It was a Gorgeous few hours in the morning with my brother. We went out Holo-Holo (playing around) fishing. I was stalking a couple of very nice Tailing bonefish, that were feeding 40 yards away and coming at me at 30degrees. All of a sudden, it appeared! A nice Tako (octopus) was spread out, soaking up the morning Hawaii sun! It flashed a bright gray/white color, as if to say, “Stay Away, I’m the King of this Reef!” I had only a few seconds to make a decision. Should I by pass those weary and skiddish bonefish or go after the ” Guarantee octopus? Well, I Guess I am not much of a gambler. After I reached down and grabbed his large spongee head, I was thinking that if I could do this quickly enough, I may still have a chance at those bonefish! But guess what, I could have sworn I heard him say, “I am William Wallace!” I felt it was Longshanks himself and he fought me with Great Abandon! His tentacles reached up and wrapped around my arm. I had to tuck my rod under my arm to grab him with my other hand! Finally I was able to, as we Hawaiians do it, bite him between the eyes like a Savage Native! Quickly dispatching it! This octopus made for a wonderful, smoked tako at a barbecue, enjoyed by a few friends and some nice cold ones! Oh, and as far as the Bonefish are concerned, theyare still out there.
Love it! What a great fish tale! I just emailed it to a bunch of my friends .. I am constantly amazed at the fish tales and by the fly fishing experiences people have all over the world. All sorts of fish species and flies and places and adventures .. most of which I will probably never get a chance to see or experience in person. And, once again I could never have imagined even imagined a fish tale like this. BUT, if I ever do make it to Hawaii to fly fish .. I definately want to do “what the natives do!” .. and If I see an octopus on the flats there’s a good chance I’ll bite him between the eyes and smoke him up for lunch! Although, my addictive gravitation to the bonefish or any fish that will take a fly .. might require me to cast to the bonefish – hook it .. get him on the reel and then do battle with the octopus! GREAT fish tale!
A Hui Hou!
Im not to sure about biting them between the eyes, but seems like it`s one of those things where its a treat to catch something thats really out of the ordinary for me anyways, maybe in Hawaii it might happen alot more but I`m all about catching strange fish, but for me an octopus would really be my highlight for the strangest thing I caught or will ever catch, next to jelly fish, but I don`t think it would be too pleasent to bite a jelly fish, Great fish tale and photo, always enjoy a great story from Hawaii
Wow, “Bite him between the eyes…”
If I come to Hawaii, I want you to be my guide for sure.
Calamari for everyone! Aloha!
killer catch. I bet that made some nice BBQ. Did Mr. Octopus spray any Ink? Good luck getting the bonefish nex time. I love the pic…
Great post I dream of going to Hawaii to fly fish some day I was there as a kid and can only imagine how amazing it must be to wake up and chase tailing bonefish… keep the posts coming oh yeah love the pic wish i could have tasted that smoked that night.. with a cold beer .. cheers Alex
That is truly hardcore, great story! That sounds delicious with an ice cold beer…i am getting hungry (and thirsty) right now thinking about it. I love this part of the story
Good stuff.