Best times and places for Hawaii deep sea fishing

Best Times & Places

Your complete seasonal guide to Hawaiian deep sea fishing

Hawaii's Year-Round Bounty: A Tale of Two Truths

✅ Truth #1: Fish Year-Round

There's absolutely no bad time to fish in Hawaii. Waters are warm year-round, and all major gamefish - marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi, and ono - can be caught any month. This is where "grander" blue marlin have been landed in February and trophy ahi surprise anglers in December.

🎯 Truth #2: Peak Seasons Matter

While you can always fish, there are clear peak seasons that dramatically increase your odds. Summer months are prime for giant blue marlin and yellowfin tuna over 100 pounds. Winter and spring see the best runs of striped marlin and mahi-mahi.

Think of it this way: The door to Hawaiʻi's fishery is always open. But knowing when to walk through it for your dream fish is the key to success. Planning your trip around peak seasons can mean the difference between a good day and the fishing trip of a lifetime.

Hawaiian Deep Sea Fishing Seasons Calendar

Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pacific Blue Marlin
Striped Marlin
Yellowfin Tuna (Ahi)
Mahi-Mahi
Wahoo (Ono)

Peak Season

Good

Fair

Island-by-Island Fishing Guide

While the same fish swim throughout our archipelago, each island offers a distinctly different deep-sea fishing experience. Geography, weather patterns, and local culture shape each adventure.

Seasonal fishing calendar overlay on Hawaiian ocean scene with different islands visible

🏔️

Big Island: Kona - The Marlin Capital of the World

The legendary destination for serious trophy hunters

There's no place on Earth quite like Kona for deep-sea fishing. Its reputation as the world's marlin center is built on a unique advantage. The massive volcanic slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualālai create protection from trade winds, resulting in exceptionally calm seas. More importantly, the ocean floor drops to thousands of feet just a few miles from shore.

Key Features:

• Deep water within minutes of harbor
• Calm, protected leeward coast
• "Grander Alley" - 1,000+ lb marlin territory
• Year-round grander marlin catches
• Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament host

Primary Harbor:

Honokōhau Harbor - largest fishing fleet in Hawaii

Best For:

Trophy marlin hunting, serious anglers, IGFA records

🏙️

Oʻahu: The Gathering Place for Anglers

Most options, convenient access, record-breaking potential

As our most populated island, Oʻahu offers the widest variety of charter options and the most visitor access. Most deep-sea fishing happens off the leeward (west) and south shores, where waters are calmer. It was off Oʻahu's Kō Olina coast that the largest marlin ever reported in Hawaiʻi - a massive 1,805 pounds - was caught.

Primary Harbors:

• Kewalo Basin (Honolulu) - minutes from Waikīkī
• Kō Olina Harbor - west side access
• Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor - North Shore

Key Hotspots:

• Penguin Banks seamount
• The Pinnacle
• Makua (west side)
• Network of FADs

🌺

Maui: The Valley Isle's Golden Zone

Protected waters, family-friendly, golden zone fishing

Maui's unique geography, nestled between Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe, creates a protected channel with calmer waters. This makes for a more comfortable fishing experience. The best fishing is found off the west side, with many charters highlighting a "golden zone" from May to June when marlin, tuna, and mahi-mahi are all abundant.

Primary Harbors:

• Māʻalaea Harbor - main hub (post-Lāhainā fire)
• West Maui beach pick-ups (Kāʻanapali)
• Kihei Boat Landing - select charters

Key Features:

• Protected channel waters
• Close drop-offs near West Maui
• Less travel time, more fishing time
• Family-friendly conditions

🌿

Kauaʻi: The Garden Isle's Wild Waters

Rugged adventure, pristine fishing, bird pile action

Fishing off Kauaʻi is a wilder, more rugged experience, fitting the island's dramatic beauty. The "Garden Isle" has its own unique advantages. In some areas, the ocean floor drops to 1,000 feet just a quarter-mile from coast. The island sits directly in the path of major fish migration patterns.