Part One: Morgan and Jake

I looked out my window in PaoaValley this morning as a cloudless sky emerged from the sunrise. The sun was rising in the east, and my window faced south, overlooking [unclear] in the Columbia River Basin.

I headed to Kaneohe to meet Morgan and Jake.

I've known Morgan for about a year, since she came to Hawaii with [unclear]. Morgan works for Columbia Sportswear, a company that makes outdoor sporting and fishing clothing. She had come to Hawaii to experience the world-class bonefishing opportunities found in our islands.

Columbia Sportswear is pretty cool. If you live on the mainland, there's a good chance you've seen their clothing or own some of it. They make everything from fishing shirts to outdoor jackets, and their products are designed for people who love spending time outdoors.

Hawaii is an especially interesting place for outdoor enthusiasts. The weather, ocean, and variety of activities make it a destination unlike anywhere else.

Morgan and Jake were excited to get out on the water and experience Hawaiian bonefishing firsthand.

Part Two: Meeting Morgan and Jake

Everyone in Hawaii has their own perspective on fishing, but one thing we all share is a love for the ocean.

We have some of the most beautiful fishing opportunities in the world, and the people who come here often leave with experiences they will never forget.

Hawaii's fishing community is relatively small, and many of us know one another. We support our local companies, guides, and businesses because we understand how important they are to the fishing industry.

I have always enjoyed sharing Hawaii's fishing opportunities with people from different backgrounds. Every person brings a different perspective, and there is always something new to learn.

Morgan and Jake were no exception.

I first met Jake through [unclear]. He was interested in experiencing Hawaiian bonefishing and wanted to learn more about the opportunities available here.

Jake and Morgan were both enthusiastic about fishing, although their experience levels were different.

As a guide, I enjoy working with people who are eager to learn. It doesn't matter whether someone has been fly fishing for twenty years or has never held a fly rod. What matters is their willingness to listen, learn, and enjoy the experience.

Part Three: The First Day on the Flats

Today was going to be different. Instead of concentrating on catching as many fish as possible, I wanted Morgan and Jake to experience the challenge of Hawaiian bonefishing.

On the boat, Morgan managed to catch two bonefish. She also hooked another fish during the three-day adventure.

Morgan's ability to catch fish was impressive. She had a natural understanding of the techniques, and her casting was already pretty good.

Jake had a different experience.

Although he had fly-fishing experience, Hawaiian bonefishing presented challenges that were different from what he was accustomed to.

The first thing I noticed was how important it would be to help both anglers understand the behavior of Hawaiian bonefish.

These fish are extremely difficult to catch. Their eyesight is remarkable, and they are constantly aware of their surroundings.

A successful presentation requires much more than simply casting a fly in front of a fish.

You have to understand how the fish moves, how it feeds, and how it reacts to changes in its environment.

Even experienced fly fishermen can struggle when fishing the Hawaiian flats.

Part Four: Understanding the Bonefish

Bonefish are incredibly sensitive to movement and changes in their surroundings.

The flats we fish are often covered with coral, sand, rocks, and patches of vegetation. Depending on the tide, sunlight, and water clarity, these fish can be almost impossible to see.

Sometimes, you don't see the fish until it's practically underneath your feet.

Other times, you can spot them from a considerable distance.

The trick is knowing what to look for.

Their silver bodies blend into the surrounding water, and their movements can be extremely subtle.

When they are feeding, they often move slowly across the bottom, searching for shrimp, crabs, and other small creatures.

But when they sense danger, they can disappear in an instant.

I explained to Morgan and Jake that the most important part of bonefishing is often what happens before the cast.

You must locate the fish, determine its direction of travel, and decide where to place your fly.

A poorly placed cast can ruin an opportunity before the fish even has a chance to see the fly.

Part Five: Morgan's First Bonefish

Morgan was eager to catch her first Hawaiian bonefish.

We worked together on positioning, casting, and presenting the fly.

One of the most important things I teach anglers is to avoid casting directly at a fish.

Instead, you want to place the fly far enough ahead of the fish that it can approach naturally without becoming frightened.

The distance depends on several factors, including water depth, current, waves, and the fish's behavior.

Morgan listened carefully and made adjustments.

Eventually, we spotted a bonefish moving across the flat.

I helped her position herself for the cast.

She delivered the fly, and we watched the fish approach.

The fish reacted to the presentation, and Morgan was able to hook it.

There is something special about watching someone catch their first Hawaiian bonefish.

The excitement, anticipation, and adrenaline are difficult to describe.

For Morgan, it was the beginning of an experience she would remember.

Part Six: Jake's Experience

Jake's experience was different.

He had been fly fishing for years, but Hawaiian bonefish required him to make adjustments to techniques he had developed elsewhere.

One of the biggest challenges was understanding how close a fly could land to a fish without frightening it.

