Opelu Update

Mr. Tracy went to the right side of Waimea Bay at 5:30am Friday and caught 50-plus Opelu/Halalu.  He used 1/2 inch Ika strips on a 12-foot pole with 2-pound test.  He also whipped with a 2-pound test leader.  He dried his catch and will bring samples to tomorrow's meeting at B104 from 3:10pm to 4:10pm.  Remember to return all forms to Mr. Tracy.

North Shore Opelu and Halalu Run

For all the whippers out there, word is that opelu and halalu are arriving at the North Shore.  Mr. Tracy's advice is to whip for them as they are remaining outside of the reef.  Happy fishing!

Friends of Mr.Tracy this morning gave a heads-up that Halalu, or young Akule, running at Haleiwa and Waianae Boat Harbors.

The first meeting for Mililani Middle School's Fishing Club will be held today from 3:10pm to 4:10pm at Room B104.  Please attend if interested.  Sign-up is ongoing.  See Mr Tracy (security) for applications.

Join the MMS Fishing Club

Mililani Middle School’s Fishing Club will begin its 14^th year with a recruitment meeting in July for interested students here.  Under the guidance of fishing club advisor Tracy Momohara, and other school employee volunteers, the club has consistently year to year carried out its vision of marine education, both in the classroom and on Oahu’s shoreline.  “We will teach anybody interested how to fish,” said fishing club president, Devon Ando.

The 6^th to 8^th grade students first learn about the basics of fishing to include knots, different disciples such as whipping and dunking, and the techniques used to complete your rigs.  The club then plans a field trip on the weekend to allow the student’s an opportunity practice what they have learned in the classroom.  Parents and family members also attend these field trips in support of the students.   “Our normal schedule in the past has been using the hand pole for ‘Oama at Waimea Bay, dunking in the early evening around Kahuku, and whipping at Haleiwa Harbor,” said Ando.  “If lucky, we sometimes catch fish,” he added.

The students learn more than just fishing here.  “We also teach ocean conservation, ocean science such as moon phases, tides, and seasons, ocean safety, how to make fishing buckets, sand spikes, and looking boxes, fish printing, and my favorite, how to cook seafood,” said Momohara.  All of this would not be possible without the help of those in the fishing community.  “We have had Kurt Kawamoto of National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explain the barbless hook project, Kimberlee Harding from the O’io Tagging Project, Clayward Tam from the Ulua Tagging Project, and Naoki demonstrate the art of fish printing,” added Momohara.

Those that volunteered their time to speak to the students also participated in the first annual Mililani Middle School Fishing Tournament held at Haleiwa in April.  There were around 15 student participants and with the support and donations by these organizations, all went home with prize, ranging from fishing poles and reels to tackle boxes.

Conservation will continue to be a focus for this upcoming year’s club.  “Lately, I’ve noticed the fish population on a decline due to over-fishing and reefs being destroyed,” said Ando.  “I hope more will start tagging fish so we can learn more about certain species and hopefully sustain or increase the amount of fish for the future,” he added.  Ando hopes more students will get involved in fishing the correct way and to follow the fishing club’s motto taken from a Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”