It was a bust for palolo hunters on Tutuila, both those who went out on boats and those who awaited the seaworm’s arrival on the beach Friday, Saturday and even last night.
Popular palolo fishing spots like the Fogagogo side of the airport, Nu’uuli, Fatu ma Futi and Alega had lots of hunters with coolers waiting to scoop up the sea delicacy but there was either no sign of palolo or only a fistful.
And those who were on boats including members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, caught just a little.
The scant palolo rise was confirmed by staff of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.
The swarming occurred on Saturday night and was preceded by wind and rain.
KHJ News was unable to get a palolo report from Manu’a.
It appears that Savaii Island hit the palolo jackpot with the first swarming of the palolo this year.
Families caught buckets full of the palolo which were abundant in the Asau, Vaisala, Falealupo, Neiafu and other villages on the northwest coast of Savaii.
One businessman told KHJ News that Savaii residents were selling palolo in large plastic containers of Pacific crackers for $800 Samoan tala. Five or six of those would fill a cooler.
An Ofu of palolo with just a fistful was selling for $20 to $40 tala at the Salelologa Market.
Many business people from Upolu had their large fishing boats out at sea and they hauled in the most palolo.
On Upolu Island there were good catches of the palolo reported from the Safata and Lefaga area.
The second swarming of the palolo is in November and it remains to be seen whether Tutuila will be in the palolo’s favor then.
