"I shouldn't have had that last glass of Crown," I thought to myself, as I got up to an already-up sun and scratched my head...

My gorgeous fiancee was already at the bathroom vanity poking at her hair and dabbing her face with makeup... all the stuff that we as males, will never understand...

It was about 4:30am Hawaii time, and I wasn't ready to leave. But I brushed my teeth in a hurry, drank a beer (don't try that in this order), grabbed my boardshorts, sunscreen, shades, and hit the road.

From Ka'anapali (Maui) where we stayed, it was about 10-15 minutes to Lahaina Harbor, where we were to meet with the Start Me Up Sportfishing crew for an 8 hour adventure on the water. I was excited because I'm always excited to immerse myself in other cultures - finding out how they do things, what they rely on, and where their theories and values lay.

Maui was no different; I wanted to become one with the freaks, the locals, the wise old men, the bearded ladies, and drunken fire eaters that could crush you with a piece of fire coral like an angry tiki god. The food had been exceptional, the land was gorgeous and giving, the drink was plentiful, and the entertainment - vast; now I was well on my way to completing another part of this roller coaster trip to the islands... fishing the turquoise and indigo blue waters for a day...

I remember hearing something on the television in the room the night prior - something Maui (or maybe Hawaii) being on the same lines of latitude as the Sahara Desert - that the sun stayed in the center of the sky for most of the day in the summer... and it was already beginning to feel that way as we carted out that morning.

We were the last to get there, and the skipper (Ryan aka 'Rhino') was surprised that we did not have food or drink with us. The boat was a Bertram, I think a 37 footer, but to my knowledge they refer to it as the 42. Got on board and everyone dunked their colas and waters in the ice chests aboard. I felt really dumb, but like any savage man, I didn't want to ask them to hold the trip up so I could go and buy water from the corner mart, so I figured I'd just suffer through it and have a good time and swallow my own spit for the 8hrs. What about my fiancee? Well what about her, she's a savage as well!

We met the other riders and were off...

Yup. Those are barreled-out 130 reels. And yes, the rods are really that fat. And yes, you can really see the mono, and it is that thick... "Jesus," I thought... "are we going after the mother orca of them all?"

Truth is, down there - you've got a few major species: ahi (yellowfin), ono (wahoo), mahi mahi (dorado or dolphin), ulua (giant trevally) and of course a'u (marlin)... Sure the rods and reels we use in California would be grand if we were going after the all but the latter... especially when the latter could be upwards of five hundred to a thousand pounds... who knows what the waters have to offer on any given day... so hence, the goliath gear... I went inside and relaxed with my old lady, who decided she'd pass out on the couch... The cabin was comfortable, but don't expect the Beverly Hills Polo lounge, this is a man's boat and while you can still relax inside of it - it was designed to do one thing, and one thing only - to take Neptune's scaly pets from the depths of the sea.

This boat was big on trolling, I understand that most Hawaiian sportboats and serious fisherman are (that and surface popping or chunking)... So troll we did... one hour... two hour... sun hotter and higher in the sky... three hours... beads of sweat and no fucking water in sight... too humble (aka stupid) to ask... three hours... hotter now, browner skin... irish friend is burning... and four hours... calls on the radio on the bridge... other boats are getting their ono at the NASA buoy... we are now roughly 35-40 miles off of Maui - the boat was hauling ass and burning gas (I understood why we paid what we did to go out that day)...

To a native Southern Californian, who fishes the surface iron, flylines sardines, and uses live squid on the dropper loop, all this trolling seemed tiresome, and the sea was soon turning from indigo to tar-black as my eyes fought to keep the sunscreen out... but I relented - understood that I was not in California, and that I should be soaking up every bit of beauty on this lovely trip - from the gorgeous blue water, to the white-hot sun straight up in the center of the sky, to the fact my throat felt like a cat pissed in my mouth... I believed in the Hawaiian way, the traditions, my own salty luck, but most of all the skipper and his deckhand, Brandon (who was a captain too), who had been true to Hawaiian customs and kept plowing on... I knew they wanted us to catch as bad as I did, and so I bit my lip and sat back on the face-forward bench on the bridge, enjoying the breeze.

You could tell that everyone was happy to be out... but also, there was this ominous quiet aboard the boat... The skipper was focused, as was the deckhand, and we circled over ever piece of debris we could find - waiting for those four lines to snap off the rigger and give us the action and wailing cries we craved. It was about 5 hours into it and we'd followed dolphin pods, chased diving birds, and were out on an extremely quiet ocean when we all saw what looked like a speck of white (maybe a seagull?) way off into the distance...

