Big Island Hawaii: Fish and 2015 Outback/Revo experience

Uuqutiiq and I were on the Big Island of HI for the holidays. We went out only once on kayaks, fishing with a couple guys from Plenty Pupule http://www.plentypupule.com/ shop near Kona. The owner, Kelly, and the shop's Hobie sponsored fisher, Chris, took us out of Mahukona Harbor on the Northwest part of the island (by "took us out," I mean we paid for Chris to guide). Aside from catching one fish each, the coolest part was sitting on a new Hobie Outback (me) and a new Revo (Sarah).

The new seat in the 2015 models is really comfortable and convenient. It has all sorts of adjustments for angle, height, and lumbar support. Clearly, they took some lessons from the Pro Angler seats. Also, as a little benefit, it doubles as a beach chair with little legs that are folded under the seat. Aside from a serious comfort upgrade, the seat also allows for a space below it to put a small gear box--like a small Plano or something. The new seat required a complete re-do of the molding, and so it isn't backward compatible at all.

The new Mirage Drive, though, is backward compatible. We didn't notice any difference--except, the shop owner told us that the new bearings are better... longer-lasting.

As an Outback owner, one thing I liked other than the seat upgrade was the move and addition of mesh pockets. The outback now has a single net/mesh pocket at the front-base of the seat. With the remolding, that placement isn't possible, so they put one on each side out by the front rod holders. To me...that's a serious improvement. I like places to stuff all my crap.

As for the fishing...we used these amazingly strong little fish--Opelli (sp?), which took a double hook like a herring...and stayed alive for hours. Kinda neat. These guys don't have any additional rod holders beyond the Hobie molded rod holders; they set their drag light and let the fish run.

I hooked up almost immediately, and pulled a dipshit move of trying to set the hook with the drag still very light. The fish enjoyed the slack and left me. Minutes later, the guide hooked up on a small mahi mahi. He said it was likely what I had b/c they swim in small schools. Oh well...I learned and then hooked a (very small) Ulua. That thing fought like a monster! Sarah hooked and landed an Uku. Her fish is more "the average" according to Chris, whereas, I don't think he'd have kept my Ulua if he'd caught it. But what the hell!

He invited us out the next day (we never knew if that was a 'buddy' invite or a second pay-guide invite). We couldn't go b/c we had kid duty with our kids and niece and nephew; however, he texted me that day to say he'd caught a Hammerhead shark and that if I'd gone, we could have hooked two b/c they were all around the area he fished. DAMN!

...and, just to give Rudy some ego-stroking, he asked if we knew Rudy bc he'd just had a friend send him the news write-up from earlier that week. Chris works in Denali Park during the summer...so you may get a chance to meet him when he comes through.

Other than that day...we didn't fish. Glad to be back in AK (....who am I kidding...I need to put on mittens and chapstick to get the f'ing mail....grrr).

aloha.

Looks fun!   I gotta get bank to Hawaii

Cool write-up, thanks! I'm looking forward to kayak fishing in Hawaii. Our plans to do it last year didn't work out, so it's gotta happen one of these years.

Awesome!!! Warm water fishing is on my bucket list!!!  Better start saving for 2015 model!!!!! Great report!!!

Sounds like a blast!  I'm heading out there end of March.  I'll be renting that outback for a week:) can't wait to try the 2015.  nice to see you got to fight some fish.  Thanks for the post... Though it tests my patience, I want to go tomorrow.