A heavy fly landing too close to a bonefish can immediately send it swimming away.

The fish may also react to the fly line, leader, or sudden movement.

I explained that the presentation needed to be as natural as possible.

The goal wasn't simply to get the fly in front of the fish. It was to make the fish believe it was looking at something worth eating.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is leave the fly alone.

Other times, a slight movement is enough to attract the fish's attention.

Every situation is different.

Jake had several opportunities, but things didn't always work out.

That's part of bonefishing.

You can do everything correctly and still come away empty-handed.

Part Seven: Learning to Read the Water

One of the most important skills in bonefishing is learning how to read the water.

The ability to spot fish depends on lighting, water clarity, bottom composition, and the angle of the sun.

During our time together, I explained how these factors affect our ability to locate fish.

A bonefish swimming over white sand can be relatively easy to spot.

The same fish swimming over dark coral or vegetation can become almost invisible.

Sometimes, you see the shadow before you see the fish.

Other times, the only indication is a slight movement in the water.

As the sun moves across the sky, the angle of the light changes.

This can dramatically affect visibility.

We adjusted our positions throughout the day to take advantage of the available light.

I also explained the importance of understanding the tides.

Hawaiian bonefish move throughout the flats depending on water depth, currents, and available food.

Learning these patterns takes years of experience.

Part Eight: The Sandbar

We made our way to a sandbar and started our drift.

The area around the sandbar had recently changed because of [unclear].

The land held up relatively low pressure over the island, which affected the surrounding air and water.

[Unclear passage concerning weather conditions.]

We began pushing across the flat.

At times, the wind made casting difficult.

Other times, the water was calm enough that even the smallest disturbance could frighten a fish.

Morgan was actually the first to get into position.

When I saw it, I knew Jake had an opportunity to make a cast.

Morgan moved the fly across the bottom, and a fish approached.

She allowed the fish to see the fly before moving it again.

The fish reacted, and she was able to hook it.

It was another exciting moment.

Part Nine: How Bonefish Feed

One of the things I explained to Morgan and Jake was how bonefish use their surroundings to locate food.

Bonefish feed on a variety of creatures, including shrimp, crabs, and other small animals living along the ocean bottom.

Their feeding behavior changes depending on the environment.

In shallow water, they may move slowly, searching for food.

In deeper water, they may travel in schools.

The size of the fish can also influence its behavior.

Larger bonefish are often more cautious.

They have survived long enough to recognize potential danger, making them particularly challenging to catch.

A successful fly presentation must account for these differences.

The fly's weight, size, and movement can all affect whether a fish decides to eat.

Part Ten: The Importance of Fly Selection

The bonefish we encounter in Hawaii can be caught using several different types of flies.

However, not every fly works equally well in every situation.

The weight of the fly is especially important.

A heavier fly sinks faster, making it useful in deeper water or stronger currents.

A lighter fly is often better suited for shallow water, where a heavy fly might frighten a fish when it hits the bottom.

The hook size, materials, and overall profile also matter.

Some flies imitate shrimp, while others resemble crabs or other small creatures.

I explained that selecting the right fly requires an understanding of the conditions.

You must consider the depth, current, wave action, and available light.

Even the color of the bottom can influence your choice.

A fly that works perfectly in one location may not be the best choice somewhere else.

Part Eleven: The Golden Trevally

During our adventure, we also encountered golden trevally.

These fish are beautiful and can provide an incredible fight on a fly rod.

Golden trevally are opportunistic feeders, and they often behave differently from bonefish.

While bonefish can be extremely cautious, golden trevally may respond aggressively to a well-presented fly.

We encountered several golden trevally during our time on the flats.

Some were swimming individually, while others were moving in small groups.

The challenge was determining which fish would be willing to eat.

We made several presentations and watched their reactions.

At times, they showed interest but refused the fly.

Other times, they simply continued swimming.

That's fishing.

You never know exactly how a fish will respond.

Part Twelve: A Giant Bonefish

One of the most exciting moments of our trip involved an exceptionally large bonefish.

We were fishing near the edge of a sandbar when we spotted a fish moving through the water.

It was enormous.

The fish appeared to be around 26 to 27 inches long, although estimating its weight was difficult.

We watched it move across the flat, searching for food.

The opportunity was there, but making the perfect cast would be challenging.

Large Hawaiian bonefish are notoriously difficult to catch.

They are strong, cautious, and capable of making powerful runs.

I explained to Jake and Morgan that fish of this size are special.

They don't come along every day.

When you get an opportunity to catch one, everything has to come together.

Unfortunately, the fish didn't cooperate.

It moved away before we could make the presentation we wanted.

Still, simply seeing a fish that large was an experience worth remembering.

Part Thirteen: A Fish That Almost Became a Record

The first fish we caught [unclear].

The fish had approximately three additional [unclear], and it took [unclear] to bring it out of the reef.

