The Penguin
Banks
of Molokai are some of the most fertile waters in hawaii. Trolling
produces excellent game fish such as marlin, mahimahi, ahi tuna, and ono
(the best tasting fish in Hawaii). Bottom fishing, usually with
live bait, yields onaga and uku (gray snapper). Molokai's shoreline,
especially along the south and west, offers great bait-casting for ulua
and ama ama. Ulua is an excellent eating fish, varying in weight
from 15 to 110 lbs. Squidding, limu gathering, and torch-fishing
are all quite popular and productive along the south shore, especially
around the old fishpond sites. Theses remnants of Hawaii's one-time
vibrant aquaculture still produce mullet, Samoan Crab, tilapia, and barracuda.
When customers are scarce, Capt. Joe Reich, who has
been fishing the waters around Molokai for decades, goes commercial fishing,
so he always knows where the fish are biting. He runs
Alyce C. Sportfishing
out of Kaunakakai Harbor (tel. 808/558-8377). A full day of fishing for
up to six people is $400, three-quarters of a day is $350, and a half
day is $300. You can persuade him to do a whale-watching cruise during
the winter months.
For fly-fishing or light-tackle reef-fish trolling,
contact Walter Naki at Molokai Action Adventures (tel. 808/558-8184).
Walter's been fishing his entire life and loves to share his secret spots
with visiting fishermen--he knows the place for bonefishing on the flats.
A full-day trip, for up to four people, in his 21-foot Boston whaler,
is $300.
For deep-sea fishing,
Fun Hogs Hawaii
(tel. 808/567-6789) has fishing excursions on a 27-foot, fully equipped
sportfishing vessel. Prices are $350 for 6 passengers for 4 hours; $400
for a 6-hour excursion, and $450 for 6 people for the 8-hour trip.
If you just want to try your luck casting along the
shoreline, Molokai Outdoor Activities,
in the lobby of Hotel Molokai, just outside Kaunakakai (tel. 877/553-4477
or 808/553-4477; ), rents fishing poles for $6.95 a day and can tell you
where they're biting.
For more information on fishing on Molokai,
check out the links in the table below. Before making any reservation,
we recommend checking out our
Discounts & Bargains
page to save a bit of cash.