Hawaii's Giant Bonefish: Downtown Flyfishing with Louie the Fish

[TarponBonefish]

If you are not sight fishing for them you are not Bonsfishing! You might as well be blind casting for any fish. Sight fishing on the deck of a skiff for BIG Bonefish requires a different skill set!



[KettlebottomCrew]

@TarponBonefish Some would say using a rod and reel isn't fishing-- that handlines are the only legitimate method. Others would say using anything bigger than 5 weight and 4 pound test is not fair to the fish. Yet others would say fishing from a boat is cheating. The point is that Louie caught Bonefish, blindcasting or not. "Purists" need to realize that fishing should be fun, whether using bait, lure, or fly. Judge not your fellow fisherman-- we are all on the water to have fun!

[TheWorldOnFly]

@TarponBonefish How is he not Bonefishing? People like you are exactly what we don't need in the fly fishing world. Snobby and petty people who are blinded by there arrogance. Why don't you try enjoying the video and appreciate it instead of making a superior arsehole of yourself. The guys are having fun, watching line rip off the reel, wading through beautiful sandy warm flats and releasing one of the most prized gamefish in the world of angling. I know what i'd rather be doing right now...

[KettlebottomCrew]

@TheWorldOnFly Thanks, my sentiments exactly. TarponBonefish uses a flats boat to fish-- Louie does 90% of his fishing on foot, which puts him on highly pressured flats where you need a highly refined "skill set." I'd like to see how TarponBonefish does without a boat under him!

[fishingolf]

@TarponBonefish sightfishing on a deck of a skiff? please...you are at a much higher elevation than you'd be on foot so spotting a bone is easy. shooting fish in a barrel. Are u pushing the pole and casting or is it your 20+ year experienced $500/day florida guide? please think before you type. I'd like to see you catch a bonefish in Hawaii by yourself. I have caught many bones sightcasting and blindcasting. I remember each one the same. Good job Louie.

[speyday69]

I lived in Ewa beach and i think I remember seeing you doing your thing in the late 80's? Of cours,e a scraggly beach dude with long hair is kinda typical for lots of folks.

Yeah, my first bonefishing was there, and all my buddies thoght I was lying on the size of them till I sent pictures. I didn't know any better, this was my first ocean fishing. What a hoot!

[pwrcstr]

I am so jealous! I'm from Belgium and have to drive more than 100 miles before i can either flyfish for seabass or 140 miles+ to fish for trout in the Ardennes,the people living in those appartmentblocks have to walk 3-4 minutes and they are bonefish-fishing,most of them probably don't even fish anyway! Life is unfair!

[KettlebottomCrew]

Hi! We are based in Rhode Island and have a great season fishing for Striped Bass. I think I'd go CRAZY without immediate access to fishing-- here, we can go for dozens of different species, in fresh or salt water. I couldn't think of living anywhere else... Good luck fishing and, if you have to drive so much to enjoy it, consider a move to RI!!!

[gladheateher4now]

Hey Louie, i was an outdoor Pro Guide on vancouver Island for 23 years. I Put that exact rod on downriggers for years. Thats all i do,and i love it. I dont think that bone fish can do waht a 30 pound Chinook can do,,,,but it looks close. have fun Doug

[KettlebottomCrew]

Hi Doug. While visiting Louie, I fished and filmed with him for a week and saw what a Bonefish can do. Pound for pound-- WOW!  I caught one about 8 pounds and it out-fought much larger Striped Bass I catch here, in RI. If you ever get a chance to try for Bonefish, DO IT! It's AWESOME!!

Ty

[jeridHawaii]

@gladheateher4now WA native...ive caught steelhead over 20 lbs and salmon in the 30-40's....and a 5 foot sturgeon on 12lbs mono that took about 2 hours....i doubt bones are gonna be a comparison but im gonna give it a shot!!

