Are you planning a vacation to Hawai’i, more specifically, Oahu? Do you like the fresh, open air without all the tourists bothering you? My wife and I recently took a trip to the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. We never did get that honeymoon 29 years ago, as right after we said, “I do,” I deployed for a couple of months (Army). We decided to fix that and head to Oahu to see the sights. I’ve always heard great things about Hawai’i and its beautiful culture. We wanted to visit Pearl Harbor and pay our respects, experience some Hawaiian culture firsthand, and finish the trip with Sport Fishing in Oahu.
Sportfishing in Hawai’i- Sights, Sounds, and Fish
It’s important to read up and educate yourself on the dos and don’ts of Sportfishing in HI. It’s also helpful to know when the best times for fishing are and what is in season, etc. Be prepared, as there are no guarantees as to how many, if any, fish you might catch. We went during a lull in the fishing, since many of the species we were really interested in were off-season. But we wanted to try our luck, and after a week of wall-to-wall tourists, we wanted our last day to be quiet, peaceful, and full of beauty.
I made our reservations a couple of months before our departure. It helps to do one’s homework rather than just rely on “Google reviews.” For instance, most of these sport fishermen are also commercial fishermen who go out every day to catch their own fish to bring to market. They simply take customers out on charters for a good time and to hopefully catch some fish. It makes sense, as it pays for their gas, right?
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Fine Print
Here’s what you won’t know unless you read the fine print, as many of these sportfishing charters have a clause when you book. You must agree that if you catch a fish greater than, say, 50+ lbs., the charter keeps your fish, not you. The actual poundage varies from one charter boat to another. WAIT, WHAT?!? Seriously, I called a few and verified for myself. With what some of these boats were charging, AND to keep your prize fish, that is just not going to happen in my world. I’d use the sword attached to the Marlin head to go all Pirate and beg to differ! THAT’S MY FISH! So, do yourself a favor and do your due diligence while selecting the proper commercial sportfishing charter for you.
After researching the subject of Sportfishing in Hawai’i to death and speaking with the owner/operator himself, I booked us a private charter with Captain Jim’s Sportfishing out of Honolulu, Oahu, HI. Why private, you ask? That’s a great question, and I asked Captain Jim about that option. His explanation of why some people elect to take a private charter made perfect sense. He basically said that if we only get three fish on the lines, and we have six customers on the boat, who gets to reel in the fish and keep it? That was a legit explanation, and I’ve found that the older I’ve gotten, the less likely I am to want to argue about reeling in a fish and the more apt I am to teach some stranger how to swim the hard way.
Private Charter
Subtly was never my strong suit, or so I’m told. So, private charter it was! And let me tell you, it was so well worth it! My wife and I had the best time out there with Captain Jim and his crew. Plus, when I asked the Captain who keeps the fish if I reel in a 150lb monster, he chuckled and said, “It’s your fish, regardless of its size.”
It’s actually more than just sportfishing, as Captain Jim’s Sportfishing also offers Friday night fireworks charters, sunset charters, whale watching, memorial ash spreading, near shore fishing for the kids, custom boat rides, etc. There are literally a bunch of different charter options available through Captain Jim’s Sportfishing. So, who is Captain Jim, and why are HIS sportfishing charters so cool? Great question!
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Captain Jim
Captain Jim is actually from Rhode Island, born and raised, where he earned his Captain’s license at 16. He did a bunch of fishing there out in the North Atlantic before the corporate environment brought him to Hawai’i. After a while, he decided to renew his Captain’s license and start sportfishing again. He’s been active at this in Hawai’i for the last 23 years and is still going strong. Plus, he’s an avid surfer and was tired of wearing a wetsuit year-round in the cold North Atlantic waters.
Cpt. Jim’s boat is called the “Krista,” and it’s a 1984 Topaz 38′ Sports fisher. What is her claim to fame? She has landed a 250 lb. Blue Marlin on one occasion, WOW! The Krista has plenty of room, an area to hang out inside with air conditioning, a fully functioning bathroom (Head), and a galley (kitchen). That’s just the inside, but we spent more of our time on the back of the boat with the fishing poles.
Engines
The Krista is powered by twin turbocharged Detroit Diesels pushing out 485 HP. A cool little tidbit about these engines is that the sounds they make mimic the vibrations the bait fish give off when they swim in large schools. That same sound can attract the Pelagic fish, i.e., Marlin, Tuna, Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo, that you are looking to catch.
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We trolled around all day, looking for swarms of birds who have found the bait fish that the bigger fish prey upon. The good Captain was also checking the “known areas” and looking in his bag of tricks. We saw several other sportfishing boats out as well, and not one of them was flying their “brag flag.” If a fish is caught on a boat, they run up a specific-colored flag for the type of fish caught.
We spent a good amount of time up on the “Flying Bridge,” where the Captain can drive the boat and look out for schools of fish. There is a nice seating area in front of that for people to enjoy the scenery. This is where we spent a good deal of time.
Peace and Solitude
The peace, solitude, fresh ocean air, and great music made for the best part of the vacation. No tourists, no noise, no crowds, just cold beer, fishing, and the most important person in my world, my wife. Unfortunately, we didn’t catch anything out there as far as fish go. But we sure caught a whole new appreciation not only for Hawai’i, but also for sportfishing and the peace and solitude one feels while out on the open ocean, with no distractions. We witnessed a beautiful Hawaiian sunrise out on the Pacific Ocean. Captain Jim felt bad about not catching any fish, so he offered to stay out later than usual, and we were able to witness the most amazing sunset over Oahu.
Sportfishing in Hawai’i
If you are thinking of heading out to Hawai’i, or in particular, Oahu, you have got to check out Captain Jim’s Sportfishing Charters in Honolulu. Not only is Captain Jim very knowledgeable, but he’s also an amazing host, with a great sense of humor and excellent taste in music. Didn’t catch any fish, but still had the time of our lives! Thanks, Captain Jim, for the great memories and excellent customer service. Next time we’re in Oahu, we’re definitely going out again and will catch a monster for sure!
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For more information, visit Captain Jim Sport Fishing.
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