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    Hawaii charter fishing is found on several islands. But the Kona coast on the Big Island is world renowned.

    It is considered the marlin capital of the world. The Pacific blue marlin, with its long sword-like bill, is a spectacular fighting fish. The largest blue marlin ever caught in Hawaii weighed in at 1,805 pounds!

    Fish are plentiful year-round but are more numerous in the summer months. Besides marlin, Kona waters are rich with ahi (yellowfin tuna), sword fish, mahimahi, spearfish, aku (skipjack tuna) and ono (wahoo) one of the fastest fish in the ocean.

    Kona has more than 100 charter fishing boats, and 300 days of sun, making it an excellent place for sports fishing. Most boats leave from Honokohau Harbor, just north of Kailua-Kona.

    Mornings generally offer the best conditions. Most boats are licensed to carry up to six people. Prices start about $90 per person for a half-day shared charter (with other people) and $140 for a six-hour shared charter. Another option is to hire a private charter for you and up to five of your friends. These run between $500 and $750 for a full day. Most charter fishing boats will provide all the necessary fishing gear included in the cost, but do not include food or drink. Take a lunch and something to drink. And don’t forget the sunscreen. Learn more about

    Also, in Hawaii charter fishing off any of the islands can be rough, so if you are at all queasy, taking anti-seasickness medication might be a good idea. Both Scopalamine patches prescribed by doctors, and Dramamine II can have side-effects, however, so check with your doctor or pharmacist first. Even with side-effects, though, taking medication may be a better option than being seasick for most of the trip! Keep an eye on weather conditions, too. You can check the National Weather Service Marine forecast for the Kona coast here. Hawaii charter fishing, hawaii travel

    One thing to know in advance is that in the Hawaii charter fishing business, all fish caught belong to the boat. If you want to eat your catch, or have your trophy stuffed, you may be able to find the right boat and make specific arrangements before you go. Or, you may not. Check around. Some captains now also catch-and-release, or tag-and-release marlin.

    If you go down to the fuel dock in Honokohau Harbor, you can see charter boats returning around 11 AM from the morning charters and again around 3 in the afternoon. Most boats will fly flags indicating their catch. White flags indicate ahi, blue flags marlin, and inverted flags indicate a catch-and-release trip. Spend time observing which boats are returning with which catches. Somtimes this helps in deciding which boat to go with.

    In early August, the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is held in Kona, with competitors from all over the world. This is the premier event in the world for deep sea sports fishing. It may not be the best week for a novice fisherman to find a boat for hire, but it is an exciting time. In addition to the competitions, other festivities occur throughout the week.

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