"Looks like a dead whale," said the skipper.

"No it looks like a flock of birds in the water," said the deckhand.

Either way, we were full-steam ahead and all guns were drawn, our hearts beating and hope growing - with our fingers crossed that maybe, just maybe this might be the break we were looking for...

Upon closer examination - was it a whale, a flock of birds, a Buick maybe? No, a giant piece of driftwood - about 40 miles out - with two dumb birds sitting on top... tons of splashing all around... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF) is going on?

As soon as we made our first pass on the log - two things happen at the same time that gave the crew, the other riders, and yours truly the biggest surge of adrenaline: we look down into the water and hundreds upon hundreds of mahi are flashing all their brilliant, angry, and fiery colors - shades of blue, and green, and gold - spectacular and curious - mouths open and ready to eat... and the second thing? well the most important, of course - all four lines snapped and the reels zipped with furious clicks - giving line out all at the same time... I was in heaven. Each person is given a number, and I was 2nd to last. I didn't care - I was too blown away and stunned by the way these bastards were chasing the boat, the surface lures - hopping in and out of the water - literally hundreds of them...

They were by no means HUGE, but they were of decent size (some not so much, some were bulls) - but they were onto us, and wanted to become taco, filet, cajun style, Lord of the Flies on the beach style - they didn't care... they were "Ready to Die" like The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut, and they were letting us know, "please eat me," as they fought with one another to get to the lure first!

There's Irish Mike from New York holding onto the reel, waiting for another pass. As we were circling, all you would have to do is give the line a couple jingles like you were on Lorenzo's bus, from Deniro's "A Bronx Tale," and you'd be on - no question about it - this place had busted wide open, and we had it all to ourselves...

Both the skipper and the deckhand were quick with the grabs, but eventually it got to be so crazy and we had so many mahi thrashing about the boat with hooks in their mouth, that we all had to help out. I had to "Randy the Ram" many of the strong-strongs, while Brandon (seen above with the Hawaiian symbol for 'safety over water') unhooked them, and put them in the coffin-sized kill bags aboard the 'Ladat'.

Arizona Eric hooked up to a good set... I would switch on and off with him as we made what seemed to be at least 30 circles around that piece of driftwood... get a load of that calm water... nothing in sight for miles. Prior to this, I think Eric had only fished lakes and so on, so this was a first for him... so cut him some slack on the look of intense focus there...

We had minor surface cuts on the backs of our calves which made us feel like men. Some of the folks who wore slippas (Hawaiian for flip-flops) got their toes bit by the tasty mahi, as a last shot at revenge. It was time to say goodbye to the driftwood in the middle of Fuck Knows Where, Hawaii... time to reel in the lines, slap fives, laugh a little, drink the deckhand's water(s) (thank God!) and talk to the skipper - who was now in a good mood again. The dorado chased us, jumping and snarling out of the water as we kicked into full-gear... They wanted more. They wanted their rubber squids back. There were bags full of fish. The town would get fat tonight and the crew would make a little money. Like a scene out of the good ol' day movies, where everyone came out grinning...

There's me and my favorite on the bridge. She finally got up. She was supposed to be the one taking all these photos while I stayed on the fish... but it worked out. Did I mention that she paid for the trip that day? The same gal who hooked up the new Accurate B2-50 and BX2-600 for me at Fred Hall... umm yeah, I kinda fucking hooked a grander! All kidding aside, she's the best, and I love her for it. I'll never forget that day.

The ride back to Maui was a glorious one. The sights were a plenty. I was hoping to see a Great White breach and eat these two bastards that were doing the touch-and-go on a parasailing outfit. It never happened - I guess the day wasn't perfect. But good nonetheless...

As we made it back to Lahaina Harbor, in all its rich texture, vivid color, and amazing history, we felt like miniature champions. We had each spoken with countless other seafaring bastards that had paid good dollar to go out with other outfits and on other days, only to come back with one ono, or even lose it at color - right before the gaff!

"Poor bastards," I thought, "could'a been me..."

1/4 kill bags filled to the furburger with eating fish. Don't ask me about that nerf football tuna in there.

Even that sonofabitch got bought though... Grape Kool-Aid, anybody? "Oh-Yeah!" (Kool Aid Man Voice).

Fish buyers, sellers, and tourists lined the docks... Ooh's and ahh's ensued. It was blazing-hot.

Check out dude's neck. And he's from AZ. Ouch.

