Hawaiian Islands
Bonefish, Giant Trevally and Milkfish photo journal
All images are by Dave McCoy unless otherwise noted and are all under copyright protection.


Let's just start off with, YES, there are bonefish and flats in Hawaii and they are both large and plentiful!


Some of the flats are easily accessible while others are not. This one requires a boat to access, or a daring swim.


Coach Duff lays one out on his backcast, a necessity with the direction of the wind sometimes.


Coach Duff and Brian Jill of LCA fishing a flat at sunset.


Coy Chittenden gets into a big one in the early am.


Here, you can have your fly back now.


Traditional luau's are a fantastic way to experience authentic Hawaiian culture, highly recommended by Coach and EWA.


Some sample flies to view for those who like to tie their own and the rod Coach Duff will put in your hands when you arrive, a specially designed bonefish rod by CF Burkheimer.


Coach Duff admires the Waikiki skyline while spotting a couple of small bones on a linear flat below.


Moonrise over Lanikai beach as cars pass below our bungalow. Lights of Molokai in the background.


For those who love to eat fish, there are no lack of variety in the islands, in fact you can even buy bonefish, just ask for O'io.


Close look at the skin of a bonefish. No wonder as they turn in the water, they disappear, hence their moniker, The Gray Ghost.


Next time over with the Coach, ask him for some Dirty Lickens, but make sure he knows you mean the beverage.


These fish are big, stong, fickle and extremely weary at times. Don't plan on your 7-8wt rod being a great choice here. This one was barely controllable on a fast 10wt and we lost others much larger on similar rods.


This is the proverbial location for "island time" so pick up a lei at the airport and relax.


A perfect evening for tail spotting. It doesn't always happen but when it does be prepared, most are large.


As with other aggressive species elsewhere, only the strong survive as this little jack demonstrates by eating a fly he can barely fit in his mouth.


Brian Jill whipping a few up for tomorrow.


Sturdy hooks are necessary as these fish need the heat put to them and whimpy, small wire hooks don't cut it.


Coach with a fish on he managed to keep out of the hole in the background which was created during the attack on Pearl Harbon by stray bombs that just missed their targets. These are part of the reason even on larger flats that it is difficult to land fish here, they easily run into these pits and break you off.


Please accept this as evidence of the afore mentioned.


These stunning fish have earned their respect from local anglers.


Coach Duff points out some nervous water.


Kaneohe Bay from above, this should give an idea as to how much water there is. Big bones call this place home. Photo Brian Jill


A look from the Pali Highway towards some of the more productive flats on the island, a closer view.


Don't put your fingers where they don't belong. I gather that this is how pliers were intoduced to fly fishing.

Coach Duff, U of H Sugar Bowl coaching staff member in 2007, impressive bling.


Make sure you have a fishing license as the police around here mean business.


For non anglers, uh, this is Hawaii, need we say more.


Coach Duff and the rest of his staff are working closely with Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited as well as the U of H on studying these bones and their habitat so most caught are tagged.


Duff laying one out there from a little perch only available at low tide.


Coach Duff and Brian Jill trudging their way back out to the drop for one more shot before nightfall.


Must have been a rough night in the harbor last night or someone had too many Mai Tai's.


Spectacular view from the road. Photo Brian Jill


Brian Jill lays one out there to a cruising fish.


Another nice fish. Of the more than 30 we spotted that day, we hooked 5 and landed 3. They are that spooky and that strong.


Brian Jill getting some casting practice.


Brian Jill, again, more practice!


A long admiration of the sun going down on a long day of fishing.


Can't catch enough of these, unlike her more youthful kin, she takes a ton of line from you.


A front view of the new fly fishing lodge about to open over here, it is sweet!


Duff and Coy Chittenden get down on their knees to avoid throwing long shadows at tailing bones.


Soothing sound of waterfalls are all over the islands. Yet another splendid experience for non anglers to enjoy while visiting. Photo Brian Jill


All the practice paid off! Fish on and unfortunately also gone!


Brian Jill fishing an amazing flat. Big black spot out there in front is two things; 1 it is a holding and feeding zone for huge bones and 2 a hole left by a bomb during Pearl Harbor.


Hawaiian guide Big Bob with big lips on a big fish, everything's big.


A flat just below the Hill House, a historical landmark on Oahu built around the rocks so as not to disturb them. This was and still is considered to be a holy site by locals and was built for surfers to be able to watch the break on either side of the point. Also the best view on the island of Lanikai.


Sunrise as impressive as the sunset, definitely worth getting up for.


Here's looking at you.


Bring what you want but just be prepared to fish what the Coach wants to fish.

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