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Fishing

Fishing Hawaii Waters on Reel Screamer - Big Island

The waters of the Hawaiian Islands are abundant in sealife. Besides the fish listed below, we are constantly amused by the dolphins playing along side “Reel Screamer.” From November through March, majestic Humpback Whales grace our waters.

Styles of Fishing

Captain Greg keeps close tabs on what is biting, tides, moon phase and currents. He generally picks the best style of fishing based on these factors. If you have a certain style of fishing in mind, talk to him and he can make the best recommendation based on conditions.

Trolling

The Kohala Coast offers great trolling grounds! The 40 fathom ledge is just a few hundred feet off shore and often brings about Ono (you might even cruise through Ono Alley), Mahi and smaller Bill Fish. Further out, past the 100 fathom ledge, you will be more likely to get the “big one” like Ahi, Marlin or Spearfish.

FADS are great for using bait if the Skip Jacks and small tuna are biting. They are fun to catch and make great bait! Opelu and Ballyhoo are also used when available.

Bottom Fishing

When the conditions are right, the bottom fishing in Kohala can be great for catches like Kahala, Ulua, Uku (the captain’s favorite dinner fish), and Omilu.

Types of Fish in Hawaii

5 fish on the dock

MARLIN – Pacific Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Striped Marlin.
The grandest of all trophy fish. The size, strength and aerial acrobatic displays will keep you coming back for more.

MAHIMAHI (Dorado)
Schools of Mahimahi are abundant in the Hawaiian waters. Average size caught is 25 pounds but we’ve caught much larger. Very exciting fish to catch. Great eating!

ONO (Wahoo)
Caught year around. Ono means “the best” in Hawaiian. A delicious white meat favored by locals.

AHI (Tuna)
Yellowfin (tuna of choice), Aku (Skipjack), Albacore. Pound for pound, the strongest fighter in Hawaiian waters. Excellent for sushi and sashimi.

SHORTBILL SPEARFISH, BROADBILL SPEARFISH, PACIFIC SAILFISH

SHARK
Mako, Tiger, Hammerhead, Thresher, White Tip, Blue.

BARRACUDA
Fast and ugly.

ULUA (giant trevally)
These fish can reach weights well over 100 pounds.

KAHALA (Amberjack)
Deep feeders and fun to catch.

And, as if this weren’t enough… there are the spectacular views of the Big Island of Hawaii and Maui!

The Kohala Coast has some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving spots in all of Hawaii. Rugged volcanic coastlines attract a multitude of reef fish. It is not uncommon to see many of the fish listed above while scuba diving along this coastline. Check out our sister company Kohala Divers for more information!