Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Honolulu, HI (Full Guide)
Honolulu offers some of the best fishing in the world along with some of the best natural scenery. Knowing the best times of the year to head to Honolulu will greatly improve your fishing success.
The best fishing timeframe for Honolulu is May through September for marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi, bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and skipjack tuna. February through April is the best fishing window for trevally.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish in Honolulu |
| Blue Marlin | May through September is the best fishing window for blue marlin. |
| Striped Marlin | January through the end of May is the best fishing window for striped marlin. |
| Sailfish | June & July are really the best months for local sailfish. |
| Mahi Mahi | February through May is the best time to catch dolphin (mahi mahi) |
| Skipjack Tuna | May through September is the best fishing window. |
| Bigeye Tuna | January through May is the best time to fish for bigeye tuna in Honolulu. |
| Yellowfin Tuna | May through September is the best fishing window for yellowfin in Honolulu. |
| Trevally | February through April is the best fishing window for trevally. |
| Wahoo | The best fishing is May through July for local wahoo. |
Honolulu is a popular fishing destination where experienced anglers and beginners can relax from a busy life by fishing in crystal blue waters. Here, fishing is always excellent and anglers have good catches during their trips. Fishing in Honolulu often becomes the best day of the year. Once you visit the destination and try to live the island life, you’ll begin to think about the next fishing trip.
Honolulu is the place where anglers can try different fishing techniques. Fishing from shore is popular in the area. There are plenty of beaches, harbors, and piers in the region. So, anglers will not find it difficult to choose a quiet spot for shore fishing.
Plus, you can fish in the deep waters of Honolulu. Charters in Honolulu allow anglers to enjoy deep sea fishing all year round. But most importantly, deep-sea fishing trips give anglers an opportunity to catch a big fish.
Best Time to Fish Honolulu
It’s possible to fish in Honolulu all year round. The best time to go fishing in the area depends on the species of fish that you are targeting. The season to fish Hawaii starts in March and lasts until December.
Fishermen can visit Honolulu in the spring. You should know that spring is a great time to target mahi-mahi, skipjack tuna, and yellowfin tuna.
The best time to fish in Honolulu is summer. Fishermen have an opportunity to fish for yellowfin tuna between June and August. Summer is a great time to target blue marlin, mahi-mahi, wahoo, and some other species.
If you fish Honolulu in the fall, you’ll manage to catch such species of fish like blue marlin and billfish. Actually, anglers can fish Honolulu at any time of the year. However, you have to go fishing when your target fish species are the most active.
First, you have to decide what species of fish you want to target during a fishing trip. It all depends on your angling preferences. Plus, it’s necessary to take into account weather conditions. So, you should always study weather forecasts carefully before booking a fishing trip to Honolulu.
Honolulu Species Breakdown: Best Times
Anglers, who are planning Honolulu fishing adventures for the first time, would like to know what kind of fish they can catch during their trips. In fact, many different species of fish can be caught in the waters of Honolulu. Now, we’ll briefly describe the most popular fish species that anglers can target in the area.
Marlin
It’s hard to imagine fishing in Honolulu without marlin. Many anglers would like to catch marlin during their trips to Honolulu. Marlin is a fish like no other. It’s possible to catch blue, black, and striped marlin in the region. Marlin is a strong fish and catching it is not always easy.
Marlin fishing requires certain knowledge, experience, and skills. The season to fish for marlin starts in December and lasts until March. Keep in mind that marlin fishing charters are available in the region. So, anglers need to book a charter to enjoy marlin fishing in deep-sea waters. Marlin bites well in the morning or before the sunset.
Mahi mahi
Fishermen can target mahi mahi in Honolulu as well. Mahi mahi is a strong and fast opponent, so anglers can find it hard to catch this fish.
Mahi mahi fishing is the most productive during the spring and summer months. Pokai Bay is one of the best places to target mahi mahi in the region. Anglers can target mahi mahi in the morning or in the evening.
Snapper
Snapper is also one of the most common fish species in the Honolulu area. Fish bites well during the cold months. The season to fish for snapper starts in the middle of the fall and lasts until the beginning of the spring. Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline is a good place to target snapper in the area. Snapper bites well in the early morning or in the evening.
Tuna (Various Species)
Tuna fishing is also very popular in Honolulu and its surrounding areas. Catching tuna provides anglers with great experience. Fishermen can catch bigeye tuna, skipjack tuna as well as yellowfin tuna during Honolulu fishing adventures.
The best season to catch tuna near Honolulu is between April and December. Tuna can be caught anywhere in the waters of Honolulu. It’s recommended to target tuna between dusk and dawn.
