Cooking 'oama is very straightforward — dust in flour, season with salt and pepper, and deep fry in hot oil. Scaling or gutting the fish is optional, but most fry it whole. Once crispy, 'oama is usually served with vinegar, Hawaiian chili pepper water or ponzu sauce for dipping.

What kind of bait do you use to catch OAMA?

'Oama are found in shallow sandy areas during late summer, usually in large schools. They feed by night and day, and eat small crabs and shrimp. 'Opae is the best bait to use for 'oama. Some people like to eat 'oama; others like to use them as bait for larger fish (like papio).

Where do you hook OAMA for bait?

Using the Oama for Bait

If you're able to make a soft cast, you can lightly hook the oama behind the dorsal fin to cause the least amount of possible, you can hook it from under the lower jaw, out through the top of the head, but in front of the brain so you don't kill it.

What kind of fish is OAMA?

The name 'oama refers to the juvenile stage of two species of weke, or goatfish: weke 'ā (yellowstripe) and weke 'ula (yellowfin). These goatfish spawn in spring, producing larvae that drift into pelagic waters.

How do you bait OAMA?

Fishing for 'oama is as basic and inexpensive as it gets. All you need is a hand pole, light fishing line, split shot weight, a small hook (preferably barbless) and a bit of luck with patience. Shrimp is a popular bait of choice. Once you find the school, drop your bait to the bottom and watch for the fish to nibble.

We eat our Live Bait! | Bait Fishing in Hawaii | How to Catch Oama | Fishing in Hawaii | Best Bait

Is net OAMA illegal?

Oama. Photo credit: DLNR. A $250 fine was imposed upon a defendant who was apprehended for using an illegal throw net to catch oama. ... Under current laws, it is illegal for anyone to possess, use or offer for sale any throw net with a mesh of less than two inches stretched.

What does Akule fish taste like?

It is a relatively small fish, growing to about a foot long (30 cm). It has a sweet, oily flavor similar to mackerel and is great for grilling.

Can you eat yellow striped goatfish?

Yellowfin goatfish, or Wele 'ula in Hawaiian, get their name by their red-orange color and distinct yellow fins. ... Goatfish are prized eating, often tasting like shrimp which is their main source of food.

What is the best bait for Papio?

Specifically for papio, the oama (live juvenile goatfish) is perfect as a bait! With a heavier line, you can cast this bait out with weight that will sit out, rather than whipping. Lastly, the best color lure to use for baiting fish is black, because it imitates small fish that the papio would typically eat.

What is a Nenue fish?

Nenue are a large, gray, schooling fish that are generally known as chubs. There are several common species here in Hawai'i that are often seen in large schools called gray chubs, highfin, brassy and bicolor chubs.

Can you steam Akule?

This small fish only grows to about 15 inches (38 cm) long. ... They are an oily fish with lots of bones and small scales, and are excellent to eat raw, sliced for sashimi, fried, baked, grilled, steamed, smoked, or dried. The akule is culturally important to native Hawaiians who have fished and eaten them for generations.

Can you net OAMA?

Catching oama by hook-and-line fishermen is limited to 50 per angler per day. Under current laws, it is illegal for anyone to possess, use or offer for sale any throw net with a mesh of less than two inches stretched. ... All net violations are required to appear in court and the minimum fine for a first offense is $250.

Can you fish with a hand net?

Hand nets have been used since antiquity and can be used for scooping fish near the surface of the water, such as muskellunge or northern pike. A hand net with a long handle is often called a dip net. ... Dip nets can also be used to scoop crabs in shallow water.

Are cast nets legal?

Castnets are illegal to use in freshwater and illegal to use in saltwater below Pt. Concepcion. Sportfishing Conservancy is working to get them legal in SoCal saltwater. DFW raised the issue of enforcement and came up with the risk that they may be used to capture grunion (currently illegal).

What is the best fish to eat in Hawaii?

• Ahi. Ahi is a name that refers to either the Bigeye tuna or yellowfin tuna. ...
• Mahi Mahi. ...
• Ono. ...
• Hapu'upu'u. ...
• Kajiki. ...
• Opakapaka. ...
• Monchong.

Can you eat WEKE fish?

Weke are also popular food fish, but care should be taken not to eat the head of certain species. The brain reputedly contains toxins which cause disturbed sleep, nightmares and hallucinations. Even the 4 inch fingerlings of the weke, called 'oama, are caught.

Can you eat goat fish Hawaii?

Goatfish is a prized delicacy in Hawaii, and can be caught near reefs and sand patches in depths from five to 100 meters. They are fairly common in Oahu's famous snorkeling area, Hanauma Bay.