The excellent bonefishing on the island of Molokai may be one of Hawaii best kept secrets. Moloka’i, a hidden gem, is just north of Maui, and has the largest fishing flats in the entire state. The flats are protected by a fringing reef along the entire south shore of the island. With very little boat traffic and fishing pressure, the bonefishing areas are pristine, the majority being away from any man-made structures. Most importantly, the bonefish are BIG, averaging 5-8 pounds. If you are interested in a great bonefishing experience and want to pursue these giant bones, I would highly recommend Capt. Clay Ching of Hallelujah Hou Fishing. From the islands of Maui or Oahu, it is easy to make a single or multiple day trip to Molokai for a bonefish adventure. There are daily flights, and a ferry from Maui, that go to this enchanted island. What nice too is that you do not need to bring your own fishing equipment. Capt. Clay can provide Scott S4S rods with Hatch reels, and also has Sage, Tibor, Ross and 3Tand gear available, along with spinning gear if desired. He also has a truly impressive flats boat, a custom made Prima Sea Elite. She is 18’7 with a 7 beam, powered by a 115 hp Evinrude Etec engine, and can reach speeds up to 30 knots. More importantly, Capt. Clay pioneered this fishery, which did not exist seven years ago. There were a few people bonefishing on the island, but in comparison to Honolulu, Molokai was virtually untouched. Currently, he is the only legal guide on Molokai and hopes other guides will share his catch and release ethic and act to steward the resource as gently and respectfully as he does. Capt. Clay wants his clients to enjoy an overall experience, and he has a deep respect for his surrounding environment. He states this resource is priceless and I would hate to see it hammered into non-existence because of greed for money. Capt. Clay makes it clear to his customers the numbers of bonefish caught may not be as numerous as Christmas island, but what Molokai lacks in numbers, is made up in size with the 5-8 pound average. The areas fished are so unspoiled, during the weekdays there’s a good chance you will be the only boat fishing. An average trip runs for 4-6 hours, with bonefish as the target species, but trevally are sometimes caught too. Success is dependent upon the clients fishing prowess, ability to see fish and to cast to, as well as being able to make an adequate presentation of a fly to the fish. As this is not always easy, Molokai is definitely a sporting challenge. Molokai is a beautiful, pristine Hawaiian island. There are no traffic lights on the entire island, no buildings higher than the surrounding palm trees and its home to Hawaii longest beach, 2.2 miles long. It does have all the amenities needed for one to have a superior bonefishing experience on a beautiful Hawaiian island in the middle of the Pacific. Capt. Clay can fill you in on flights, ferries, restaurants, and any other questions you may have. If interested in an amazing day off Maui contact: Captain Clay Ching (808) 336-1870 or [email protected] or visit his website www. hallelujahhoufishing.com
Capt Clay Ching
