Best Times & Seasons to Fish Kauai (Complete Guide)

Kauai 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 Kauai will greatly improve your fishing success.

The best fishing timeframe for Kauai 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 SpeciesBest Times to Fish in Kauai
Blue MarlinMay through September is the best fishing window for blue marlin.
Striped MarlinJanuary through the end of May is the best fishing window for striped marlin.
SailfishJune & July are really the best months for local sailfish.
Mahi MahiFebruary through May is the best time to catch Maui dolphin (mahi mahi)
Skipjack TunaMay through September is the best fishing window.
Bigeye TunaJanuary through May is the best time to fish for bigeye tuna in Hawaii.
Yellowfin TunaMay through September is the best fishing window for yellowfin in Kauai.
TrevallyFebruary through April is the best fishing window for trevally.
WahooThe best fishing is May through July for local wahoo.

This island is the fourth largest in Hawaii and provides the best fishing experience, especially during the fishing season. The fishing season in Kauai runs from the beginning of summer till the end of autumn.

You can make a good catch of different fish species and get a memorable fishing experience. You should fish the waters of Kauai from June through November for the best fishing result.

As an angler, you can enjoy your fishing operations on the island as you can catch varieties of fish species. Having a successful catch and a productive fishing operation is what you need for a memorable fishing adventure. And Kauai has everything you need to make your adventure occur.

man holding a fish
(Image courtesy of Hooked Up Sportfishing (Kailua-Kona) & Fishing Booker)

Best Times to Fish Kauai

Fishing in Kauai is what many anglers long for, and it is because of how well Kauai island supports fishing. There are several fish species and fishing spots that the island offers to anglers, and all of these make every angler want to visit the island to make a good catch.

When fishing or planning to fish in Kauai, you should have in mind one essential thing. You have to know the right time to visit and fish on the island. You have to know the best time of the year and the best time of the day to go on your fishing trip.

The best time to visit the island for your fishing activities is in summer and autumn. These seasons give the best climatic, water, tidal, and other conditions that aid and support the presence of various fish species. Visiting the island anytime from June through November will be the best for your fishing practices.

You also have to know the best time of the day to fish in the waters of Kauai. And this depends on the fish species you intend to catch.

Most fish species tend to be most active in the morning and evening and less active in the afternoon. So, when fishing Kauai, you should make sure you fish during the morning or evening for the best results.

If you consider the necessary factors, get your gear ready, and your skills intact, you will be able to earn success with your fishing in Kauai.

You will also be able to provide yourself with a memorable fishing experience. Just make sure you fish during the fishing season and at the appropriate time of the day.

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 ChartersLocation
Oahu Pelagic SportfishingHonolulu, HI
Hawaii Ocean Adventure Tours FINNATTICHaleiwa, HI
Flyer SportfishingHaleiwa, HI
Sea Verse 3 Fishing ChartersHonolulu, HI
Five Star Sportfishing HawaiiHonolulu, HI
Mariah Sportfishing – We Catch MoreKailua-Kona, HI
Ocean Addict HawaiiHaleiwa, HI
Play N Hooky SportfishingHonolulu, HI
Go Get ‘Em SportfishingKailua-Kona, HI
Silky SportfishingKailua-Kona, HI
Hooked Up SportfishingKailua-Kona, HI
Fire Hatt Sportfishing ChartersKailua-Kona, HI
Ohana Fun FishingHonolulu, HI

Kauai Species Breakdown: Best Time

One of the good things about Kauai island is several fish species. There are numerous fish species you can catch in the waters of Kauai, and you only have to know the right time of the year and day to do that.

Here are some of the fish species you can find in Kauai.

Bluefin Trevally

When fishing the bluefin trevally, you should make sure you make you target the summer ending and autumn months.

Fishing from July through November will provide you with the best fishing experience in Kauai. If you want to enjoy your fishing operation on the island, you should fish during these seasons.

You will find the bluefin trevally hunting during the day. So, when fishing them, you should target dawn and dusk for the best result. You will make a good catch when you fish on the island in the morning and late in the evening.

You have more than enough places to carry out your fishing operations on the island. You can visit the Waimea State Recreational Pier to catch your bluefin trevally, and you can also visit other fishing spots to catch as many bluefin trevallies as you want.

Skipjack Tuna

Fishing skipjack tuna in Kauai is good all around the year but peaks during the Spring to autumn. You should start fishing tunas in Kauai from the end of the spring season to the beginning of the autumn season. You should fish the waters from May through September for the best catch.

The best time to catch skipjack tuna is during the night, and they spend their night hours swimming at the surface while they retreat to the deepest parts of the water during the day. So, if you want success with your skipjack tuna fishing, you should fish during the night.

You can visit the Kilauea for your skipjack tuna fishing operations, and you will make a good catch at this fishing spot. You can also visit many other fishing spots to catch the skipjack tuna alongside you desire many other fish species.

Blue Line Snapper

Fishing the blue line snapper can occur at any time of the year as the fish species is available all year round. You can target the summer and autumn to make your catch, and June through November usually contain more fish species in Kauai.

Fishing the blue line snapper should be best done during the night when the light condition is low, and they are easier to fish and will take the bite the most. You can also target the early dawn hours when the lights are still low to make your catch.

You can visit the Ahukini Recreational Pier State Park is a good place to catch blue line strippers in Kauai. You should visit these fishing spots to enjoy your fishing trip and operations on the island. You can also visit other fishing spots like Wailua for your fishing operations.

Gray Snapper

If you want to make the best of your gray snapper fishing in Kauai, you should target the mid-spring to the beginning of autumn. The months of these seasons offer the best gray snapper fishing. You should fish the waters of Kauai from April through September to make the best catch of gray snappers.

