be to enroll in a (Hilo based) Coast Guard boating class before you make any decisions on what boat to buy and where to deploy it. The waters around these islands are, unless you are from Alaska, likely different from anything you have experienced before. I've been out with highly experienced boaters from the mainland, and they were way out of their depth here (pardon the pun) - and very nearly didn't survive one such outing. Even experienced mariners get themselves into trouble out here.
Posts: 11,050
Threads: 753
Joined: Sep 2012
The waters around these islands are... likely different from anything you have experienced before.
I agree with geochem. I live in HPP and can see much of the ocean northeast and east of the Big Island when I walk around the neighborhood. It's not often that I spot small fishing boats off the coast, usually on days with a rare combination of clear skies, and a relatively smooth surface. When I do see boats, it's usually more than one, indicating that boat owners recognize the favorable weather conditions.
Is the jury still deadlocked? The odds that natural climate variability can account for the magnitude of the temperature changes over the course of the satellite record are roughly five in a million, researchers report. - Science, July 19, 2018.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
Posts: 6,214
Threads: 354
Joined: Feb 2006
Hubby fishes with a friend that has a 21ft Force, from Hilo & until May, Poho`iki (the boats on the east side, for the most part, are more storm fronted... Force is a Hilo based boat maker , but you will also see Alii, Bolos & some others, not as much for the SeaRay, Bayliner & such, as the water is, for the most part, way different than the west side, currents, rough & rouge-ish...)
We do have a neighbor that goes out of Hilo to the buoy (3mi) in a 13fter.... but he is the exception...most will not venture out of the break-wall with anything that small (unless they are paddlers... but that is a whole nother story)...& he does have twin Volvos...so at least he does go out prepared...
Anyhoo...as for fishing, it is big....Ahi, ono, mahi & lures run high-priced & most have autowinders... best bet is to get in with someone who has a boat & needs help, until you get a feel for the east side fishing (& hopefully there will be more than just a Hilo Launch ...well, there still is Laupahoehoe, but the ramp is tight & road is hairpinned)
ETA: Deep water is within a few hundred yards off the coast, so most boats do not venture far off, some will, but no real need.
Posts: 68
Threads: 4
Joined: Aug 2007
I fish from a 14' kayak off of Hilo! The farthest out I paddle is about 3 miles in the right conditions. It takes time to learn weather and ocean conditions, but you can catch Ono, Mahi and Ahi fairly close to shore.
Aloha!
Aloha!
Posts: 11,050
Threads: 753
Joined: Sep 2012
Grand Banks Trawler just listed for sale. Big Island. $15,000. Not mine so can't answer any questions about it:
https://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/reo/...85218.html
Is the jury still deadlocked? The odds that natural climate variability can account for the magnitude of the temperature changes over the course of the satellite record are roughly five in a million, researchers report. - Science, July 19, 2018.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
Posts: 2,490
Threads: 222
Joined: Dec 2005
or you could just get a boat in kona. Waters are much calmer on the west side. Hilo side is just too choppy for me, not my kinda fun for a boat outing. But, if you enjoy that kind of stuff (some do).... Have at it!
Posts: 5
Threads: 1
Joined: Apr 2009
Hey Hilodiver I am looking to start kayak fishing out of Hilo would you be interested in taking a newbie under your wing I have an 14.5 hobie mirage just not sure what gear and when to go out I live up in Hawaiian Acres
Bob&Charlotte
