BUZZBAIT [ P R O F I LE ]
Retro Rocket W
hen Isaac “Rocket” Brumaghim launches his kayak for a day on the water, he feels the blood of generations of seafarers running through his veins. Te 33-year-old from
Oahu, Hawaii, is the ringleader of a team of anglers who are reviving the Polynesian fishing culture. Last year, Brumaghim’s Aqua Hunters crew created the enormously successful Maka- hiki Tournament, a unique eight-month-long total-points event. Now, thanks to Brumaghim, the Hawaiian Islands are gaining worldwide recognition for trophy marlin, wahoo, mahi-mahi, barracuda and tuna—and a vibrant kayak fishing scene. From his energy drink–boosted enthusiasm, it’s easy to see why he’s earned the handle
“Rocket”: “In the early years, I would just take off because I was so obsessed with hooking up,” says Brumaghim. “Whenever I hit the open ocean, I’m gone!”
We’re going retro. People think that kayak fishing is totally new and extreme, but the Hawaiian culture and others around the world have been fishing this way for thousands of years. We are all He Waa Kalawai’a or “canoe fishermen.”
Paddling is where it all got started for me. I got into racing outrigger canoes with a few friends about six years ago. Paddling taught me how to navigate and pay attention to the sea and made me feel proud of my culture. But I was only halfway there. At the same time I picked up shoreline fishing. A year or
two later, when racing wasn’t doing it for me anymore, I decided to try reef fishing from an outrigger canoe. Tat’s when I got hooked.
I thought, forget racing. Tis culture was there in front of me the whole time, and now I’m a part of it. Kayak fishing is a new era, but a lot of the old things can be carried on. You catch what you can eat, you share, you respect the ocean, you respect others and you always try to keep learning.
We started a small club in 2006. I labeled us the Aqua Hunters and it’s grown quickly from there. What is important to
P R O F I L E | T O U R N A M E N T S | B Y T H E N U M B E R S | C O N S E R V A T I O N
The Rocket, having a blast. CREDIT: ISAAC BRUMAGHIM
ISAAC BRUMAGHIM IS BLASTING BACK TO THE FUTURE OF KAYAK FISHING BY CONOR MIHELL
us is representing the sport and filling it with ambassadors who show respect for the land and sea. We want to be seen as skillful, admirable, respectful stewards of the sea and Hawaii’s fishing culture.
I launched the Makahiki last year. It’s a progressive kayak fishing tournament that runs from February 1 to September 30. Each angler gets up to 40 days to fish during this season. It’s grown from 18 anglers last year to nearly 40 this year.
I have united the best underground kayak fishermen. We were all part of arguably the most incredible kayak fishing tournament in the world. No disrespect meant to all the great kayak fishermen in the world, but I would put Hawaii kayak fishermen up against anyone.
If you want to be in the same venue as superstars, you come to Hawaii. Tat’s how it is for big wave surfing, and that’s how I want it to become for kayak fishing. We’re striving for a big stage.
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