Big Island fishermen and women holding their own in first Hawai‘i Invasive Species Roundup

“No can catch from just sitting on the couch.”

So says Big Island resident Ryan Sack, and he should know: The fisherman took first place for longest ta‘ape earlier this month, during the first round of the ongoing Hawai‘i Invasive Species Roundup.

“You just gotta get out and see what happens. You never know what you come across,” Sack added during a video message to his fellow fishermen and women. “Maybe it’s a 100-pound ulua, maybe it’s one hammah roi. Either way, it’s good to get out and be a part of our wonderful ecosystem.”

This year marks the first Hawai‘i Invasive Species Roundup, a free statewide fishing challenge targeting roi, or peacock grouper; ta‘ape, or bluestripe snapper; to‘au, or blacktail snapper; and tilapia.

Kaua‘i – one of four event regions including the Big Island, O‘ahu and Molokaʻi, and Maui and Lānaʻi – leads the statewide leaderboard by several hundred points. But 33 participants from the Big Island are racking up plenty of individual prizes and awards.

The Hawai‘i Invasive Species Roundup began July 31 and ends Sept. 14, featuring more than 100 fishermen and women.

Big Island participant Katelin Maarsingh is now in first place for longest to‘au, having caught a 14.8-inch fish. In a more unconventional category – shortest ta‘ape – Big Island residents Kassie Alapai, Kaeden Webster, “Clifford Jr,” Candace Kow and Sky Sakihara hold the top five spots.

“We are very pleased with the response so far, and folks seem to be having a great time with the competition,” said Sean Simmons, founder and president of MyCatch and Angler’s Atlas, the mobile phone app and website behind the contest.

The MyCatch app aims to improve fisheries research and management through data provided by fishermen throughout North America – and now Hawai‘i. Participating anglers need not worry: Their precious “secret spots” are kept confidential by MyCatch, which requires scientific researchers adhere to a series of strict conditions.

“Folks are still joining the competition, and can continue throughout the event,” Simmons said.

Invasive roi were introduced to Hawaiian waters in the 1950s with the intent to boost declining local fish stocks, according to the Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee. The fish is now the most dominant inshore predator in the main Hawaiian Islands, raising concern it’s devouring native species – particularly ones prized by commercial and recreational fishermen.

Ta‘ape were also introduced to Hawai‘i to provide additional fishing opportunities and food sources. There is no predator that prefers taʻape, according to KISC, which states the best control available is fishing pressure – luckily, ta‘ape is reportedly delicious and can be prepared in a wide variety of ways.

Data collected throughout the Invasive Species Roundup will be presented in mid-September at the 154th annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Honolulu.

“A number of conference attendees are interested in fishing on the island, so maybe we can get some of them signed up for the event,” Simmons said. “Our plan is to present results at the conference on Tuesday, Sept. 17, so we can show the attendees how anglers and spearfishers are able to play a meaningful role in fisheries science, management and conservation.”

Invasive Species Roundup prizes totaling $5,000 are divided by species and include prizes for longest and shortest fish, as well as “hidden length” and keiki prizes.

For more information – including rules, instructions, prize categories and leaderboards with photos of catches – click here.