[sketchywilly]

Just landed one at portlock ~15 lbs on a live sardine. By far the best fight (and fish) of my life. He almost had me spooled (~100 yard initial run against 30 lb test with the drag almost locked down), but he turned around and came right at me and virtually beached himself. Released the guy. Still on cloud nine! Fly fishing is so cool, but dunking seems to yield the biggest boys.

[tcc19881988]

You can contact Louie through his web sight. Search Louie the Fish or Louie Denolfo on Google. You'll find it.

[razelbear]

Does anyone have a contact email address for louie?? I'm traveling to HI for two weeks in september/october and wouldn't mind spending some time fishing with him.

[KettlebottomCrew]

YouTube won't let you post links or websites but, if you search Louiethefish (all one word) his website should pop up. He's an awesome guide and awesome guy and I highly reccommend him if you go to Hawaii. He will teach you everything he can-- after one day, you should be able to catch Bonefish on your own with the proper gear... Good luck!!

Ty

[tubistulator]

what an interesting video. cant wait to have a try at the bonefish. definitely my favourite fisherman louiethefish.

[KettlebottomCrew]

Awesome! It is a lot of fun, especially if you can sight-fish them!

Ty

[puna8o8]

oahu is not the most devoluped island kuai is dumb ass

[KettlebottomCrew]

I feel sorry for you and your ignorance. The largest city in Hawaii is its capital, Honolulu, located on O'ahu. (pop. 371,657) Hilo comes in second with only 40,759 people. The largest county, also Honolulu, has 905,266 people, while in second place, Hawaii has only 4,028. O'ahu is the most urbanized and has 90% of Hawaii's TOTAL population...

ps. you misspelled both "developed" AND Kaua'i!!

[puna8o8]

shut the hell up you hoale go back to cali

[KettlebottomCrew]

Wait, what the heck is a "hoale?!?" Never mind, don't really care anyway...

[albieonthefly]

Fantastic video! I was in HI years ago and I wondered if the fish I saw were bones and I guess they were.

Question, are you blind casting and retreiving or sight fishing?

Can't wait to be back and book a charter.

[KettlebottomCrew]

Hi. Sounds like you have the flyfishing bug as bad, or worse, than us!! Yup, they are Bones, and they get very big there. (in excess of 10 lbs!) As far as technique, you can very effectively sight fish, given the right conditions. It is Louie's favorite way to catch them. You can also blind cast if there is too much wind or the water's too deep. Louie admits it is often more productive but sight fishing more exciting... Thanks for watching and good luck!!

Ty

[razelbear]

What a great place. Wife and I honeymooned in hawaii from australia two years ago. Get the impression Louie was using a crab fly but do the usual christmas island patterns work too??

I was supposed to be going to christmas island this year but the runway is cracked and not open to commercial airlines. Hoping to get back to Hawaii real soon!!!

[RIVERDONKEY1]

im 12 and love fly fishing but i was hoping for a new set up for christmas! what kind of rod reel was that, im gina ask my parents for it

[KettlebottomCrew]

The rod is a Temple Fork Outfitters rod, I think in about a 9 weight or so. Not sure what the reel is-- it's a large-arbor reel, so you can recover line faster, which is a must with Bonefish or other strong fish. Make sure to buy a reel that has a very good drag system!!!

[dannonater]

I am a surfing and fly fishing fanatic from florida. I have been to oahu many times. I have looked out at the same place you guys fished in this video and wondered if there were fish out there. I had no clue due to not seeing anyone else out there fishing. I am so glad I found this great video. You guys did a great job. I will be out there in a week and I will be right out there with you guys. Please take this vid off youtube so that your great island does not get exploited too much more.

[KettlebottomCrew]

Check out our website at Kettlebottom and look for Episode 7, under Full Episodes. There is a lot more ideas and information for your Bonefish adventures. I wish you luck!!

[RNRoachJr]

I have fished with Louie, he is great fun and a wonderful guide.

[RNRoachJr]

I've fished with Louie, he is a great guide.

Nick