HAWAII DEEP SEA FISHING
Plan your charter, understand where boats depart and learn what to expect when fishing around Oahu.
Many Oahu charters depart from Kewalo Basin in Honolulu. Some boats operate from Ko Olina or another harbor. Check your chosen vessel's listing and eTicket for its exact departure location.
Check your chosen boat's departure information. Your reservation is only confirmed when you receive a separate eTicket PDF; use its meeting instructions and contact our team if anything is unclear.
Oahu captains often fish the leeward coast and offshore waters, including areas near the deep-water drop-offs and fish aggregation devices (FADs). The location is selected based on weather, sea conditions and current fishing activity.
Private charters reserve an entire boat for your group. Shared charters combine anglers when enough participants can be confirmed. Compare the boat's trip lengths, passenger limits and catch policy before requesting your date.
Oahu offshore fishing may encounter blue and striped marlin, ahi (yellowfin tuna), aku (skipjack tuna), mahi-mahi, ono (wahoo) and other pelagic species. No species or catch can be guaranteed.
Hawaii has fishing opportunities throughout the year, but species and conditions vary. See our Hawaii fishing season charts for general seasonal guidance; they are not guarantees of a catch.
Catch-sharing and fish-retention policies differ by captain and boat. Read the catch policy on the specific charter page and confirm expectations before departure.
Browse Oahu charter boats, choose a trip and preferred date, and submit your request. Availability is not confirmed in real time. We confirm bookings with a separate eTicket PDF. There are no booking fees.
The captain assesses safe operating conditions. Rain or changing conditions do not automatically cancel a trip. Review the main FAQ and cancellation policies, and contact us if you have questions about a specific booking.
Licensing depends on residency, age and applicable exemptions. Check Hawaii DLNR's current nonresident marine fishing-license guidance before your trip.
Additional island-specific background, fish illustrations, historical notes, and charts are available below. Reference charts are not current navigation or marine-weather forecasts.
The following original guide is preserved for reference. Harbor operations, catch statistics, FAD locations and seasonal conditions can change; confirm current details with your captain.
Hawaii Deep Sea Fishing FAQ's (OAHU)
Where do Oahu fishing charters leave from?
Most Oahu fishing charters will depart from Kewalo Basin in Honolulu (1-2 miles from Waikiki) but some can also depart from Ko Olina on the west side of the island.(35 miles from Waikiki)
Where do most fishing charters go on Oahu?
Most of the sport fishing found on Oahu will be on the leeward coastlines usually departing from Kewalo Basin in Honolulu. Oahu fishermen know these waters well and often will take advantage of the sharp drop-off not far off the coast of Waikiki and head north toward the north-west corner of the island at Kaena Point. This tactic is used to catch the big fish as they swim up from the deep waters of the channel between Kauai and Oahu. Another tact used by experienced fisherman is to reverse course and head to the shallow fishing grounds to the south of Waikiki called "Pinnacles" and another area called "The Penguin Banks." These strategies will be determined based upon the catch of the previous days, reports from other boats and the changing of ocean conditions that may alter the location of fish.
Two other options are to follow the depth curves such as the 1,000 fathom line or head to offshore surface objects such as FADs (Fish Aggregation Devices) "HH", "BO", or "S" which are all well within reach.
What types of fish are caught in Oahu?
The waters around Oahu are home to the Pacific Blue, Sailfish, Striped and Short Billed Marlin, the Skipjack and Yellow Fin Tuna, Mahi-mahi, Wahoo (Ono), Trevally, Shark, Barracuda, and Hawaiian Salmon. These are the same fish you'll find on the dinner menu at your favorite Waikiki seafood restaurant most nights. The largest reported Marlin ever caught (an 1805lb Blue) was caught off of Oahu near Ko'Olina.
Some of the more common fish that are caught in Hawaii are:
Ahi, also called Yellowfin Tuna. Highly prized for flavorful meat – excellent both in sashimi and cooked – as well as the fight when hooked and being landed by the angler, Yellowfin is often sought after by those on our charters. One can easily identify Ahi by the dual dorsal fins and bright yellow finlets along the spine of the fish.
Aku, also called Skipjack Tuna. Difficult to land because of the soft tissues that surround their jaws, Skipjack put up a moderate fight. Their flesh is oily and dark, appealing to those who like the taste of mackerel.
Blue Marlin. The Blue Marlin is highly prized by sport fishers as they put up a great fight when hooked, leading to a battle between human and fish to bring in the Marlin. Blue Marlin are challenging for even those most accomplished at offshore sport fishing and are avidly sought after when we head out.
Mahi Mahi, also called Dorado or Dolphin Fish. A colorful fish, easily identified by the hump on the head, Mahi Mahi is prized for its flesh, which makes for excellent eating. For many people, Mahi Mahi is the fish most closely associated with Hawaii, as it features prominently in the local cuisine.
Ono, also called Wahoo. Usually caught through trolling, Ono are related to mackerel but do not school, in contrast to other mackerel species. Wahoo are characterized by a slender and tube-like face and mouth, they also have a slender and long body shape.
Sailfish. An incredible fish, which is highly prized by anglers because of the fight it puts up once hooked, the Sailfish is characterized by the massive leaps and jumps it makes when being landed. Easily identified by a massive dorsal fin, sports fishers have long sought out this fish and landing a Sailfish leads to many, many stories told by the lucky angler.
Striped Marlin The Striped Marlin is occasionally caught in the Atlantic Ocean but is more often landed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Striped Marlin is visually stunning, with vertical blue stripes on the sides which appear vibrant when it is excited or during the fight to land it. It also has a pointed, high dorsal fin, which makes it easy to identify.
OAHU SEA CONDITIONS:
Water Depths (feet)
Sea Currents
FAD's (Fish Aggregation Devices)
The State of Hawaii has placed Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in the waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands. These buoys attract schools of tuna and other important pelagic fishes, such as dolphinfish (Mahimahi), wahoo (Ono), and billfish. FADs allow fishermen to easily locate and catch these species.
Sea Surface Heights
Mahalo,
Hawaii Deep Sea Fishing
Our Hawaii-based charter team can help with boat choices and booking requests.