Giant Trevally
It’s possible to target trevally during a Honolulu fishing trip. Trevally is a predator. So, fishermen can use live and cut baits to catch trevally. Anglers can target trevally at any time of the year.
However, the fishing season is high between the late winter and the early spring. Oftentimes, fish is found in harbors. Mamala Bay is the perfect place to target trevally in the region. Here, the chances to catch giant trevally are always high. It’s possible to fish for trevally throughout the day.
Wrasse
Fishermen can also try to catch wrasse during their trips. The season to fish for wrasse starts in April and finishes in November. Fish go to deep waters during the colder month. Wrasse can be found in sheltered fishing spots. Wailupe Beach Park is the best place to target wrasse in the region. Late morning or early afternoon is the best time of the day to catch wrasse.
Grouper
Grouper is a very strong fish, so anglers find it difficult to fight it. The grouper fishing season in Honolulu starts in May and lasts until October. However, you can catch grouper all year long.
Grouper bites well either in the early morning or in the late afternoon. Grouper can be caught anywhere in the waters of Honolulu. Grouper fishing is the most productive in the early morning or in the late afternoon.
Barracuda
Barracuda fishing is excellent in the region. The fish can be caught in nearshore waters in the region. That means that anglers, who love fly fishing, can try to catch barracuda during their trips. Fishermen, who are targeting barracuda in Honolulu, get the best results during the spring and summer months. Fishermen usually get bites of barracuda in the early morning or in the late afternoon.
Green jobfish
Anglers can fish for green jobfish in the area as well. Catching this fish is always emotional and provides fishermen with long-lasting memories. It’s possible to catch green jobfish all year round in the area. It makes sense to target green jobfish in Pokai Bay.
Wahoo
Honolulu attracts so many anglers, who are interested in catching wahoo. Fishermen target wahoo in the deep waters of Honolulu. It’s possible to fish for wahoo all year round, but anglers get the most effective results between April and September. Oftentimes, wahoo actively feed at first light.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Hawaii
These Hawaii-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Oahu Pelagic Sportfishing | Honolulu, HI |
| Hawaii Ocean Adventure Tours FINNATTIC | Haleiwa, HI |
| Flyer Sportfishing | Haleiwa, HI |
| Sea Verse 3 Fishing Charters | Honolulu, HI |
| Five Star Sportfishing Hawaii | Honolulu, HI |
| Mariah Sportfishing – We Catch More | Kailua-Kona, HI |
| Ocean Addict Hawaii | Haleiwa, HI |
| Play N Hooky Sportfishing | Honolulu, HI |
| Go Get ‘Em Sportfishing | Kailua-Kona, HI |
| Silky Sportfishing | Kailua-Kona, HI |
| Hooked Up Sportfishing | Kailua-Kona, HI |
| Fire Hatt Sportfishing Charters | Kailua-Kona, HI |
| Ohana Fun Fishing | Honolulu, HI |
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.
Best Time of Day to Fish Honolulu
Many species of fish in Honolulu actively feed when there is almost no light. Traditionally, anglers get a lot of bites at dawn and at dusk. It would be great to go fishing either in the early morning or in the late afternoon.
Honolulu Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Tide times have an impact on the feeding activity of fish and affect bite times. That’s why anglers always need to study tides in Honolulu carefully before going fishing. In other words, they have to know high tide as well as low tide times in the area. It would be better to fish the waters of Honolulu during the incoming tides.
It’s important to know that water that enters the area during the rising tide contains high amounts of oxygen. Oxygen-rich water has an impact on fish behavior. As a result, fish feeding activity increases. That’s why anglers get the best results when fishing Honolulu during rising tides.
Storms & Honolulu Fishing
When planning fishing adventures, anglers should always check the Honolulu weather forecast carefully. Fishing during storms should be avoided. Storms can be very dangerous for anglers.
It’s also important to note that fish usually go in the deep waters and don’t bite during storms. However, fishing is often very productive before and after storms. That means that it would be great to go fishing during these times.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Honolulu?
As we have already mentioned, anglers can enjoy fishing in the area all year round. Winter fishing is not very productive in Honolulu during the winter months.
However, anglers can continue fishing in Honolulu in the winter. Among the species that anglers can target in the winter are bigeye tuna, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, marlin, mahi mahi, and snapper.
Night Fishing in Honolulu
Some anglers prefer to fish in Honolulu at night. Fishing during night hours is very interesting. Anglers can feel the unique atmosphere during night deep sea fishing trips in Honolulu. The ocean is peaceful and quiet during nighttime. Plus, it’s very comfortable to fish in the ocean at night during hot summer months.
