Step one to legally collecting fish when I am Hawaii... check

[scchase]

 

[ValG]

This is awesome! How long did it take to get it? We have a family vaca coming up in a few weeks and will be there in early September. Would be sweet to try to collect a couple of fish.

 

[scchase]

Only took a week and was free but soem caution make sure you are prepared to get them home, there are several steps involved and that is the stage were it is easiest to make a mistake.

 

[opakapaka]

If you're on Oahu make sure to stop by sharks cove on the north Shore, that's prob your beat bet to catch some, you could try electric beach on the west side also.

 

[scchase]

I will be in Kauai, should be interesting, my second collecting trip after the one I made to Florida a few years back. Just think a couple Dragon Eels, Masked Angels or Bandit angels could pay for the whole trip. Not that any of those are remotely likely.

 

[FinsUp]

Have you hooked up with a local guide or collector? or are you going solo?

Anything is possible.

Following along to see pics!

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

That's awesome. Congrats and have fun.

 

[SkyShark]

Will you be scuba diving or snorkeling? What limits are on this type of license? Fish only, right?

 

[scchase]

Snorkeling for collecting in super shallow water and near inshore rocks, can collect most fish and crustaceans as well as starfish and the like, nothing that is hard and attached to the bottom. Will need to finish collecting 2 days before I return home to allow the animals to purge to avoid ammonia buildup and then either check or carry on on the plane, both are options now though checking is easier. Can only colect 5 organisms per day though if I bring any back it will be much less than that.

 

[opakapaka]

If I remember correctly the only corals you can collect there are zoas, sps are strictly prohibited.

 

[scchase]

Yep that is correct and I won't even bother with corals, too much hassel.

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

Have you hooked up with a local guide or collector? or are you going solo?

Anything is possible.

Following along to see pics!

Any way to do this near you? Would love to get a clean up crew.

 

[FinsUp]

Any way to do this near you? Would love to get a clean up crew.

From what we have heard down here, this is a royal pain. The Mexican government has no problem with people taking dead fish home, but god forbid you try to take living ones home (esp from the Sea of Cortez). Not sure what the policy is for CUC.

 

[jgonzz]

Be careful putting them on a plane.

I have traveled all over woth corals and fish.
Been more than 1 occasion they would not let me on the plane with especially the fish. What sucks is it heavily falls on the person at the counter and xray. Once we were set to board and they called our names and told us we can't fly woth the fish. Had to get another flight the next day and aircargo the fish home.

 

[scchase]

Ya that is the one thing I am still trying to figure out. I am leaning towards just aircargoing them home from the start. Going to get in touch with some of my Hawaiin collector friends and see hwo they ussually do it and of course I have to actually catch something worthwhile as well. Good news though is that Bandit Angels are much more common at shallow depths in Kauai, just no one really collects there anymore which is the main reason they have risen in price from around $100 in the 80s to $900 now.

 

[scchase]

Well in yge canal next to my place, lots of convict tangs (cant keep), tailring tangs, moorish idols, and goatfish. Havent actually been in tge water yet though

 

[SkyShark]

Well in yge canal next to my place, lots of convict tangs (cant keep), tailring tangs, moorish idols, and goatfish. Havent actually been in tge water yet though

Why no convict tangs? I've never looked into their personality, but I hardly ever see them kept. On of my favorite tangs.

 

[scchase]

They are reserved for the native population in Hawaii all we seen in the trade are from somewhere else. THey are actually super passive for tangs. Saw a butterfly this afternoon, racoon I think but couldnt be sure.

 

[SkyShark]

They are reserved for the native population in Hawaii all we seen in the trade are from somewhere else. THey are actually super passive for tangs. Saw a butterfly this afternoon, racoon I think but couldnt be sure.

Oh awesome. Forgot Hawaii has a pretty slim whitelist. Also, have fun!

 

[scchase]

Well finally went out tonight, never did see anything during the day worth a box to ship home, though I did find some Zoanthids I will bring home damp in a baggy and will grab a few Nerites tomorrow as well (also bringing home damp). As for tonight I caught 4 moorish idols, 2 Convict Tangs, 1 Sergeant Major, and 3 Squirrelfish in about 45 minutes, released all but the smallest moorish idol which I will try to carry on tomorrow, hope I get lucky. A bunch of the locals where out catching them as well, for bait. Cool thing about it is that it is just past post larval stage and already around 3-4 inches, which is normal for them and a large part of the reason they are distributed almost globally except the Atlantic. Assuming all goes well getting it home hopefully that will make it easier to adapt to prepared foods as well.
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