Reel it in: Night fishing made simple

Uncle Ian and William gear up to take you on a nighttime fishing adventure.
Uncle Ian and William gear up to take you on a nighttime fishing adventure.

The Pacific Community recently released the third season of Fish and Tips, a video training series on nearshore fishing techniques focused on more resilient pelagic species beyond the reef. This time, our fishing experts will take the audience into the dark yet rewarding world of night fishing.

Why nearshore fishing? 

As Pacific Island communities grow, the strain on our reef fish has become impossible to ignore. Once abundant and easy to catch, these vital resources now face overfishing, thus urging us to seek solutions beyond the reef. Nearshore fishing offers hope by targeting resilient pelagic species such as tuna and mahi mahi that thrive in open waters. Techniques such as trolling, mid-water line fishing, and deep-water vertical longlining, especially with fish aggregating devices (FADs), help shift fishing pressure away from overexploited coastal habitats.
 

About Fish and Tips

Fish and Tips is a recent video series on nearshore fishing techniques produced by SPC. Based on a nearshore fishing manual1 authored by SPC’s expert fishers Ian Bertram, William Sokimi and Aymeric Desurmont, the series takes us on an inspiring journey, blending traditional wisdom with modern innovation to explore the rich potential of nearshore fishing. This toolkit provides Pacific Island fishing communities with accessible, hands-on learning resources. It takes fishers step-by-step through innovative yet sustainable fishing methods, combining tradition with a touch of modern finesse. Beyond diversifying our catches and selling opportunities, these sustainable methods offer a chance to restore balance to our inshore ecosystems. There are now three seasons of this video series, covering various fishing strategies for fishing beyond the reef: 

  • Trolling techniques — with tips on efficient surface fishing and how to target species such as wahoo and mahi mahi.
  • Mid-water techniques — describing methods such as drop stone fishing, palu ahi and jigging, with an emphasis on the potential of mid-water fishing and catches.
  • Night fishing techniques — the newest addition: allows readers to dive into the art of fishing at night and catching baitfish such as mackerel scads, flying fish, squids and tuna.
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Underwater lights: These help to attract plankton and the rest of the food chain, including the pelagic fish you are targeting, including mackerel and yellowfin. Once the schools of fish have gathered, it’s time to drop your gear and wait for the bite. First, secure the light with a bit of rope to avoid putting too much pressure on its electric cable. Use a small weight to pull it under water but don’t forget to waterproof it with silicone to avoid a short circuit.

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Above-water lights: These are handy for watching your step on deck. But they also help when targeting certain species. Squids are attracted to light but are also shy. They often hunt in between light and shadow. By installing above-water lights, you create a shadowed space right under your boat! Quick tips: if you don’t have access to a regular light on your island, you can always make your own with a bucket, and a light bulb socket. If you resort to this option, once again, do not forget to waterproof it with silicone.

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How to set your lights: Setting a string of lights can require a certain dose of imagination, depending on the size and length of your boat. You can make a temporary set-up using your fishing rod holders and some rope or twine.

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You can use alligator clips to connect your lights to your boat’s 12-volt battery. But make sure to store it away from your fuel system as these clips can cause sparks. 

Play it safe: Always keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of any emergency

That’s it, you’re now ready to go and learn everything about night fishing methods!

History and tradition of ika shibi fishing 

Embark with Kura and Ian to discover why and how our elders came up with this fishing technique. Ika shibi means “squid tuna”. This technique came from Okinawan settlers in Hawaii in the 1900s. When fishing for squid, they kept being robbed of their catch by tuna. So, they decided to update their gear and actually target the available tuna instead.

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Materials needed for baitfish jigging 

If they can do it, you can do it! Learn how to use the resources available to you to improve your catch, using wasted plastic straws to make your jigs, and decide whether you prefer working your arms out with a spool, using your old fishing rod, or a brand new Sabiki rod.

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Gear set-up for pencil squid jigging 

New materials don’t always mean new ways of preparation. Sit down with Ian and William to learn how to bring your pencil squid jigstogether without poking your finger with their barbed hooks. The more you set-up, the more you might catch!

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How to use deep-water squid rigs 

Setting your gear for deep-water squid fishing can take some time when you fish at over 500 m depth. Make the best of your time by drifting your line with simple floats and flags. As soon as one is out, you will be able to prepare another one and increase your chances of getting multiple squids in one trip. Don’t forget to haul in quickly if you don’t want to get caught by the “tax man” (sharks).

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Top tips for flying fish scoop-netting 

Make sure to stay until the end of each episode to hear Kura’s top tips on each fishing method. They might not be in the books, but they will surely help you shift from being a skilled fisher to an expert fisher.

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Fish and Tips season 3: Night fishing essentials

After teaching the basics of trolling (season 1) and secrets of mid-water fishing (season 2), our fishing crew — Ian Bertram, William Sokimi and Kura Happ — will now guide our Pacific communities into the world of night fishing methods. When practised correctly, these techniques can yield larger and more varied catches. From deep-water squid fishing to flying fish scoop-netting, these new training videos highlight methods that fishers can use to boost their success after dark. 

Because we’ll be fishing in the dark, the first thing we need is light. Here’s everything you might need before mastering these night fishing techniques.

Finally, don’t forget to check out the Fish and Tips bonus episodes to make the best of your night-fishing experience: 

  • Everything you should know about fishing lights and how to set them on your boat.
  • The benefits of a sea anchor and how to use it when you’re fishing in depths over 300 m.
  • How to set safely around FADs when you are outside the reef.
     

Aknowledgements 

This toolkit was produced under the governance of the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership programme, funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden; the Sustainable Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture for Pacific Livelihoods, Food and Economic Security, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Contacts
William Sokimi - Nearshore Fisheries Development and Livelihoods Specialist, SPC [email protected] 
Ian Bertram - Senior Fisheries Adviser, SPC  | [email protected] 
Hugo Nguyen - Information and Outreach Assistant, SPC | [email protected] 

Find more articles from the latest Fisheries Newsletter No 175 (September -December 2024) here: https://fame.spc.int/publications/bulletins/fisheries-newsletter/175 

Download this article here: https://www.spc.int/digitallibrary/get/nzeor 

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Fisheries, Aquaculture & Marine Ecosystems

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Fisheries, Aquaculture & Marine Ecosystems
Pacific - European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP)
European Union (EU)
Government of Sweden - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Pacific - European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP)
European Union (EU)
Government of Sweden - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Blog Post
Blog Post