When my family used to live on the islands, we'd watch the fishermen bring in octopuses that they'd caught. From what I remember, they'd poke a piece of stick into an octopus hole and wait for one to grab it. Then they'd pull it and the octopus out, later to cook as a delicacy or everyday food. Once the octopus was out of the water it turned a splotchy white.
~Joe
