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FISHING CALENDAR · HAWAII

Hawaii Fishing Calendar

Hawai'i fishing runs from reef flats and shorelines to deep bottomfish ledges and the blue water off Kona, plus a few freshwater reservoirs. Closed seasons, sizes and limits come from DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources. Good months for offshore fish and bottomfish come from the Western Pacific Fishery Council and the NOAA-funded Hawaii Seafood Council (based on commercial catches), and reef-fish spawning months come from the Council's Pono Fishing Calendar.

Government fish & wildlife updates

Month by month

Peak (source says best)In season / caughtSpawningClosed seasonOpen, no official month data
FishJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecNotes
Offshore / blue water
Yellowfin tuna ('ahi)Caught all year; the Council says yellowfin typically peak May-August (most abundant May-September). Hawaii tunas spawn April-October, mostly June-August. 3 lb minimum to sell.[6][9][20][2]
Bigeye tuna ('ahi)Peak landings October-April (Hawaii Seafood Council, based on commercial catch). 3 lb minimum to sell.[14][2]
Skipjack tuna (aku)Peak season April-September (Hawaii Seafood Council).[13]
Mahimahi (dolphinfish)Around most of the year, with peaks March-May and September-November.[8]
Ono (wahoo)The bite usually starts in February and runs through summer before tapering off; most available May-October. No official source names a single peak month.[7][19]
Pacific blue marlin (kajiki)Heaviest landings June-October (Hawaii Seafood Council). Kona's big summer tournaments fall in this window.[12]
Striped marlin (nairagi)Heaviest landings November-June (Hawaii Seafood Council).[15]
Bottomfish
'Opakapaka (pink snapper)Caught all year with a clear winter peak, October-February. Deep 7 rules: 5 Deep 7 bottomfish a day combined (non-commercial), 1 lb minimum to sell, bottomfish vessel ID required; the Deep 7 season closes only when DLNR announces it.[17][10][3][1]
Onaga ('ula'ula koa'e, long-tail red snapper)Caught mainly October-March, with the peak in December. Part of the Deep 7: 5 a day combined, 1 lb minimum to sell.[16][3][1]
Uku (gray snapper / green jobfish)Caught all year, most available May-July. Spawns May-October, peaking in June. 1 lb minimum to spear or sell.[18][9][1]
Inshore / shore
Ulua & papio (giant trevally and other jacks)Open all year. 10 in. minimum to keep, 16 in. to sell, 20 a day total (non-commercial). Giant trevally make spawning runs around summer full moons. No official best months found.[1][2][22]
'O'io (bonefish)Open all year, 14 in. minimum. Peak spawning starts in November and lasts several months. No official best months found.[1][2][11]
Moi (Pacific threadfin)Closed June, July and August to protect summer spawning (spawning can run into September). 11 in. minimum, 15 a day September-May. No official best months found.[1][2][11][21]
'Ama'ama (striped mullet)Closed December through March (peak spawning December-February). 11 in. minimum. No official best months found.[1][2][11]
Aholehole (Hawaiian flagtail)Open all year, 5 in. minimum. Peak spawning starts in February and lasts several months. No official best months found.[2][11]
Kumu (whitesaddle goatfish)Open all year, 10 in. minimum (Maui: 12 in., 1 a day). Peak spawning starts in February and lasts several months. No official best months found.[2][11]
Akule (bigeye scad)Open all year. July-October no netting akule under 8.5 in. and no more than 200 lb of small akule a day. No official best months found.[1][2]
'Opelu (mackerel scad)Open all year, no size or bag limit. In South Kona animal bait may only be used with hook-and-line. No official best months found.[1][2]
Lobster & crab
Ula (spiny lobster)Closed May 1-August 31. 3.25 in. carapace minimum, no spearing, no females, none with eggs, keep whole.[1][2][11]
Papa'i kualoa (Kona crab)Closed May 1-September 30. 4 in. carapace minimum, no spearing, none with eggs.[1][2]
Freshwater
Rainbow trout (Koke'e, Kauai)Only at Koke'e, in a season DLNR announces each year. 2026: June 20-September 30, 6 a.m.-6 p.m., 7 trout a day, no catch-and-release. Freshwater game fishing license required.[4][2]
Largemouth & smallmouth bassOpen all year with a freshwater license. 9 in. minimum, 10 a day combined. Catch-and-release only at Wahiawa (Lake Wilson); Lake Wilson access through the park has been closed since May 1, 2026 for dam work. No official best months found.[2][5][23]
Tucunare (peacock bass)Open all year with a freshwater license. 12 in. minimum, 3 a day; catch-and-release only at Wahiawa. No official best months found.[2][5][23]

Never keep: Sharks and rays may never be caught, entangled or killed in state marine waters; honu (sea turtles) have no open season; Hawaiian monk seals may never be taken; and stony coral, live rock, and pink or gold coral may not be taken.[1][2]

Bait & rig for each fish

Yellowfin tuna ('ahi)

Bait: Live baits (blue runners, bonito) and chunks.

Lures: Spreader bars, skirted lures, poppers and stick baits.

Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.

Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Bigeye tuna ('ahi)

Bait: Common starting baits are ballyhoo, sardines, flying fish, squid strips or other locally abundant forage matched to size.

Lures: Trolling heads, feathers, plugs, spoons and metal jigs are common; match lure size and color to local forage.

Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.

Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Skipjack tuna (aku)

Bait: Small live baits and strips.

Lures: Small feathers, cedar plugs, spoons and metal jigs.

Leader: 40–100 lb mono or fluorocarbon.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Mahimahi (dolphinfish)

Bait: Ballyhoo, flying fish, squid and cut bait to keep a school near the boat.

Lures: Skirted trolling lures, small feathers and bucktail jigs.

Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.

Leader: 30–60 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common mahi start; increase for abrasion or mixed wahoo water.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Ono (wahoo)

Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and live baits on wire.

Lures: High-speed trolling lures and lipped diving plugs on wire.

Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.

Leader: Use heavy abrasion/bite leader; many wahoo anglers add short wire or cable because of the teeth.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Pacific blue marlin (kajiki)

Bait: Rigged ballyhoo, mackerel and live tunas.

Lures: Large skirted trolling lures.

Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.

Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Striped marlin (nairagi)

Bait: Live mackerel and caballito (green jack), and live or rigged ballyhoo.

Lures: Small to medium marlin lures (6–10 in) trolled at 7–9 knots.

Leader: 80–150 lb mono, 15 ft.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

'O'io (bonefish)

Bait: Live or fresh shrimp and small crabs.

Lures: Small skimmer jigs and bonefish flies (Gotcha, Crazy Charlie).

Rig: No harvest-targeting rig is recommended. Keep dehooker and cutters ready for incidental release.

Leader: Clear 10–20 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a practical flats starting range, adjusted for fish size and coral/rock.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

'Ama'ama (striped mullet)

Bait: Shrimp, small crabs, sand fleas, mullet, sardines and cut bait are common inshore choices; match the bait to the species and bottom.

Lures: Soft plastics, bucktails, small jigs, spoons, plugs and topwaters are common; imitate the local forage and work current edges.

Rig: Free-line, popping-cork, Carolina/fish-finder and light jig rigs are common; choose the least hardware needed to reach the zone.

Leader: 10–30 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a common flats/inshore start; move to 40–80 lb around abrasive mouths, structure or large tarpon/snook.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Akule (bigeye scad)

Bait: Shrimp, squid, cut bait and local baitfish are common starting choices; match bait size to the mouth and local forage.

Lures: Jigs, bucktails, soft plastics, diving plugs and metal jigs are common; choose by depth and current.

Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.

Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

'Opelu (mackerel scad)

Bait: Shrimp, squid, cut bait and local baitfish are common starting choices; match bait size to the mouth and local forage.

Lures: Jigs, bucktails, soft plastics, diving plugs and metal jigs are common; choose by depth and current.

Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.

Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Rainbow trout (Koke'e, Kauai)

Bait: Salmon roe and nightcrawlers where bait is legal.

Lures: Beads that look like salmon eggs, flesh flies, sculpin and leech streamers, small spinners and spoons.

Leader: 3X–5X tippet (4–8 lb), 7½–9 ft.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Largemouth & smallmouth bass

Bait: Live wild shiners.

Lures: Plastic worms, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater frogs and crankbaits.

Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.

Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Tucunare (peacock bass)

Bait: Live shiners and small tilapia.

Lures: Jerkbaits, topwaters, small swimbaits and jigs.

Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.

Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.

Full guide, knots & rigs →

Local fishing reports — what’s biting now

Sources

  1. Hawaii DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources: Marine regulated species
  2. Hawaii DLNR DAR: Hawaii Fishing Regulations (May 2024)
  3. Hawaii DLNR DAR: Bottom fishing (Deep 7)
  4. DLNR news release 5/20/26: Annual rainbow trout season at Koke'e, Kauai
  5. Hawaii DLNR DAR: Wahiawa Public Fishing Area
  6. Western Pacific Fishery Council: Ahi fact sheet
  7. Western Pacific Fishery Council: Ono fact sheet
  8. Western Pacific Fishery Council: Mahimahi fact sheet
  9. Western Pacific Fishery Council: Uku fact sheet
  10. Western Pacific Fishery Council: 'Opakapaka fact sheet
  11. Western Pacific Fishery Council: 2011 Pono Fishing Calendar (spawning seasons)
  12. Hawaii Seafood Council (NOAA-funded): Blue marlin (kajiki)
  13. Hawaii Seafood Council (NOAA-funded): Skipjack tuna (aku)
  14. Hawaii Seafood Council (NOAA-funded): Bigeye tuna (ahi)
  15. Hawaii Seafood Council (NOAA-funded): Striped marlin (nairagi)
  16. Hawaii Seafood Council (NOAA-funded): Long-tail red snapper (onaga)
  17. Hawaii Seafood Council (NOAA-funded): Pink snapper ('opakapaka)
  18. Hawaii Seafood Council (NOAA-funded): Blue-green snapper (uku)
  19. Hawaii Seafood Council (NOAA-funded): Wahoo (ono)
  20. Hawaii Seafood Council (NOAA-funded): Yellowfin tuna (ahi)
  21. DLNR news release 5/24/16: Hands off moi June through August
  22. University of Hawaii HIMB: Ulua movement and spawning research
  23. Hawaii DLNR DAR: Announcements (Lake Wilson access closure)

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every month on this calendar comes from the sources above. Empty boxes mean no official source gives those months. Rules change — check the agency page before you keep a fish.

On the bay, in the mangroves or on the ocean, the everyday struggles get left at the dock — for those few hours it’s just you, the water and peace.