Fishing in Hawaii

Thanks to deep water nearby, trolling within sight of the islands is a common part of offshore fishing in Hawaii.

The Hawaiian Islands stretch for 1,523 miles across the north-central Pacific, intercepting the migration routes of marlin, tuna, sharks, and other gamefish that grow to world-record sizes and are highly prized by sport anglers. The archipelago consists of 132 islands, reefs, and shoals, from the southernmost point of the United States (Ka Lae on Hawaii Island) to Kure Atoll, west of Midway Island. Eight main islands (Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe, from largest to smallest) make up 99 percent of the 6,425 square miles of land area. The six largest provide sportfishing access, and the remaining two have accessible fishing waters.

Hawaiian Island waters are home to more than 700 species of fish, most of which are known throughout the Indo-Pacific. Approximately 30 of these, from billfish to bonefish, are important to sport anglers (fishing is the sixth most popular recreational activity among local residents). Saltwater fishing is paramount because few natural bodies of freshwater exist.

Hawaii was a Polynesian kingdom until 1893, a republic until 1898, and annexed by the U.S. as a territory in 1900. It became the 50th state on May 21, 1959. The earliest settlers arrived at Ka Lae (South Point) in a.d. 124, more than a thousand years before Captain James Cook sailed into Kealekekua Bay in 1778. The 200,000 to 300,000 residents of Cook’s time depended greatly on fishing for subsistence and developed many effective fishing techniques that survive today.

Offshore fishing in Hawaii gains most of the world’s attention because inshore fishing opportunities are limited. The islands are near the northern limits of coral reef development. Fringing reefs are narrow even on the oldest (westernmost) islands, and nonexistent on the youngest (to the southeast).

Northeast trade winds dominate the weather, generate the dominant wave patterns, and drive surface currents ranging from 0.4 to 0.6 knot. These currents are modified by the shapes of islands, which causes them to create large eddies important to the development of sea life, from baitfish to gamefish. Tides are modest, with less than 3 feet of change everywhere throughout the islands. Two main seasons mark the year. Trade winds (10 to 20 miles per hour) prevail from May through October, which is considered “summer,” and winds are more variable (gusting to 30 miles per hour at times, then switching to the south to southwest at others) from November through April, when the weather is a bit cooler and wetter. At sea and on land, August and September are the warmest months, with air temperatures in the 80s to 90s and sea temperatures above 80°F. January and February are the coldest months, with many days in the low 70s, and sea temperatures ranging from 72° to 76°F.

Hawaii’s most important offshore species are marlin (blue, black, and striped), tuna (yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, and albacore), spearfish, sailfish, mahimahi, kawakawa, amberjack, and barracuda. Big-game anglers also catch tiger sharks (even tonners), makos (over a half ton), and other types. Deep-sea bottom anglers plumb the depths for red snapper (four or five different species) and grouper. Shore anglers catch jacks (roughly a dozen species, topped off by giant trevally and bluefin trevally), bonefish, barracuda, and ladyfish (the biggest in the world at 24 pounds plus). The giant trevally “slide bait” method of angling, described later, is unique to Hawaii. Assorted panfish are also caught at night.

Hawaii offers limited freshwater angling opportunities. The only native freshwater fish in Hawaii are four gobies and an eleotrid. Streams on the leeward slopes of the major islands are mostly intermittent; on the windward slopes, where there are cliffs and valleys and high annual rainfall, many of the streams are perennial. Throughout the Hawaiian Islands are more than 260 freshwater reservoirs ranging up to 400 acres. Most reservoirs, stream banks, and streambeds in Hawaii are privately owned, however, and require permission from the landowner for access.

Kauai’s Waimea River, which runs about 20 miles, is the longest stream. The largest natural lakes are Halalii (1.3 square miles) on Niihau, Kola Reservoir (0.6 square mile) on Kauai, and Salt Lake (0.4 square mile) on Oahu. Various man-made impoundments serving irrigation needs have been stocked with largemouth and smallmouth bass, tucunare (peacock bass), pongee, Chinese and channel catfish, bluegills, oscars, jewel cichlids, and other exotic species. A limited fishery for rainbow trout exists on Kauai. Despite the limited opportunities, more than 5,000 freshwater anglers hold licenses on Oahu alone.