4 weeks in Hawaii 2016

[MuskieBait]

Grab a pot of coffee...or save it for the weekend...

If you fancy the full, yet brief, daily blog posts, you can find it here starting on Day 1:

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-1.html

** I'm not going to post all the links here...all 28 days of links. I hope you are capable enough to navigate the blog on you own.

It has been over 6 years since I visited my Grandma and my uncles in Oahu, Hawaii. When an opportunity occurred that would take me there, it was difficult to refuse. I chose to kept the blog posts focused on fishing and scenery, so there is little mention of family and other events that also occurred.

Hawaii was the place where my species hunting began. When I was 16, I returned to Hong Kong to obtain my adult citizenship card. On the way back to Canada, I made a stopover in Hawaii. During the 1.5 weeks in Hawaii, I fished with my telescopic rod to catch a few reef fishes. That first experience opened my eyes to traveling and fishing. Since then, I had made two trips, in 2007 and 2009, back to Hawaii and caught 32 new species.

In the past, my fishing was limited by the lack of transportation. I was too young to rent a car. Fishing was dependent on the availability of my family and friends when and where they could take me. Today, I am afforded more freedom as long as I can afford a rental car. Luckily, I made all the bookings early enough before the rental price skyrocketed.

Based on the advice of Steve, Elijah and George, I decided to add a week on the Big Island just for fishing. However, Maui was an island that I had wanted to visit and hiking in Haleakala was a big bucket list item. A few day in Maui was added. Before I knew it, my 4 weeks long Hawaii itinerary took shape.

I would like to thank my family for hosting me for so long, especially my Grandma. I would like to thank my friends Ji, Jason, Stan and Todd for making their best effort fish with me. I would like to thank my new friends Wade, Jamie, Jeffery and Peterson and hope we will have opportunities to meet again in the future.

Food

Keneke’s plate lunch



Shrimp plate from North Shore



Pancakes smothered in macadamia nut ice cream



HI-BBQ smoked beef brisket



McDonald’s taro pie!!!



Nenue sashimi



Menpachi and Moana ready for the pan



Poke – shoyu marlin and limu ahi



Rainbow’s Dine-In plate lunch



Some scenery

Ka’ena Point







Akaka Falls



Waipio Valley



Pololu Valley





Haleakala – 12 mile hike







Day 1

Masked Triggerfish (Sufflamen fraenatum) - Species #486



Manybar Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Species #487



Boomerang Triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa) - Species #488



Wedge-tail Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus) - Species #489



Blacktail Wrasse (Thalassoma ballieui) - Species #490



Stocky Hawkfish (Cirrhitus pinnulatus) - Species #491



Hawaiian Hogfish (Bodianus albotaeniatus) - Species #492



Blackside Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) - Species #493



Arc-eye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) - Species #494




Day 2

Cocos Frill-goby (Bathygobius cocosensis) - Species #495



Rockskipper (Entomacrodus marmoratus) - Species #496



Thalassoma purpureum (Surge Wrasse) - Species #497



Day 3

Fantail Filefish (Pervagor spilosoma) - Species #498



Day 4

Millet Butterflyfish (Chaetodon miliaris) - Species #499



Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) - Species #500


Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus varius) - Species #501





Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) - Species #502



Day 5

Keeled Needlefish (Platybelone argalus platyura) - Species #503



Speckled Squirrelfish (Sargocentron punctatissimum) - Species #504



Iridescent Cardinalfish (Pristiapogon kallopterus) - Species #505



Shortfin Molly (Poecilia mexicana) - Species #506



Day 6

Whitespotted Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris) - Species #507





Spot-fin Porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix) - Species #508



Day 7

Common Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) - Species #509





White-banded Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) - Species #510



Day 8

Yellowfin Surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus) - Species #511



Day 9

Bluespine Unicornfish (Naso unicornis) - Species #512



Brick Soldierfish (Myripristis amaena) - Species #513



Bandfin Cardinalfish (Pristiapogon taeniopterus) - Species #514



Day 10

Sixfinger Threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis) - Species #515



Day 11

Daisy Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Species #516



Convict Surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus) - Species #517





Ringtail Surgeonfish (Acanthurus blochii) - Species #518



Eyestripe Surgeonfish (Acanthurus dussumieri) - Species #519



Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer) - Species #520



Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis) - Species #521



Undulated Moray (Gymnothorax undulatus) - Species #522



Day 12

Yellowstripe Goatfish (Mulloidichthys flavolineatus) - Species #523



Day 13

Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) - Species #524



Hawaiian Chub (Kyphosus hawaiiensis) - Species #525 (Potentially)



Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus) - Species #526





Spider-eye Puffer (Canthigaster amboinensis) - Species #527



Day 14

Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Species #528



Black Triggerfish (Melichthys niger) - Species #529



Lined Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lineolatus) - Species #530



Brighteye Damselfish (Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis) - Species #531



Whitespotted Frillgoby (Bathygobius coalitus) - Species #532



Day 15

Whitespotted Filefish (Cantherhines dumerilii) - Species #533



Forceps Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) - Species #534



Flathead Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus) - Species #535



Racoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) - Species #536



Day 16

Shy Soldierfish (Plectrypops lima) - Species #537



Shoulderbar Soldierfish (Myripristis kuntee) - Species #538



Day 17

Pinktail Triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) - Species #539



Ornamented Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus) - Species #540



Tropical Half-beak (Hemirhamphus depauperatus) - Species #541



Paintspotted Moray (Gymnothorax pictus) - Species #542



Day 18

Brassy Chub (Kyphosus vaigiensis) - #543



Blotcheye Soldierfish (Myripristis berndti) - Species #544



Crown Squirrelfish (Sargocentron diadema) - Species #545



Day 20

Turkey Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) - Species #546



Day 24

African Coris (Coris gaimard) - Species #547



Day 26

Gracile Lizardfish (Saurida gracilis) - Species #548



Day 27

Spotfin Burrfish (Chilomycterus reticulatus) - Species #549



Some pics of species I've caught previously that I also caught on this trip…

Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis)



Hawaiian Gregory (Stegastes marginatus)



Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum)



Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus)



Blackspot Sergeant (Abudefduf sordidus)



Kuhlia sandwicensis



Kuhlia xenura



Redbarred Hawkfish (Cirrhitops fasciatus)



Blacktail Snapper (Lutjanus fulvus)



Bluespotted Cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii)

[zippyFX]

Looks like an awesome trip! I ave not read the report yet but I hope you celebrated hitting 500... Looks like you may have celebrated by getting halfway to 600.

Love the pictures. The fish are so colourful!

[MuskieBait]

(02-23-2016 02:46 PM)zippyFX Wrote:  Looks like an awesome trip! I ave not read the reorganization yet but I hope you celebrated hitting 500... Looks like you may have celebrated by getting halfway to 600.

Love the pictures. The fish are so colourful!

Thanks Zippy. I didn't have time to celebrate...there were simply so many beautiful species to catch!

I end up at 549...just one shy of halfway to 600. Close enough, I guess. Wish I had landed the Flounder that came off the hook...or the Goldring Tang...or a yellow colour Moray that I'm pretty sure was a Yellowmargined Moray...to push me to 550. But I guess it's good to leave a few species left to catch for next time.

[OldTimer]

Wow................ friggin awesome!..............wow.

I haven't read your blog site yet, but do look forward to doing so.

...........no spam meals?..........smile.

Great stuff MB! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

OldTimer

[MuskieBait]

(02-23-2016 04:37 PM)OldTimer Wrote:  Wow................ friggin awesome!..............wow.

I haven't read your blog site yet, but do look forward to doing so.

...........no spam meals?..........smile.

Great stuff MB! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

OldTimer

Lots of spam musubi were consumed. It was one of the most convenient (and cheapest) breakfast items.

[Fossil Fish]

Once again -WOW!!!!
Catching all those different fish is quite a feat, but the fact that you can ID all of them is almost as amazing. I felt the same way about your Mexican and Florida reports but never got around to asking. Do you have specific reference materials for these areas, or is there a fish encyclopedia I don't know about?

[MRQturbo]

are locals allowed to catch and keep these fish in their own aquariums?...aren't most salt water fish wild caught anyways?..

[MuskieBait]

(02-23-2016 05:39 PM)Fossil Fish Wrote:  Once again -WOW!!!!
Catching all those different fish is quite a feat, but the fact that you can ID all of them is almost as amazing. I felt the same way about your Mexican and Florida reports but never got around to asking. Do you have specific reference materials for these areas, or is there a fish encyclopedia I don't know about?

There are some websites I use for local fishes, but otherwise, I depend on FishBase most of the time.

There really isn't a single encyclopedia out there, but there are a number of really good ID guides.

---

(02-23-2016 05:41 PM)MRQturbo Wrote:  are locals allowed to catch and keep these fish in their own aquariums?...aren't most salt water fish wild caught anyways?..

Locals are allowed to catch and keep for aquariums as long as they have a collector's permit. Yes, most saltwater fish are wild caught (pretty sad situation actually).

[Eli]

Intense. The colours are spectacular as is the variety. I'll need to find some free time and read up on all the details on your blog.

[Eli]

BTW, the Sailfin Tang is my favorite of the bunch. How big do they get? Would be awesome to get a dinner plate sized specimen.