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Water Ways
Ray Pendleton
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Rizzuto’s book packed with fishing info
The Big Island's Kona Coast has been recognized for decades as one of the best fishing holes in the world. And for nearly as long, writer Jim Rizzuto has been recognized as one of Hawaii's best tellers of fishing tales.
It's no wonder then that anglers everywhere -- both active and armchair -- look forward to this time each year when Rizzuto's latest book finds its way into print.
In this, his eighth edition of The Kona Fishing Chronicles, Rizzuto has again distilled the essence of his numerous newspaper articles and magazine stories of the previous year into 290 pages of what he describes as "history, how-to, whodunit, and a bit of humor."
His book is conveniently divided into chapters for each of the 12 months. But it also includes a couple of extra chapters with some topics of special interest and a 31-page "photo gallery" of many of the catches Rizzuto has written about.
The book's format offers readers a chronological review of Big Island big-game fishing during 2006, as well as numerous fishing tips, action narratives and historic references.
The format not only makes for an entertaining read, but its content can add immeasurably to an angler's knowledge and become an important guide for anyone considering a fishing trip out of Kailua-Kona's Honokohau Harbor.
Fishing factors such as the best time of year, the time of day, the weather, the best tackle, and choosing between lures or live bait are all analyzed and discussed in Rizzuto's book.
For instance, there may soon be a whole lot of anglers lacing fishhooks onto beer caps as homemade lures for capturing ahi after reading one of his more unusual accounts.
According to Rizzuto, while a couple of anglers were cleaning a freshly caught 130-plus-pound yellowfin tuna last year, a shiny-new Heineken Lite beer cap was found inside its stomach.
"Maybe we're using the wrong kind of lures," one of the fishermen exclaimed.
"Not only did the tuna pick up the cap but it also downed it with a quick gulp."
While Rizzuto's Chronicles feature a monthly tabulation of the biggest of some 21 fish species caught on rod-and-reel (with an exception for opakapaka on hand lines), he thankfully doesn't mind sharing a story or two from those who dive for their fish.
One particularly frightening tale involved two free divers who managed to evade a hungry shark while capturing a 457.5-pound black marlin. The fish may become a world record, but that they survived the encounter may be the real story.
The Kona Fishing Chronicles can usually be found at various tackle shops and bookstores around the state. But Rizzuto recommends visiting his Web site at http://www.fishinghawaiioffshore.com for a small preview and to make an order.
"The most convenient way to get a copy is directly through me," Rizzuto says. "And that way you can also get your copy autographed."