So here is an update from Derek who is the luckiest SOB alive. Here is his story. Im 2 stories behind but this one takes the cake and is the only interesting one due to pictures.

Uluas

I had a great day of operations today. It was just as windy as yesterday, but I went to work dressed like the Gordon's fisherman. Whatever Freedom Frigate Shoals threw at me, the weather would remain steamy warm under my 3 millimeters of neoprene and yellow foul-weather gear (hood tied tight enough to allow only a crease to peek out of). Staying warm allowed me to switch modes from acting for my own survival to taunting the marine life of the monument.
Again we saw some good uluas today (pictures below). One ulua followed us most of the day. The ulua is one of my favorite fish. The ulua is also called a jack, trevally, and Caranx ignobilis. Other fish are named for there semblance to other creatures (scorpionfish, lizardfish, angelfish). I'm not sure where names like trevally came from, but a good name for an ulua would be junkyard-dog fish. The uluas mind is wired for only two channels: hunger and anger. Both result in the same action; the ulua attacks. Fortuitously, this is the one thing its body is made for. These are powerful fish. Once, on a boat, I was kicked by one I presumed dead. As it turned out, the 45 pound fish still had a little fury in it, which it unleashed on my shin with a kick that felt like I was getting hit by a chain. And they've got teeth too. I've yet to get bit by one, but I've heard stories and seen scars...
What the ulua loves doing is swimming all around the ocean kicking and biting. I've seen a pack of ulua bully a sizeable shark from their territory. Today, the subject of a few ulua's wrath was our boat. A couple times a fifty pound ulua came up pounded against our sponson. In fact, they were so interested in pursuing our boat that I really didn't get any good pictures of them. I spent most of my time towing 50 feet behind the ulua, which trailed just behind the boat's shadow.
The coolest fish I saw today was an uku though. It may even be Fish of the Week. Regretably, I did not have a camera when I saw it. The uku is a snapper, also called a jobfish, and perhaps called Aprion virescens by a few. You'll see plenty around 5 pounds or less, but this one was a twenty pounder. I'm going to try to find another real big one to get a good picture. The best I can describe it is as a big tree stump colored silver with fangs in the front. That's how you get to be Fish of the Week!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f295/divingderek/DSCF1034.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f295/divingderek/111005_TW_uluaattack.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f295/divingderek/DSCF1037.jpg

Cool pics!!! That thing looks like a Jack Crevalle on steroids.

That's what the fish at Yoron looked like! The only word that came to mind was "horse" I can't wait to go there with the right gear. I had shots on fish that, had I shot with my 90, probably wouldn't have even penetrated. Ulua and that one snapper looking fish you shot (new species) from the other thread. Nice story.

Keep Derek's stories coming BS! Good stuff.

WoW! We should deff plan a trip up there sometime. I have never been but scout told me a lot about it. What we would do w/o people who have endless free time?

Where in the world are these ulua that Derek is swimming with?

They are in the french frigate shoals and its all paid by uncle sam.

Glad to hear your still alive Ben.

are you guys getting in the water today, and if so, can I join?

Here is a vid of an ulua that derek took in the NWHI. Must be nice to have big fish come to you. :D

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=19135356

Here is another of the bait ball whitnessed right off the west side of Oahu.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=18395556