Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
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Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
#1Well, this year, my annual week or two late June early July HF plans are gonna look a little different. Instead, i'll be with my family on the big island for a week staying at the Hilton Waikōloa. Anyone ever stayed there or nearby and brought along a fly rod and had some success? Any tips or ideas are much appreciated. I can only lay on a beach for so long. I hope to get to idaho by late july but the timing of this trip is killing me!
- owenscaddis
- Master Guide
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- Location: Southern California
Re: Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
#2I stayed there with my family over a decade ago. I did not see anyone fishing in the area, nor did I attempt to do so. I do remember that the beaches were rather narrow with lots of black lava which would make fishing challenging. Like you I get antsy after a day or so. We used the resort as a home base and toured the island. I would highly recommend getting a car rental. You can easily make day trips to Hilo or the volcano. Also the coffee plantations are interesting to visit if you enjoy a good cup. Lots to see and enjoy. Sorry I am not more helpful.
Frank
Frank
Re: Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
#3I had a stay just north of there quite some time ago at a condo on a golf course. I concur with Frank: get a rental car. I wouldn’t bother with a fly rod. You might consider a blue water fishing charter. Big tasty fish out there! Enjoy some live Hawaiian music, eat a lot of poke, and check out the sea turtles (they were all over the place when I was there).
For bonefish on a fly rod, take a day on Oahu. Honolulu has some big spooky bonefish right in the tourist beach.
For bonefish on a fly rod, take a day on Oahu. Honolulu has some big spooky bonefish right in the tourist beach.
Re: Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
#4Hi Guys, Look at lava. I'd love to see lava flow.
Jay Edwards
Jay Edwards
Re: Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
#6Surfing is a blast - love to fly fish but if I were in Hawaii I’d get a surfing lesson rather than fish.
Re: Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
#7Spent 3 1/2 years 1973-1976 in USN stationed on the USS Bryce Canyon, AD 36 docked at Pearl Harbor. I've been back several+ times to the Islands.
Big Island is my favorite - endless beauty, active volcano, friendly locals, great food, surf and sun. Never fished other than catching hand++ sized Talapia on Oahu.
On our last visit, the day before my Wife's Birthday, we drove to Ka Lee (South Point) in the AM and saw pink smoke from Kilauea's last major eruption - our B&B was about 15 miles on the coast towards Hilo from the lava flow's hardest hit subdivisions. Nature in its most awesome power but also beautiful. Pele don't mess around sometimes.
There is so much to do (if you so desire) or nothing to do at all, and in between - enjoy!!!
Big Island is my favorite - endless beauty, active volcano, friendly locals, great food, surf and sun. Never fished other than catching hand++ sized Talapia on Oahu.
On our last visit, the day before my Wife's Birthday, we drove to Ka Lee (South Point) in the AM and saw pink smoke from Kilauea's last major eruption - our B&B was about 15 miles on the coast towards Hilo from the lava flow's hardest hit subdivisions. Nature in its most awesome power but also beautiful. Pele don't mess around sometimes.
There is so much to do (if you so desire) or nothing to do at all, and in between - enjoy!!!
Re: Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
#8My daughter and son-in-law do bird research on the Big Island and Maui and they currently live there in Hilo. We were there for a few weeks last year and I ran across a great sporting goods store in Hilo called S. Tonkunaga Store which I follow on Instagram. Seen more than few pictures of bonefish caught around the Big Island. Thought I would include this link about Big Island fly fishing.
https://kuuloakai.com/hawaii/big-island-fly-fishing/
If you get a chance, do one of the night Manta Ray dives out of Kona. We had a blast with these big rays literally brushing up against us as they scoop up plankton. Lots of snorkeling to be had - lots of colorful coral, tropical fish, etc. A trip to Volcano National Park is a great excursion - the active volcano crater is best seen at night. We also took a drive to the top of Mauna Kea to the observatories and then spent a few hours star gazing at the visitor center after leaving the peak. If you're a star peeper, the Milky Way is mind blowing from the visitor center parking lot. We also did a helo tour outta Kona which is another great way to see the coast line.
Love the Big Island way better than Oahu
Cane
https://kuuloakai.com/hawaii/big-island-fly-fishing/
If you get a chance, do one of the night Manta Ray dives out of Kona. We had a blast with these big rays literally brushing up against us as they scoop up plankton. Lots of snorkeling to be had - lots of colorful coral, tropical fish, etc. A trip to Volcano National Park is a great excursion - the active volcano crater is best seen at night. We also took a drive to the top of Mauna Kea to the observatories and then spent a few hours star gazing at the visitor center after leaving the peak. If you're a star peeper, the Milky Way is mind blowing from the visitor center parking lot. We also did a helo tour outta Kona which is another great way to see the coast line.
Love the Big Island way better than Oahu
Cane
- Horton Creek
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Re: Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
#10I have been to Hawaii twice (Maui and Kuai) and brought fly rod. Always caught fish.....mostly trevally or trumpetfish. Missed a few bonefish. See below link for Big Island info
https://www.ucolick.org/~bolte/HawaiiWW ... shing.html
This me last summer
https://www.ucolick.org/~bolte/HawaiiWW ... shing.html
This me last summer
Re: Hawaii Big Island vs the ranch..
#11Hey all y'all thanks for the info! Leaving in the morning, packed an 8wt and some saltwater paraphernalia! spoke with all the usual suspects last week up in Idaho, seems i'm not missing much up there yet! hoping to connect with something off the beach, if not, i reckon sitting on the beach ain't all bad either!! yes going to volcano NP. I have John Prine "let's talk dirty in hawaiian" stuck in my head!! aloha!
j
j