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Water Ways Ray Pendleton |
Keiki fishing tournament
is all-inclusiveFor me, Hawaii and Waikiki yacht clubs' first fishing contest of the year begins with a grin, continues with plenty of laughs and always ends with a tear or two.
And I love it.
The contest I'm talking about is their recent co-sponsored Junior Fishing Tournament that has been held annually for the past 21 years.
Although the clubs are private, this special tournament is open to all children up to 17 years old, and best of all, it's free.
In fact, in an effort to insure the participation of children throughout Honolulu, rather than just those living near Ala Wai harbor, the clubs often make arrangements for the transportation of children to the marina from military housing, Kuhio Park Terrace and Palama Settlement.
Registration for the tournament begins at the Hawaii Yacht Club at 7 a.m. for this day-long event that includes not only fishing, but swimming contests and a barbecue.
After pulling on their official tournament T-shirts, the excited keiki anglers and their somewhat apprehensive adult supervisors are given advise on boating and fishing safety.
The fisher-kids are also advised to make every attempt to keep their catch alive as there is always a special award for whoever releases the most fish after the weigh-in.
Once the anglers board one of a dozen or more boats volunteered by club members, they are provided with all the fishing gear and bait they will need, and, of course, life vests.
The fishing takes place from 8 to 11 a.m. on the calm waters over the reefs just outside the Ala Wai harbor entrance.
As each boat find its way to "the best spot," loaves of stale bread tossed into the water soon attract plenty of potential catches and quickly the rails are lined with laughing, eager anglers trying for a hookup.
Although I'm sure this is the best moment for the keiki, my personal favorite time of the tournament begins about 11 a.m., when the fish are brought in to be weighed and measured.
Picture beaming children proudly presenting their slippery, flip-flopping catches to judges who must then attempt to document the species of fish from a guide book, determine the length with a ruler and then weigh them on a postage scale. Fish bites and stabs from sharp spines are a judge's occupational hazards.
Somehow, the documentation is made -- to the delight of those watching -- and the majority of the fish are returned to the sea alive.
After the weigh-in, all participants and attending adults are ferried across the Ala Wai to the Waikiki Yacht Club for swimming and other poolside activities, followed by a barbecue and the awards presentation.
Tournament organizers have been able to amass enough trophies and prizes so that no one goes home without something to help them remember their day of fishing and fun.
But there are also special trophies for such remarkable catches as the longest, the smallest, the most colorful and the most unusual, as well as for the most fish and the heaviest fish caught that day.
A second trophy for "the heaviest fish caught by anyone under 8" is also awarded, usually to a tiny person about 4 years old.
So, can someone tell me why the sight of a very small child proudly accepting such a big trophy can often bring a tear to the eye of an adult?
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Ray Pendleton is a free-lance writer based in Honolulu.
His column runs Saturdays in the Star-Bulletin.
He can be reached by e-mail at raypendleton@mac.com.