Often, waters in the ocean are calm during nighttime. Night fishing makes it possible for anglers to catch tuna and swordfish. Sea fishing at night in Honolulu is the most productive in the late spring and early months.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Shore/surf fishing is very popular in Honolulu. A lot of fishermen give a preference to this fishing style. Keep in mind that anglers in the area can surf fish on beaches, harbors, and piers. There are many piers in the area where anglers can enjoy shore/surf fishing. These include Makai Pier, Heeia Pier, Pier 2, and Waialua Bay Pier.
Shore/surf fishing allows anglers to catch many different fish species such as barracuda, goatfish, snapper, and trevally. These species of fish prefer to feed near the shore. It would be great to surf fish Honolulu at dawn or at dusk. It’s worth noting that many species of fish actively feed during these hours. That means that anglers find it easy to catch them.
Top 5 Fishing Spots in Honolulu (Best Seasons)
When planning fishing trips, anglers need to know where to go in the area. Honolulu has many great fishing spots. That’s why anglers may find it difficult to select the best places for fishing.
Now, we’ll tell you about the most popular fishing spots in Honolulu. Also, we’ll explain how to fish and what species can be caught in these places. On top of that, we’ll provide you with information on the best seasons to fish in these spots.
Mamala Bay
Mamala Bay is a great fishing spot for those anglers, who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. The bay provides fishermen with easy access to the Ahua Reef. It’s possible to catch goatfish, trevally, and other species near the reef. Fishing in Mamala Bay is the most productive in the summer.
Pokai Bay
Pokai Bay is an ideal place for anglers, who want to target mahi mahi during their fishing trips. The bay impresses with its beautiful marine life and allows anglers to fish in calm waters. Pokai Bay is the perfect place for anglers, who are interested in mahi mahi fishing. Here, you can try to spearfish or enjoy kayak fishing. The best time of the year to fish Pokai Bay is between October and February.
Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline
Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline offers a lot to fishermen. Anglers are allowed to fish here in even-numbered years. It’s a fishing spot where fishermen can target trevally, snapper, and many other species of fish. Anglers can fish in this place at any time of the year.
Wailupe Beach Park
Wailupe Beach Park is another good fishing spot in Honolulu. This place has gained huge popularity among the local fishermen. The park impresses with its beauty and provides anglers with amazing fishing opportunities. Among the species of fish that anglers can target in the park are bluefin trevally, needlefish, wrasse, and others. Here, a fishing season starts in the spring and finishes in the fall.
Pier 2
Pier 2 is the place where you can fish with your family and friends. In addition to fishing, it’s possible to enjoy sunbathing and do shopping near the pier. Here, anglers can fish year-round and catch the most common types of fish.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Hawaii, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Maui, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Waikiki, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Kauai, please check out this helpful guide.
Booking Charters in Honolulu (Best Times)
It’s not a problem to book a fishing charter in Honolulu. With so many charters available in the region, you’ll find it easy to organize the fishing trip of your dreams. Highly experienced captains provide anglers with the gear that’s needed to enjoy fishing in the area. It’s also important to note that the local guides give anglers useful advice during fishing trips.
– Best season to go
Of course, it would be great to go fishing during the summer months. Many species of fish are active in the summer. However, summer is a peak fishing season in the region. So, book a fishing trip ahead of time. Charters can be busy and prices for fishing can be high. Also, anglers can plan their fishing adventures for the fall months. Fishing is still productive in the fall, but prices on charters are much lower.
– Morning vs. afternoon
Anglers usually fish in Honolulu waters either in the morning or in the afternoon. The time of the year is deciding factor. It would be better to go fishing in the morning during the hot summer. Afternoon fishing is good in the spring, fall and winter.
– 1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
Anglers need to decide how much time they want to spend on fishing. Your choice largely depends on your fishing preferences, experience, and budget. A fishing trip can take half-day, full-day, or several days. Now, let’s talk about the pros and cons of each option.
Beginners often book a 1/2 day fishing trip. Half-day fishing trips give beginning anglers enough time to master fishing techniques and test their skills. You can go fishing either in the early morning or in the afternoon. Half-day fishing trips are the cheapest option.
Full-day fishing trips are recommended to those anglers, who want to spend a day on fishing and explore the beauty of Honolulu. Such trips are more expensive, but they give anglers more fishing time.
Avid anglers choose to book multi-day fishing charters in the Honolulu area. During multi-day fishing trips, fishermen have a better chance to catch a trophy. Such trips last several days. Fishermen are provided with meals and drinks during fishing trips. However, multi-day charters are the most expensive fishing option.
