Holidays in the Islands

[mems]

Hapy Holidays, I went camping for turkey day, it happened to be my B-day and got to fish and dive and surf at a remote beach on the big island.

We got some nice lobsters and I caught a bunch of papio, small bluefinned trevally that are tasty pan fried.

I got to surf some shore break, this is the view from the tube.

My wife and friends had a great time.

Guiding has kept me busy on the weekends. Here is a client with his first bonefish!

Here is the nice release.

I have had some luck of my own, here is a bone I got yesterday here in Hilo.

Ready for release

the surf has been huge on the kona side, here is my son, Luke out at 69's. Hope you all have a great New Year. I am going to shoot a tv show in January on Oahu chasing bones. Hope we get one on film. I will post pictures if we do. Laterz, Mems.

[Tony Buzolich]

Aloha Don,

Mele ka liki maka, (or something like that). That looks like a great few days having fun. Did you get those bugs free diving or with tanks? I've taken slipper lobsters before but nothing the size of those you've got.

I'll be over there for a couple of weeks in late June and maybe we can get together.
Aloha, Tony

[Randy Lee]

Don,
Visited the big island years ago and surfed a spot out by the air port. Had to take a rough dirt road for a bit. Pine trees I believe the nick name was. Good surf, had to watch out for the bottom critters , no sand. Great snorkeling. Didn't no about the flyfishing. Haven't been back since, sadly.
Great picks. Thanks.
Randy

[mems]

Aloha Tony, sure we can fish when you get here. I will be fishing with Jay M in Baja the first two weeks of June for some roosters for father's day. But we can fish when I get back. Maybe some offshore for ahi and mahi. those two lobsters were the smaller ones. A friend got one diving that was 10lbs. We called it the turkey lobster cause we had it on thanksgiving for dinner.
Randy the place you are talking about is pine trees. They are building a new golf course and condo homes exclusive place down there now. It was a god spot on small days, but lots of reef. I had a client go to the koloko ponds next door last week and the national parks guys said he could fish the pond there. I need some new tires for my honda, so I might go fish the pond this week when we get new tires at costco. The pond is loaded with big cuda, bones and GT's. that was my sure bet for guiding. I hope it is back open to fish again. You guys stay warm. Have a good new year! Don.

[Darian]

WOW!!! Great fishin', divin', surfin' and birthday for a holiday. Good photo's. You're having too much fun, Don. I see you're scheduled to go to Baja in early June. My partner and I are going down there the first week in June, also. We'll finally get achance to meet, face to face. Looking forward to it.

[FISHEYE]

Mems- the last time I was on the Big Island (last Christmas) the parkies kicked me out of the ponds at Koloko (if that is what the place across the main drag from Costco is). There were signs up about protecting the birds but there were no birds in sight (but there were plenty in the big pond along the beach where all the turtles go).

Darian and Don, sorry I'll miss you in Baja. I'll be there the first 3 weeks in May.

[Darian]

Phil,.... Too bad we couldn't make it a threesome but I know you're after the elusive 80 pound Rooster on the fly. Good luck and Happy New Year!!!