Some were definitely small. Some not so much. Some bulls got bought the second we got off the boat - the local restauranteurs mobbed us and pulled them from the deckhand's bag or ice-trays flashing money wildly in their face as they held the fish out of reach - it was bananas (and an amazing sight to see)! The good news was, that none of the fish were wasted...

More people came by to purchase the fish (see above) -
"I'll take that one, and that one, and that one," he's saying...
See, he wants the nerf football tuna!

And yet another buyer... Notice it's a different shirt.
This guy was definitely more cutthroat and got
the crew bartering right away... He left with a big bag.

Here's Irish Mike and his Ahi. Notice the zoom lens I created just for you,

focusing in on the blood spatters all over his brand new shirt. Friday 13th!

Here's me being an "untrained angler" and
making the mahi look super-sized... Meh.

There's our skipper, Rhino, playing nice with the tourists.

*The mark of a good day on the water? You gotta believe the airport held
my bags another day wondering what the hell I was transporting back...

It had been a searing day. My skin was like volcanic ash,
and the aloe and beer were my two best friends...
We hit the Fish House in Lahaina as I stared at all
the other fish I wish I had caught - the true angler
always thinks about the ones he didn't get...

Only one way to end this day:



Embarrassing-looking fruity drinks with my best friend...

- I had a blast.

- Big thanks to the Start Me Up Sportfishing Crew, and Ladat Boat - Capt. Rhino & Brandon.

- Big thanks to Bloodydecks.com for putting us together.

- Huge thanks to my girl for the sweet gift, and being such a good sport on that rocky boat ride!

...and thank you for reading this long report.

-----------------------------

Two quick off-topic photos:

Tackle selection at Longs Drugs in Lahaina kinda
puts some local mainland operations to shame haha.

There were $200 reels in the case!

Here's Lahaina, completely blue @ dusk... I was a little tipsy here (hey, I was on vacation!),

just wading in the beautiful, warm waters. IMO, the moored-up boats made the shot.

Ps - I bought a small whipping rod, some grubs, and surface poppers at West Maui Sports for a really cheap $20 or $30 bucks... while I never got close enough to get anything off the beach, I did hand the new rod off to Eric, one of the valets at the Westin (nice guy), and I'm sure he'll catch...

That's Aloha!

 

Hello Everyone!

Excuse the lack of posts this last month - I should have been updating while on the road, but I was busy having too much fun.

I just got back from:

1. Florida (all over the state)

2. Vegas, Vegas, Vegas!!!

3. Lahaina, Maui

Here's some quick pics... and report from Lahaina, Maui with the Start Me Up Sportfishing crew on Memorial Day 2009 to come!

Houston Airport - you know that any airport with a Bass Pro Shops in it has got some fishy folks around... sad to say however there was nothing but ugly camo and red orange sweatshirts and old copies of Saltwater Sportsman in that shithole.

Awesome Guy Harvey mural at the Fort Lauderdale Airport. We flew into an airport 3hrs from our Orlando destination, so we kinda lived it up there for a night in Hallandale, then drove through and hung in South Beach with the rich bitches and pimps for a day. Great fish house in Hallandale called Flanigan's Seafood Bar & Grill... place is all decked out with tons of trophy saltwater fish as well as lures, rods, and terminal tackle throughout... Mahi chicken-fingers were delish, as were the ribs!

The richest of the rich in Miami/South Beach... Peep those yachts, right on the damn water - that's their front porch, and the first thing they see every morning when they go out to get the paper. Jesus make me rich - make me reeeyich!

Some of my people. The poor folk. Fishin' for the night catch off the side of the freeway on a bridge (still in Miami). Lots doing this. What the hell happens if boats are passing? Could you imagine getting smacked in the face by squid on a hook? Hey, a dude's gotta eat!

Some of the Mahi we caught with the Start Me Up Sportfishing crew aboard the "Ladat" on Memorial Day 2009!

Stay tuned people... Good stuff to come, along with a full fishing report and tons more pics. Going to go out this weekend as well, and then on a 2+ day June 30th or July 1st as well... Albies are on decks of many sportboats as we speak, as are the yellows - predominantly biting at San Clemente Islands, in the 30-40lb range - I gotta get me some, I got'sta turn it on!

With much love,

Sol

Jheri Curl Optional:

Fight the perils of the Swine Flu with gold,

rose gold, and diamond-encrusted big game!!!

Mahi-Money: if Slick Rick vomited after eating sushi, this is what it would look like.

Check out the girth on that rope!!! Anchor that shit, boat ho!