When we finally landed the fish, we were amazed by its size.

I guessed that it weighed somewhere between six and seven pounds.

We took a photograph and asked artificial intelligence to estimate its weight.

The estimate came back at approximately 11 pounds.

I wasn't convinced.

Although it was certainly a large fish, I believed it was closer to 12 pounds at most [unclear].

Without an actual scale, we couldn't know for sure.

The experience reminded me how difficult it can be to estimate the weight of a fish simply by looking at a photograph.

The camera angle, distance, and proportions can all make a fish appear larger or smaller than it really is.

Part Fourteen: More Golden Trevally

After taking a few photographs and spending several minutes admiring the fish, we continued fishing.

We moved to another area where I thought we might encounter golden trevally.

The water was beautiful, and the conditions looked promising.

As we approached the flat, I spotted several fish moving across the bottom.

We positioned ourselves and prepared to cast.

The golden trevally were feeding, but they weren't making things easy.

We tried several presentations.

Some fish followed the fly but refused to eat.

Others ignored it completely.

Eventually, we found a fish willing to cooperate.

The strike was immediate.

The fish took off, pulling line from the reel.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of a powerful fish taking your fly.

Part Fifteen: The Challenges of Guiding

Guiding is about much more than putting someone in front of a fish.

You must understand the weather, tides, currents, and behavior of the species you're targeting.

You also have to understand the person you're guiding.

Every angler has different abilities, expectations, and levels of experience.

Some are excellent casters but struggle to see fish.

Others can spot fish easily but have difficulty delivering an accurate cast.

As a guide, my job is to recognize these strengths and weaknesses and help anglers improve.

Sometimes, that means explaining a technique.

Other times, it means allowing someone to make a mistake and learn from the experience.

Patience is essential.

Fishing is unpredictable, and even the best guides cannot guarantee success.

What we can do is provide opportunities and help anglers make the most of them.

Part Sixteen: Fishing Together

One of the things I enjoyed most about spending time with Morgan and Jake was watching them learn together.

They had different approaches to fishing, but both shared a genuine interest in the experience.

Morgan was enthusiastic and eager to improve.

Jake brought his own knowledge and experience.

Throughout our time together, we exchanged ideas and discussed techniques.

There were moments of frustration, but there was also plenty of laughter.

Fishing has a way of bringing people together.

It creates memories that go far beyond the fish we catch.

The conversations, scenery, and unexpected moments often become just as important as the fishing itself.

Part Seventeen: The Final Day

On our final day together, we returned to the flats.

The conditions were different from the previous days, and we had to adjust our approach.

We searched several areas, looking for feeding fish.

Some locations were productive, while others were quiet.

At one point, we spotted a group of fish moving along the edge of the flat.

We prepared to make a cast.

The fish were cautious, and we had to be careful not to frighten them.

Morgan and Jake took turns making presentations.

There were opportunities, missed casts, and fish that simply refused to cooperate.

But that's what makes Hawaiian bonefishing so challenging.

Nothing is guaranteed.

Every fish must be earned.

Part Eighteen: Reflections

Looking back on our time together, I realized how much I enjoyed sharing these experiences with Morgan and Jake.

Hawaiian bonefishing is unlike fishing in many other parts of the world.

Our fish are large, powerful, and incredibly intelligent.

The environment presents its own challenges.

Wind, waves, currents, coral, and changing light conditions can make even a simple cast difficult.

But those challenges are also what make the experience so rewarding.

Catching a Hawaiian bonefish on a fly rod requires patience, skill, and sometimes a little luck.

For many anglers, it becomes an obsession.

Once you've experienced the thrill of watching a giant bonefish approach your fly, it's difficult to forget.

Part Nineteen: The Journey Continues

We continued fishing throughout the day, searching for opportunities.

At times, we saw fish but couldn't get them to eat.

Other times, we had excellent opportunities but failed to make the perfect presentation.

That's the reality of fly fishing.

The fish don't always cooperate.

Even after years of experience, I continue to learn something new every time I step onto the flats.

No two days are exactly alike.

The conditions change, the fish behave differently, and every experience teaches you something.

Morgan and Jake were able to see firsthand just how difficult and rewarding Hawaiian bonefishing can be.

Part Twenty: Closing Thoughts

We finished our time together with plenty of memories and stories to share.

There were fish caught, opportunities missed, and moments that reminded us why we love the sport.

We also had the opportunity to explore some of Hawaii's beautiful fishing environments.

For me, the greatest reward wasn't simply watching Morgan and Jake catch fish.

It was sharing my knowledge, helping them improve, and introducing them to the unique challenges of Hawaiian bonefishing.

There is always another flat to explore, another fish to pursue, and another lesson to learn.

That's what keeps us coming back.

And as long as there are bonefish swimming across the Hawaiian flats, there will always be another adventure waiting.