Fishing Spots ＞ Hawaii & C.Pacific

Kauai (Hawaii) — fishing guides & charters

blue/Striped marlin/Ahi (yellowfin)/Mahi-mahi/Ono (wahoo)/Aku (skipjack)

5 captains listed · sea category. A spot in Kauai (Hawaii) (Hawaii & C.Pacific) targeting blue/Striped marlin/Ahi (yellowfin)/Mahi-mahi/Ono (wahoo)/Aku (skipjack). Check the tide, captains and recent catches, then contact them directly via public social accounts. Access, climate and lodging are in the details below.

Spot at a glance

Target fish

Marlin

Best season

Apr–Jun

Area

Hawaii & C.Pacific

Water type

Sea

Nearest int'l airport

LIH · Lihue Airport

Coordinates

21.95, -159.36 Open in Google Maps

Where it is & getting there

Getting there (from the nearest int'l airport) source

Lihue Airport (LIH) is Kauai's gateway. There are many short-haul flights from Honolulu (HNL) and direct flights from the US West Coast. About 5-10 min by car from the airport to Nawiliwili Harbor. Most visitor charters depart from Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor (Lihue, about 5 min from the airport). Some trips leave from Port Allen (Eleele) on the island's southwest side, which is sheltered from the northeast trade winds and often has calmer seas.

Coordinates: 21.95, -159.36（Open in Google Maps）

Target fish & season

blue/Striped marlin/Ahi (yellowfin)/Mahi-mahi/Ono (wahoo)/Aku (skipjack)

Summer (roughly May-Sep) is best, with steady trade winds, plenty of sunshine, and peak ahi, ono and blue marlin. Blue marlin, mahi-mahi and ahi peak Apr-Jun; ono runs from the May full moon through September. Mahi-mahi is good winter-April and also shows in summer. Boats run year-round.

See what else is in season now →

How to fish here

Deep water pushes right up to the island and upwelling makes for bait-rich blue water. Boats leave early from ports like Nawiliwili to target ahi (yellowfin), ono (wahoo), mahi-mahi and billfish around the FADs. Best is summer when the trade winds settle, with ahi, ono and blue marlin firing up May-Sep. Mahi are best for numbers in the early spring around Mar-Apr.

Full how-to & tackle on each species page：Marlin

Boats & guides to book

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Climate & what to wear source

A subtropical climate that's warm year-round. Northeast trade winds prevail, and the island's south and west sides (the Port Allen side) are leeward with calm seas. In summer the trades are steady with plenty of sun, ideal for fishing.

If the sea gets rough source

On days with strong northeast trades or heavy swell, switching to a trip out of the calmer, leeward southwest side - Port Allen (Eleele) - makes it easier to get out. Trips may be canceled in bad weather, so check with the captain in advance.

Nearby spots to combine in one trip

Nearby spots easy to combine into one trip (straight-line distance). See the map above for locations.

• Oahu, Honolulu (Kewalo Basin) — Hawaii & C.Pacific ／ 170 km
• Oahu GT Popping (Hawaii) — Hawaii & C.Pacific ／ 171 km
• Kona, Big Island (Honokohau Harbor) — Hawaii & C.Pacific ／ 429 km
• Fanning Island / Tabuaeran Flats — Hawaii & C.Pacific ／ 2010 km
• Christmas Island Lodge — Hawaii & C.Pacific ／ 2230 km
• All spots in this region