Doubles as a great shank for the random cop pullover after cocktails at Club Marina at 2:15am...

And finally....

For the guys that swear by Accurate, this is another must-have for the 2009 season.

collect them all here.

Mr. T would be proud...

Norris pimpin' it hard at the helm of the Freelance on Fox Sports Net.

As some of you may know, Captain Norris Tapp of the Freelance (Davey's Locker, Newport Beach, CA), was hospitalized in March due to intestinal problems. Norris is out of the hospital now and has been making a great recovery from what I hear. Norris has been described as the kind of captain that would take you up to the bridge and explain all the electronics to you, congratulate you after you put a sweet catch on deck, and the first one to slap a perfectly-timed gaff shot into your fish after you spent most of your manly testosterone pulling him off the bottom...

I usually don't say this, but this is a special occassion: let's hope that

the Freelance is packed 10 times this amount on May 7th at 7pm.

Norris has also been instrumental in fighting the bullshit MLPA's and is an avid RSG (Regional Stakeholders Group) member... speaking on several occasions about what areas are important to us as fishermen...

I'm going to try and make this trip and should be there so long as I'm in town, but regardless - I wanted to make everyone aware of it!

Here are the vitals:

Captain Norris Tapp Twilight Trip

Aboard the Freelance, Davey's Locker

Newport Beach, CA

Thursday May 7th, 7pm - 12am (midnight)

$50/Person - all proceeds going to Captain Tapp's recent hospital stay at Hoag Hospital in Newport (and you know that shit costs a grip!)

Important:

Make checks out to Davey's Locker and indicate "Norris Tapp" in the memo line.

Mail the check to:

Davey's Locker

400 Main St.

Newport Beach, CA 92661

** Help out our brother and fellow-fisherman who has stood up for your rights and spent some great times on the water with all of us, and catch some fish in the process!

If you'd like to see the "official" site, click here or call 949-673-1434 for more info.

*** On a sidenote, if you'd like to join the fight for our right to fish in California and keep areas of interest open, you can find some great resources (including templates in MS-Word .doc format) by clicking here... oh, and for you fearless kayak bastards, go here.

For a more recent mid-April update on what's happening and where we are with this challenge, visit this BloodyDecks post (BD always coming through with the latest and greatest - it's truly our voice).

It was hot as a mother today. Nice weather to be out catching some, and actually, I'm kind of anxious to see the fish counts for the SoCal landings today... Unfortunately for me, I was too tired and beat up from the shitty work week to be able to commit to making it out early this morning. I slept in until 1p.m. and after getting my breakfast in, I decided to drive out to Charkbait in Huntington Beach to grab a product I'd been hearing a lot about, but hadn't seen much on the boats I've been on - the Cork Puppy, by JR Jones Company.

The Cork Puppy is a very well thought out invention. Basically, in the past when the long-cast guys and jig fisherman who use corktaped deckhand-style rods without reel seats wanted to attach their reels to the rod, they had to do so with a crappy nut/bolt setup and old school clamp. While this setup still works for many, eventually the tightened-down bolts and stress from the reel digs deep into the cork handle - shedding it like a molting rattler, and later causing damage to the rod blank.

Enter the Cork Puppy, which I believe will revolutionize the way iron-tossing anglers will attach their conventional reels to deckhand-style rods. The Cork Puppy comes in three sizes: 25mm, 28mm, and 31mm, and in three different colors - gold, anodized silver, and black. The Cork Puppy allows for that pressure to be evenly distributed throughout a larger area, minimizing damage to your expensive custom rods, and also making for a more secure mount and solid placement. It's made of 6061-T6 aluminum with type II anodyizing, so you can feel confident that it's not going to crack, split, or bend under pressure.

Taka Tanaka set up a beautiful Calstar 6485 LTCR 8'6" custom jigstick for me, and I didn't wanna chance anything "ruining" it... The only color options that they had in the 28mm size (which seems to be the most popular) were the silver and gold ones, so I took the lesser of two evils. I thought to myself, do I want to be Mr. T (gold) or Puff Daddy (platinum) when I'm out there catching my whopper with the cameras snapping away and the bonito fanboys drooling... so platinum it was. Here's another shot of what the Cork Puppy looks like from below - as you can see, not only does it look nicer than the traditional clamp, but it also helps spread that pressure that would otherwise clamp down on just one particular part of your rod.

Tomorrow, I'm headed out on the Pursuit, out of 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro for a full day's worth of fishing... I plan on putting this puppy to the test!