Kauai Part 3 - "Desperation"

[Latimeria]

My chance of catching fish was diminishing and diminishing after every passing minute.  I only had small windows to get out and the weather and tides were not cooperating as well as all the local netters in the only fishable spot.  I looked on Google and saw a pier not far away in Ahukini Recreational Pier State Park.  It was an old sugar wharf from the old days of the sugar plantations and was in real disarray but looked like an absolute fish magnet!

I talked my wife into getting an Uber down to the pier for a few hours before heading out to lunch.



There were a few people fishing and I saw a few fish come up on the rickety dock.  That dock was sketchy as hell and I can't believe it wasn't condemned!  lol



I walked all of those rafters and dropped crack on every piling!









Great view..



Also had a few turtles swim up to the pier and check us out.







I was casting to a HUGE Houndfish (probably 4-5 feet) but all the lure did was scare it.  I even tried snagging it I was so desperate!  lol

My wife them saw some slender needlefish which wanted to play!  I hooked at least 6, but  trying to swing a wriggle slender needlefish that high onto the dock was infuraiating.  My wife almost grabbed the one, but it bit her and she was not happy about it since I said "Just grab it!".

I am considering it a catch and new species (Platybelone argalus) even though I couldn't get a picture of it. (Species #370 in order, but #375 in the grand scheme of things)

Well, the hours flew by and my wife wanted lunch so we called our Uber.



Next morning and I could feel that something wasn't right.  Not feeling great and the weather was not helping... but the wind was starting to die out finally.







Had some good bites but I couldn't get them to stick.  A local was telling me to use small white curly tail grubs and I happened to have a pack of 1" Gulp grubs!



Today we had the helicopter trip, so my fishing was at a minimum.  Those trips are EXPENSIVE as hell, but I heard I wouldn't regret it.  I bought a few seats for my wife's 50th birthday and she was excited and a little nervous about it.  Man, that was EXHILERATING!  A memory I defintely will not forget anytime soon.  Saw no less than 200 waterfalls and dropped into the crater.  I thought we were buzzing the cliff walls awfully close, but it was just amazing.





I took GoPro of the entire trip but need to edit the video.  Absolutely amazing.





When we got back to the resort, I started eying up the Koi and almost resorted to dropping a hair rig in their face! 



My wife was now getting in real bad shape and didn't leave the room.  I was feeling terrible, but not as terrible as I would if I didn't start catching fish!  I scaled down a lot and went on a full mission to catch something.  (I have a meeting now so will finish up in a half hour)



I'm back....





I went for a quick pre-dinner trip just to make a few casts and YES!  I never knew such a small fish could bring so much joy!  LOL Stocky Hawkfish! Cirrhitus pinnulatus (Species #371



I then realized I was on a nest of them, and my little Z-Man did what it was supposed to.  I'm not sure how big these things get, but they all were pretty small.  Caught 3 and lost another 3.



Then the bites stopped, and I went back to the room to check on the wife and get ready for dinner (even though I wasn't too hungry).

Last day before we leave and I arm myself with the tiny gear.  I take the little grubs and a small Kastmaster out.  I literally walk down and on my first cast, New Species!  Moi!
6-finger Threadfin, Polydactylus sexfilis.  (Species #372)





I then realize all of the fish out here run in schools.  I was really trying for a goatfish, but that apparently is more of a summer fish along with the Ulua.

I caught the magic number of 3 (1 sportsman's release) and looked like funny mullet.  I heard the locals would have mugged me for these fish, so thankfully didn't see me catch them.







I fished longer than usual since my wife was stuck in bed and started throwing the little irons.  I then felt a hit, but only in the slightest.  As I was reeling in I saw a school of them around what I hooked!  I thought it was a needlefish at first, but saw that tiny little upper lip!  New Species! Tropical half-beak!

Hemiramphus depauperatus (Species #373)





Then the locals starting coming in waves on the beach and started jumping in my little slough.  Oh well, I walked up to check on a little waterway I saw coming into the resort.  I thought I saw peac*ck bass, but never got positive ID.  I did see a TON of cichlids!  WTH, let's see....



Boom!  I couldn't get any big ones to bite, but caught a bunch of little tilapia!  Blackchin Tilapia!  (courtesy of Africa)

Sarotherodon melanotheron (Species #374)



These guys loved the crack!



I also had a catfish, but it made small work of my little size 10 baitholder.  Later I heard they were African cats... Grr... bummed I lost this one.  Looked more eel like.

I then saw something and tried for it!  Bam!  I thought it was a snakehead when realized it was a Sandwich Island sleeper! Endemic species to Hawaii

Eleotris sandwicensis (Species #375)







On the way back to the room, I noticed a ton of Placos in the ponds!  Lets just say security was not down with me trying to catch them though...





These were the lures that got most of the fish.



Well, pretty much the trip was over at this point since my wife couldn't even get out of bed.  I ended up going to dinner by myself since my wife couldn't muster the strength.  I brought her back a meal, so she was happy but it wasn't the way we hoped to end the trip.  In any case, it was all worth it!




...Oh, I forgot to mention that I got a Hawaiian Pizza in Hawaii.  I did this to tease my Italian friends back in NY who want me hung for putting fruit on pizza!  lol



Thanks for reading and until next tide!

[KogaHead]

pizza looks killer

wife smiling in helicopter despite your presence

rickety pier looks like fun playground

nice to see Cav's presence in the rainbow picture

you are a schmuck for fishing on your anniversary trip, karma gonna bite you in the ass

[jrodda]

Glad you found a few! Didn't quite get to your 400th species but all those are pretty cool and unique.

[Tim524]

 Great pics of a nice vacation, too bad your wife was feeling bad. The Helicopter tour looks EPIC !!! A Pizza without Pineapple should be a crime !!! 

[skrilla]

Peter Santenello just posted a vid a couple days ago on YT showing that very spot I think. It's the latest of a multi part series showing his trip to Hawaii. That episode shows Kauai and probably some places you went to and missed.