A Guide to Hawaii Sport Fishing

Are you traveling to Hawaii soon and looking to book a fishing charter for you or your family? I’ve personally spent multiple years as a first mate on Oahu helping guests catch their bucket list fish and this article will cover all aspects of fishing the islands from booking a trip, the style of fishing, and what to bring along. I’ve broken this article up to efficiently cover the general fishing charter operations for all the islands (Oahu, Maui, Big Island (Kona), and Kauai) so no matter where you plan to stay, you will be familiar with the world class fishery offered on your next vacation!

Still have questions after reading? Reach out anytime via the contact page!

Mahi Mahi and Marlin are a common catch in Hawaii along with some Incredible Rainbows!

Premier Fishing Destination!

While Hawaii is known for it’s beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes, and great sense of adventure…it’s also a premier fishing destination. The unique geography of the islands creates a steep drop off right past the outer reefs allowing for great fishing without a long boat ride. Each day the boats leave the harbor their guests have a chance of catching mahi-mahi, tuna, wahoo, and many species of Marlin/Billfish! (Pictured above is a Mahi Mahi caught out of Kona, Big Island and a Marlin released in Oahu!)

Looking to knock a Billfish off your Bucket List?

While Blue Marlin are the most common bill fish caught (many 1000 pound plus fish, “Granders” have been caught in Hawaii), there is typically a season of striped marlin in the winter/spring and one of the few places in the world short-billed spearfish are regularly caught. Some less common bill fish catches include pacific sailfish and black marlin, which are caught here and there throughout the year.

Left to Right we have a Blue Marlin, Spear Fish, and Striped Marlin (Also, that guy pulling on the line would be me)

Outside of world-class marlin fishing, Hawaii is also known for its prize ahi tuna (large yellowfin tuna over 100+ pounds) and open schools of mahi-mahi that can turn a slow day on the water around in minutes. These species of fish are classified as pelagic which means they generally live in the upper zone of the open ocean without ever needing to be near the bottom or land in general. Since they are constantly moving and searching for prey, the most productive style of fishing in Hawaii is trolling. While this method of fishing may be considered boring to some as it can be a waiting game, it is hands down the most effective method for this fishery.

SIDE NOTE: "TROLL CAUGHT" FISH IS FRESH FROM THE MARKET FROM YESTERDAYS'S CHARTER BOAT CATCH, BE SURE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE FRESHEST FISH AVAILABLE WHEN VISITING HAWAII!

The "Game Plan" for the Day

As mentioned, trolling allows the captain to have lines in the water and effectively fish as much open ocean as possible since the boat moves at a slow speed pulling the lures. The trolling lures behind the boat are typically different sizes and colors and create the illusion of an injured or fleeing baitfish that pelagic fish are hunting at the surface of the water. A good captain will be up in the bridge looking for birds, bait, and feeding fish through binoculars to bring into the spread of lures and the mate will be down on the deck ready to entice a bite. Meanwhile, the lures can attract a “blind” bite any minute from a hungry marlin, tuna, or mahi-mahi that is hunting just below the surface.

Lure Fishing in Hawaii is traditional and highly effective, note from left to right the yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and mahi mahi all caught on lures made in the Hawaiin Islands

Fishing Nerd Fun Fact: Some of the best lure makers in the world live in Hawaii where original marlin lures originated from, these lures are handmade and shipped all over the world. With that being said, be sure to have your Captain put out his favorite one!

Once a productive area is found with feeding fish, the tactics may switch up from trolling to pitching baits or different lures to quickly hook up to multiple fish. Unlike other areas of the world, all live bait in Hawaii is caught by hook and line and can be hit or miss on availability the day of your charter. Most boats are equipped with an arsenal of artificial lures and dead bait though for any opportunities that come up.

Booking your Trip!

Charter trips in Hawaii are standard across the board with half day (4 hour), three quarter (6 hour), and full day (8 hour). The options are either a private trip where you book the boat for the day, or a shared trip where you book a spot on a trip with some other guests (shared trips are a economical option for the solo traveler/lone fisherman in the group). I will always recommend to anyone seriously searching for their bucket list marlin or ahi tuna to book a full day trip. This allows the captain to assess the constantly changing conditions and fish a full tide change giving you the best chance at scoring the right bite.

A blue marlin release on a 6 hour trip

Also, charter boats in Hawaii are fished heavily day in and day out, therefore their engines are generally run at low speeds and depending on the length of charter you choose, might restrict the amount of water you can cover. Some boats will run the boat at greater speeds to recently productive grounds, but this is a select few as the standard charter trip will start trolling right outside the harbor. If you booked a 4-hour trip and the boat can’t travel the 2 plus hours to get to where the action has been the past few days…you’re out of luck.

With that being said, I’ve had double header marlin bites on 4-hour trips and nothing to show from a full day trip, because well….that’s fishing. If your budget and time only can squeeze in a quarter day trip, I always say going is better than not going as you can’t catch them on land!

You can review fishing charters in Hawaii at the FishingBooker link below:

WHAT TO BRING

On a great charter, the mate will cover all aspects of angling and how to effectively fight fish and be a part of the crew. My girlfriend learning big game fighting chair techniques from the Bite Me crew in Kona, Hawaii.

Generally, the boat will supply everything needed for a day of fishing on the water so here's a list of items you'll be responsible for:

• Food and Drink (most boats have a fridge/cooler for you, no need to bring your own!)

• Sunscreen (NEVER the spray on type)

• Comfortable clothes/Sunglasses (Dress accordingly!)

• A GOOD attitude (Most important honestly)

Not too difficult right? I'll also leave you with a few tips for the day of your trip:

• Be on-time or 10 minutes early, BUT definitely don't be late

• Listen to the Captain and mate and ask questions

• Relax on the boat and feel free to move around, it's your trip!

• Captain and crew rely on tips! If the crew worked hard, be sure to let them know!

• Don't focus on solely catching fish, check out the beautiful views of the islands!

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

The opportunity to fish in Hawaii is truly an experience the avid fisherman will remember for a lifetime. If you've never booked a fishing charter before or want a deep dive into the in's and out's of charter fishing, check out my article at this link that covers everything you need to know: https://www.blueoceanmagazine.com/post/read-this-before-booking-your-next-fishing-charter

If, there are any further questions or recommendations that are not covered in this article, please feel free to reach out at the contact us section of the website, happy to help!