As a financial advisor, we take our cues from our valued clients and the stock market. In that order. Right now, it is financial chaos, a tumultuous time for the macro, world economy. But personal planning still needs to take place; even more so now than ever. Earlier today, I just helped a 57-year-old female obtain long term care insurance. That’s smart protection, if you can qualify #1 and afford it #2. After that client, I rebalanced one of my client’s portfolios. Like many other investors, he is deeply concerned. Fortunately, he, unlike others, does not need his money right now. It’s a tough time if that’s the bucket you need to pull income from. Put it this way, ‘sequence of returns risk‘ is alive and well; it is all too real. Anyway, on to something more fun. Just like the market, deep sea fishing is volatile and unpredictable. Anytime you can get a leg up and capitalize on worthy intel, take it. Some information is more quantifiable than others.

One bit of information I’ve heard over the years from fellow anglers is that bumper crop years of mango here in the islands will equate to one huge thing for us offshore fisherman, and that is the venerable ahi. The prized fish; at least in my book. Aku, ono, mahi, etc. are all good too. Ask my boat neighbor and friend, Won, his thoughts and this expert bottom fisherman will inevitably say, a 30lb. onaga is mo’ betta (trumps it). That’s the beauty of fishing. You have choices to make. Lots of them. Again, just like life. It’s about making good choices that work for you. It’s your boat, you decide. I like that idea. And like life, sometimes you catch, sometimes bolohead (you don’t). I heard one old timer say that fishing is ’40 per cent luck, 30 per cent skill and 30 per cent hustle’. And then there is passion. The love of it. Today is Monday and already I can’t wait until Saturday, but I will. At least we’re fueled up and ready to take the Manu-o-Ku approx. 25+ miles offshore to the FADS (buoys) in search of bird piles and the big buggas that lurk beneath. A few weeks ago, my 1st mate (older brother, Milt) brought ono, ripe mangoes from his trees up on Kaleipohaku (St. Louis Heights) to share with our family. These were epic, sweet mango. It has been years since mango (aka, ‘the king of fruit’) has been this plentiful. Makes it that much more appreciated; big smiles for sure. In Civil Beat, I read Denby Fawcett’s article, “Is There Such A Thing As Too Many Mangoes?” Nope. No way. Freeze it if you must; we never do, we just eat ’em! But if I had enough to freeze, I would too (i.e., who doesn’t like mango bread, smoothies, whatever).

Then I received an e-newsletter from Jim Hori, of Lokahi Fishing. He reinforced my ideas of fishing and mango. He recently put out a ‘Lokahi Summer Forecast’. He states, “The summer fishing is heating up with the West Side Ahi tournament this past weekend really kicking off the Ahi hunt for the islands. With the heavy rains this past fall, and the huge mango bloom not like we have seen in several years, local knowledge indicates this could be an excellent summer season of Ahi and shoreline fishing including numerous schools of Halalu, early runs of Oama, abundance of Ika and balls of Nehu from shoreline to offshore.. The marlin have been biting off Kona and we should expect to see quantity and quality fish across the islands over the coming months.” I’m hoping and praying Jim’s prediction is on the money. I want it to be. The good news is that maybe it has just begun. The fact is Jim’s forecast has bore itself out with an actual monster catch by my friend, Butch Farm (Mary K). Butch and his crew recently landed an 1,168lb blue marlin off Oahu. Yep, a grander plus. And it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy; Butch (owner of Hobietat in Palolo Valley) helped me outfit the Manu-o-Ku, taught me to drive the boat and sold me quality island made rods equipped with Tiagra 80’s. And over the past few years, Butch–a former commercial fisherman–has given me numerous newbie pointers. Very cool guy. Here’s to mango, ahi and good friends. Remember this: You’ll never know, unless you go…hanapaa!