‘Ohana’ is deeper than meets the surface
Wed, 05/18/2022 - 8:30am
admin
By:
Greg Peralta
In Hawaii, “Ohana” is the word for family. Since the Yellowfin 32 is a gathering spot for my family, that is its name.
Now that the weather is warm, we are using Ohana for more than offshore fishing. My daughter, Maddie, and wife, Amy, go offshore fishing occasionally. However, they rarely miss a sunset cruise. There is something special about being on a boat and watching the sunset with your family. We turn down the stereo and everyone stops talking. Quietly, we watch the sun dip below the horizon. Everyone is smiling. At that moment, I knew the boat was aptly named.
When conditions allow, my son, Elliott, brother, Dave, and Brody, the amazing fish-finding and stock-trading dog, head offshore. Way offshore. Typically, we do not begin fishing until we are 50 to 60 miles out. This is where the continental shelf begins dropping into the abyss. It is also where tuna, mahi, wahoo, and the occasional billfish like to hang out.
With all these species available, we like to troll a mixed spread of lures. On our short, flat lines, we pull a Nomad DTX Minnow and a large Moldcraft Wide Range. The DTX dives to about 30 feet and the Wide Range runs on the surface just beyond the prop wash of the engines. Wahoo love the DTX. The large Moldcraft is for billfish. On the short outrigger lines, we run medium Moldcraft Wide Range lures behind squid chains. The long outrigger lines usually have smaller lures and ballyhoo combinations. Mahi and tuna usually strike the medium and small lures. Depending on sea state, our trolling speed varies between 6 and 9 knots.
Once the lures are deployed, trolling is pretty uneventful. But, when a big pelagic fish smashes a lure, things get hectic fast. Offshore fishing is a team sport. Someone drives the boat. Someone clears the lines. Someone fights the fish. We all hoot and laugh. Brody barks. I would like to think he is laughing too.
Ohana. A good boat name. A great way of life.
Contact Captain Greg Peralta at capgregp@gmail.com or call (843) 224-0099.