Life History Fishing Tournaments
Pō’aiapuni Ola Mau – Free Entry Fishing Tournament 2022
Poseidon Fisheries Research is teaming up with the non-profit organization Napu’uomalei to put on a fishing tournament for Oahu fishers to help us collect valuable biological data and fish samples for current research projects to learn more about these local species. Fishers that first participate in any* beach clean up by June 15, will earn free entry into the tournament in either the boat-based division in Maunalua Bay or the Oahu-wide shoreline division. The boat division will consist of a maximum of 30 boats, while anyone can join the shoreline event. We had to postpone from the original tournament dates due to COVID complications but are working to get new permits for the week of June 17, with weigh-ins and boat-based on this day and shoreline starting June 15. Hope we see you there!!
The tournament is funded through a grant from NOAA Pacific Islands Region Sustainable Recreational and Non-Commercial Fishing Program.
Earn Free Entry at any Beach Clean Up – before June 15
*If you couldn’t make our beach clean up there’s still time to gain FREE entry. Just join any other organized beach clean up or take out a couple trash bags and do your own! Send us photo proof with your contact info and you’re in!! No time to clean the beach?? No worries, can still enter. Just send us contact info and $30 to PayPal.Me/PoseidonFisheries.
Check out 808 Cleanups to join one of their events by June 15!!
Boat-based Tournament – June 17
Jungle Rules – The rules are, there are no rules!! Capture the fish however you can, legally. We will run the boat-based portion of the tournament in two groups. The beginning group will all launch their boats at the Maunalua Bay Boat Ramp and then meet at a designated spot in the bay. Then, they will all start at the same spot from 6:30-12:30. The second group will then begin launching and meet at the same location before all fishing from 8:00-14:00. Each group will have the same amount of time (~6hrs) to fish but the second group will return at the later time. Fishing area will correspond to the commercial reporting grid 409 (map below). As boats come back, they will first get their fish weighed and entered into the tournament. We will have tents set up in line with the weigh-in where the fishers will then visit one at a time to get their fish sampled and talk story with the researchers and managers.
Oahu Shoreline Tournament – June 15 – June 17
Shoreline participants can begin fishing on the June 15 and continue fishing until the weigh-in June 17, at Maunalua Bay Beach Park, from 11:00am-12:30pm. All forms of fishing are permitted but must be based off the shore. No fishing/spearing off a boat.
Jungle Rules – The rules are, there are no rules!! Capture the fish however you can, legally. Boats must stay within the tournament zone provided. Shoreline can fish all around Oahu. Boats and shoreline are competing for same prize categories, you can participate in both if you got a boat spot.
Prize Categories – Each category winner will receive Gift Card to local fishing store (Nanko, POP, Hanapa’a, and Charley’s). Prizes will be distributed after the tournament and announced online.
Species specific categories
Biggest Mahi – $200
Biggest Aku – $200
Biggest Moana Kali – $200
Biggest Munu – $200
Biggest Kumu – $200
Biggest Nenue – $200
Nenue Bingo – $200 – Most species of nenue (out of 5) – if tie highest weight combined
Smallest Nenue* – $100
Smallest Goat* – $100 – (moana kali, munu, kumu), kumu MUST be Legal (10in)
*Please only harvest 1 small kine for each if attempting this category – smaller samples help with the research, but we do not want to end up taking all the small fish
Biggest papio/ulua (White: min size = 21 in FL or Omilu: min size = 14 in FL) – $200
- FL = Fork Length (measure tip of snout to fork in tail)
- Minimum size for entry represents the L50 for these species, or the length at which 50% were found to be sexually mature, to help fish reproduce at least once before harvesting
Biggest Mu: min entry > 4.4 lbs (2,000g) – $100
Biggest Table Boss: min entry > 3.3 lbs (1,500g) – $100
Biggest Palani: min entry > 3.3 lbs (1,500g) – $100
Biggest Pualu: min entry > 3.3 lbs (1,500g) – $100
Biggest Naenae: min entry > 1.1 lbs (500g) – $100
Biggest Umaumalei: min entry > 1.1 lbs (500g) – $100
- Will be helping to determine maximum size and age for these species by sampling sizes on the larger spectrum as we already have their growth curve and maturity worked up
Keiki Category – largest fish from species list
1st – $150, 2nd – $125, and 3rd – $100
Other Categories
Oldest Fish – $200 – pick one fish you think is oldest to enter, we’ll collect otoliths and determine the winner after a couple weeks processing in lab and announce online
Highest GSI – $200 (Gonadosomatic Index – ratio of gonad weight to fish weight, used to help determine spawning season)
“Fish of the Day” – $200 – Pick species and target weight before launching
Recipe Raffle: – $200
Anyone who provides a fish sample will automatically get one ticket for the raffle. Bring a recipe for reef fish or have one to write down and then enter in the box to get an extra chance. One will be randomly drawn to win the prize. Bring those recipes!!
Prizes from categories with no winners will be added to the raffle.