I can almost guarantee you not gonna white wash (go fishing and catch nothing).
Trust me. This is exactly what I would do if my wife kicked me out the house. Plus it’s what I do when I am waiting for something big to slam my pole. So let me show you…
The Gear: What You Really Need to Start Fishing
You DO NOT need a pole. WHAT!?
All you need is:
- Fishing Line (my preference is 4lb test)
- Small Hooks (I love AH Hooks)
- Split Shot
- White Bread
Step 1) Cut about an 8 foot length of fishing line
Step 2) Tie the hook using your preferred knot, I like the improved clinch knot
Step 3) Add a split shot about 6-8 inches from the hook
Step 4) Make a bread ball and hook it
Step 5) Go catch a fish
*TIP: If you wanna fit in with the locals, you have to have one of these, to put all your gear inside. Toss it over your shoulder and you are good to go.
If you like, you can add a floater about 3 feet from the split shot. If you have a hard time feeling the bite, the floater gonna give you a clue when the fish is biting.
Where Should You Fish?
You might be asking, “Okay, I’ve got my gear. Now what?” The best part about fishing is you can do it just about anywhere there’s water and fish.
I usually go to a pier or off the rocks which I don’t recommend if you are clumsy. The rocks can be slippery and dangerous.
Sometimes I just walk in the open water and go near a reef head.
Now, you probably not gonna catch a big fish, but you gonna catch something big enough to use for bait or deep fry.
What To Do When You Catch A Fish?
Hanapa`a!!!!
Take a picture of it of course. If someone is with you, make sure you hold the fish as far in front of you as possible and have them take the picture. It will give the appearance that your fish is 10x bigger.
Oh Wait! Fish has fins and they are usually pokey so I usually firmly grab them by their stomach.
Oh! Plus they are slippery.
So once you have a firm hold you can try to remove the hook with your fingers. No need pliers because it’s a small hook.
If you not gonna eat it, release it back to the ocean so it can reproduce for next time.
Stay Safe & Respectful Out There
Fishing is fun, but remember that a little safety and etiquette goes a long way. So make sure you pack sunscreen, a hat and drink lots of water. Try not to go solo, bring a friend. If you cannot swim, wear a life vest. Don’t be shame, they have nice fancy kind. Oh and don’t litter. If you do that, you might take home a Hawaiian spirit. So make sure you clean up after yourself.
More Than Just Catching Fish
If you think it’s all about catching a fish, it’s so much more. It’s good for your mind and helps you build confidence that you can do things. Fishing in the ocean also gives you that nature therapy and allows you to be one with your surroundings. It also takes you away from the hustle and bustle so you can spend time with people you love or just being by yourself.
So What, You Ready?
No worry, everything can fit in a small bag. If you bring a loaf of bread, people are gonna think you gonna have a picnic. Sometimes I put a few slices of bread in a sandwich baggie so the whole loaf don’t spoil. Let’s go put that line in the water and you gonna catch your first fish, hand line style. Let’s go.
When the fish is on, don’t forget to yell HANAPA`A!!!
This is such a cool and simple way to fish! I had no idea you could catch something without a pole, just using some line and bread. Definitely makes fishing feel more accessible, especially if you’re just starting out or don’t want to invest in a lot of gear. Quick question though—do you have any tips for choosing the right spots if you’re not near a pier or reef head? Also, love how you tied in the idea of fishing being about more than just catching fish. The peace and quiet of nature is definitely a huge bonus!
Hey Kelly, thanks for the commend and question. Wow this allows me to do a little reflection on the peach and quiet part that you mention. Fishing can be very frustrating because a lot of the time, it’s just that… fishing… but when you reframe it, as a challenge, a way to get away from the noise… to be one with nature and yourself, it becomes more enjoyable. Getting back to your question about tips for choosing the right spots if you aren’t near a pier or reef head… interesting enough, you could stand in the middle of the beach and fish are always swimming around. I did just this in high school, a ways back, We were on an outer-island trip for x-country and we were all enjoying the beach and I set up my rig and not even 5 minutes later, I caught a Christmas Wrasse and we had it for dinner. You can also fish near rock formations or jetty’s but you’d need to be a little more cautious.
I hope you got something out of this and if you ever do try, let me know how it went.
🤙🏼Robert