Fishing in Kona with Captain Bobby on the Cherry Pit

Elizabeth Weintraub caught an Ono fishing in Kona.

When my friend Linda mentioned she had plans to go fishing in Kona, I pretty much invited myself to go along. She seemed a bit surprised to learn that I love to fish. Perhaps because I am more of a lake fishing person than an ocean sea-going mama. Although, I did go deep-sea fishing 7 years ago in Kona on the Fire Hatt with Captain Chuck.

Above is my 21-pound ono. I’d like to say I caught it but the truth is the boat catches the fish. I just reeled it in. We don’t bait our own hooks and we don’t pull our fish out of the water. Captain Bobby on the Cherry Pit handles the entire boat without a deck hand, and that is part of his duties.

But hey, this is the fish I caught. And you should note that I am not left holding the bloody head like my friends. Nope, I got the slimy tail to hold.

Sunrise over Hualalai fishing in Kona

This fishing in Kona trip was set up by Vern Bowen from Roseville, CA. Vern and his wife Pam are a hoot. Last enjoyed their company during the Sunday Stroll in Kailua Village. They used to live next door to Linda in Roseville, but then Linda moved back to Kona. Small world. Only deal was we had to be at Honokohau Harbor by 5:00 AM.

As we chugged over small waves heading north along the shoreline, I watched the water curl into those unnatural pointy shapes you see in bad oil paintings. Every white crest resembled a shark. I was definitely hallucinating and this was not my free flash back we were promised and never got.

Linda Lynn caught an Ono fishing in Kona.

Linda made it look so easy when she reeled in her ono. That fish practically swam toward the boat. Captain Bobby said the stripes on the ono tend to fade once they are out of the water for a while. In fact, Linda’s ono had more stripes than my Ono but hers weighed a little under 12 pounds.

Vern Bowen pulled in a male mahi-mahi fishing in Kona.

When we saw this fish that Vern caught with live bait, we didn’t know what it was. Despite the fact that the back of Vern’s shirt features an illustration of mahi-mahi eating small fish. But yes, it is a very emerald green and glittery fish. Their brilliant color fades after it is out of the water.

Vern Bowen caught the biggest Ono fishing in Kona.

Here is Vern’s 23-pound ono. We trolled with lures for a long time. Probably left the harbor around 5:45 and headed north toward the airport, arriving near the Makai Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant. That structure, which turns sea water into energy, was part of our visit to the Kona Natural Energy Laboratory tours a year ago.

Vern and Pam Bowen, Elizabeth Weintraub and Linda Lynn pose with ono and mahi-mahi from fishing in Kona.

Right after I reeled in my ono, I began to feel a bit seasick. It was tough reeling it in. Toward the end, I was doing a two-fisted reel, and then I collapsed on the bench, panting. Still, I would do it again. Fishing in Kona is one of the great experiences in life. Now we have fresh fish to serve our houseguests, Josh Almosch and Vika, when they arrive in Kona today.

If you don’t know, Josh is an exclusive buyer’s agent on the Elizabeth Weintraub Team. Work hard. Play hard.