You should fish gray snappers during the early mornings and late evenings. You should start your gray snapper fishing as early as 6 am and fish till noon.

You should also fish gray snapper from about 4 pm till it becomes dark. You will be able to enjoy your fishing operations and grace it with a good catch.

You can enjoy your gray snapper fishing operations anywhere in the waters of Kauai. There are several fishing spots you can visit, and one of them is Lihue. You can catch gray snappers and several other fish species at these fishing spots.

Amberjack

Fishing amberjacks can be a lot of fun when you visit Kauai island. And it can be more fun if you visit the waters during the winter through Spring. From December through May, you should fish amberjacks to make a good catch and make your fishing operations highly successful.

If you want to catch amberjacks, you should visit the waters during the early hours of the morning and late hours of the evening.

You should prepare your fishing gear and put your fishing skills to work during these hours. You will be able to make the best fishing adventure with this.

You can visit Kekaha for your amberjack fishing in Kauai. You can also visit Anahola to make a good catch. You can also visit several other fishing spots when hunting amberjacks on the island. You can catch as many amberjacks as you want and make your fishing trip memorable.

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 the Day to Fish Kauai

When fishing the Kauai island, you have to set out at the right time of the day. You have to know when most fish species are most active and strike during this time.

The best time to fish Kauai is during the early hours of the morning. You can also visit the waters and fish during the late hours of the evening to make a good catch of whatever fish species you want.

The tides are also factors you have to consider when fishing Kauai. The tides can enhance your fishing operations, so you should efficiently use them.

When fishing Kauai island, you should make sure you target the beginning and end of high and low tides.

Marlin fishing
(Image courtesy of Pacific Sportfishing LLC (Honolulu) & Fishing Booker)

You should fish the slack tides, and this lasts for about two hours before and after a high and low tide. Fishing during this time will record huge fishing success for you.

The storm is also one factor you have to consider when fishing the waters of Kauai. Fishing in Kauai can be very productive if you use the storm in your favor.

When there is a storm, you should wait till the storm stops and go fishing immediately after the storm. Fishing after a storm will give you a better result and enhance your fishing operations.

Several fish species are active during the winter. You can visit Kauai to catch these fish species and make your winter full of fun. You can enjoy your winter fishing and make a good catch, if not your greatest catch.

The night is also a perfect time to fish the waters of Kauai. Many anglers participate in night fishing and make huge success from it. You can also wade the waters at night, catch several fish species, and add them to your fishing trophies.

Shore fishing is also a common and highly productive fishing practice in Kauai. You can fish the shores of Kauai and catch your preferred fish species. You can also make your fishing trip to Kauai worthwhile and greatly memorable by surf fishing its waters.

Top 5 Fishing Spots in Kauai

You should not be wary of where you can catch your favorite fish species on Kauai island. There are several places where you can carry out your fishing operations. And here are some fishing spots you will love to visit in Kauai.

  • Waimea State Recreational Pier: The Waimea State Recreational Pier is one of the places to visit when fishing the waters of Kauai. You will get access to several fish species and catch your preferred fish species.
  • Kilauea: You should also visit Kilauea when you visit Kauai island for your fishing trip. You will find several other anglers fishing the waters of Kilauea and making successful catches. You can also carry out a successful fishing operation at this spot.
  • Ahukini Recreational Pier State Park: You also need to visit this fishing spot to enjoy a comfortable and productive fishing operation. You can catch several fish species at this location and enjoy the beautiful scenery and view it offers.
  • Lihue: Lihue is a common fishing spot in Kauai. You can visit the fishing spot and join other anglers in making successful fishing operations. You can perform several fishing practices at this place.
  • Kekaha: One of the places you should visit in Kauai for your fishing operation is Kekaha. You can explore every one of your fishing skills in this location and makes a successful impact.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Maui, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Waikiki, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Kona, please check out this helpful article.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Hawai’i, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Honolulu, please check out this helpful article.

Booking Charters in Kauai

There is more to fishing the Kauai island than just casting your gears and putting your skills to work. You need to do certain things, and these things can tell a huge difference between being successful and being unsuccessful with your fishing operations. And this is booking a charter.

You need to book a charter for your fishing trip to Kauai. Booking a charter will provide you with high success during your fishing operation, and it will make fishing easier, more comfortable, and more productive.

There are several charter services you can book in Kauai. You should book your preferred one and set out for your fishing adventure.

Best Season to Go

You have to know the best season to book your charter on Kauai island. And for you to know this, you have to know the best season to fish the island. The best time to book a charter is during the fishing season unless you are booking your charter for other reasons.

You should book your charter during the summer and autumn months. These are the fishing seasons, so booking your charter during these times will enhance your fishing operations. You should go for the best charter service and book your charter anytime from June through November.

Booking your charter during these seasons will also give you the best view of the island, and it is because summer and autumn are the busiest seasons in Kauai. You will experience several events, meet different people, and get more than a fishing adventure.

Booking your charter during the fishing season will assuredly help you get the best of your fishing operations. It will enhance and provide you with the best fishing adventure you have ever experienced. You can get the best of your fishing in Kauai through the right charter.

Morning vs. Afternoon

You also need to answer the question, “what is the best time to book a charter in the day? Morning or afternoon? Once you can answer this question, you have little or no problem facing your fishing operations. To answer this question, you have to know the best time of the day to go fishing.

Fishing happens to be most productive during the morning hours and less productive during the afternoon. So, when booking your charters, you should make sure you choose the morning for your operation. Booking your charter in the morning will provide you with the resources and conditions you need for a successful fishing operation.

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