Best Times & Season to Fish Kailua-Kona (Complete Guide)
Located on the western side of the Big Island, Kailua-Kona, known by the locals simply as Kona, is home to some of the best blue marlin fishing in the world. Due to its location in the Pacific Ocean, deep, productive waters are only a few hundred yards away from the harbor entrance, making travel time to the big fish minimal.
The best time to fish Kailua-Kona is between the months of July and August when blue marlin are at their peak. However, February is the peak time for species such as the striped marlin, spearfish, and mahi-mahi.
There are two factors that play into making Kailua-Kona on of the best fishing destinations: above-average water temperatures and calm waters. This makes fishing productive all year round in Kailua-Kona.
However, if you’re wanting to put Kailua-Kona on your bucket list of fishing destinations, you’ll want to know when the best time is to fish Kailua-Kona. That is what we will answer in this article.
Best Time to Fish Kailua-Kona
When it comes to fishing in Kailua-Kona, the fishing can be incredible all year long. Many locations in Hawai’i’s islands must deal with high winds in the afternoon, as well as weather issues throughout the year, putting a damper on their fishing.
The tall mountains of the Big Island, however, prevent the majority of these heavy winds from reaching the fishing grounds, meaning Kailua-Kona doesn’t have to worry about these troubles as much.
The water temperature also lends a hand to world-class fishing. Due to its location on the Pacific, Kailua-Kona’s water temps are consistently high, meaning the fish not only migrate here, but they also often stay all year round.
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 |
Kailua-Kona Species Breakdown (Best Times & Seasons)
In this section of the article, we’re going to look at some of the top species you’ll find when fishing in Kailua-Kona and when you can expect to catch them.
Wahoo
Called Ono by the locals, wahoo are a sought-after species, both for their size and fight. Fishing for the wahoo in Kailua-Kona, like the other species, is fair all year round. However, the peak season when you can expect to land multiple in one trip is June through August.
Dolphin
Often called mahimahi, the dolphinfish is considered by many to be the best reason to fish in Kailua-Kona. Many world-record dolphin fish have been caught in these waters, some even 8 feet long. The peak season for the ono is during the winter months to early spring, from December to April.
Marlin
There are two main species of the marlin that can be found in the waters of Kailua-Kona: blue and striped. Both are known for their splash-ups, as well as their size and fighting ability.
The blue marlin peak season in Kailua-Kona is July and August while the striped marling prefers the slightly cooler waters of winter, peaking between January and March.
Yellowfin Tuna
The yellowfin, also known as ahi to the locals, is another monster sought for its size and fight, but also its meat. Many anglers will come for the fight and leave with a cooler full of meat.
However, frozen fish cannot be taken through customs, so you will need ice packs in a small carry-on cooler if you plan to take some home. The yellowfin is best caught between June and August.
Short Billed Spearfish
Another of the many species in Kailua-Kona sought for its trophy class, the spearfish puts up one of the hardest fights in the sea. Known in Hawai’i as the hebi, the peak season for the short, billed spearfish is from June to October.
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 to create your combo.
For a complete guide to the best times & seasons to fish Hawai’i, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Top fishing spots in Kailua-Kona
Since Kailua-Kona is a town, it is its own fishing spot. However, the officials have added what are known as fish aggregating devices (FAD for short) to the area to attract larger fish to the area. These fads have created fishing hotspots around Kailua-Kona. One of the hottest fads is FAD Bouy ZZ.
Bouy ZZ
Bouy ZZ is located directly off the coast of Kailua-Kona. It sits over both natural and artificial reefs which attract a multitude of different species.
Several large fish have been caught here all year round, including marlin and Wahoo. Though placed by officials, anyone is able to fish here.
Bout OTEC
Bout OTEC is another popular FAD located off Kua Bay. It is known for its marlin catches as well and is accessible all year round.
Noio Point Ledge
Noio Point Ledge is known for its deep underwater ledges and rocks. Here, the water depth drops suddenly making it the perfect feeding ground for several of the larger species. Be prepared for a fight here as multi-hour fights are not uncommon.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Kauai, please check out this helpful article.
Booking Charters in Kailua-Kona
Its location isn’t the only thing making the fishing of Kailua-Kona amazing; it’s home to some of the best guides and fishing charters the world has to offer.
The question, though, is when is the best season to book a fishing charter in Kailua-Kona, and what time of day is best to book your trip.
Best Season to book a Kailua-Kona fishing charter
Though the fishing is good all year round, many anglers flock to Kailua-Kona in the summer months. What makes this point important is if you are wanting to book a fishing charter during the summer months, you will want to be sure to do so well in advance to make sure you get the days you want.
While some ½-day trips may be open when you arrive, you for sure will lose out on ¾-day and full-day trips if you procrastinate.
Best Time of Day for Kailua-Kona Fishing Charters
Morning vs Afternoon
With the deep waters being just a stone’s throw away from the shore, the fishing isn’t as affected by the tides and other factors as other fishing spots are. For that reason, the differences between morning and afternoon when fishing in Kailua-Kona are minimal, but they do still exist.
Morning
Morning tends to be with fish are feeding the most, especially in the time immediately following sunrise, when the waters are still darkened yet enough light is breaking through, making the perfect time for predatory fish to hunt. This also makes it the best time to go fishing.
With the deep waters being so close to the harbor, there is no need to travel an hour or more away and waste that time when the big ones can be had after just a few minutes on the water.
Afternoon
Though the weather is often not a cause for concern in Kailua-Kona, the afternoons do see quite a bit of rain. This is especially true during the summer months, as the summer rainfall totals in Kailua-Kona exceed that during the winter.
Summertime, though, is when fishing it as its peak. If you are fishing Kailua-Kona in the afternoon, expect to get wetter than normal.
For a complete breakdown of the best fishing times in Waikiki, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Best Kailua-Kona fishing charter trip length
There are several options available when it comes to choosing a length for booking a Kailua-Kona fishing trip. These include ½-3/4 day, full-day, and multi-day trips. Here is a brief breakdown of each:
½-Day
Unlike many fishing destinations, the ½-day trips in Kailua-Kona are extremely popular and give ample enough opportunity to catch even the biggest of fish. With its closeness to deep waters, these trips make it affordable, and likely, to catch the fish of a lifetime.
Plus, it allows you the chance to fish the beautiful waters and still enjoy the sights and sounds of Kailua-Kona in the afternoon.
Full-Day
A full-day fishing charter trip in Kailua-Kona increases your chance of landing a big marlin or tuna. And, if you are going after other species, such as the wahoo or mahi-mahi, a full day trip gives you that much more time to fish, ensuring double-digit lands in a single trip.
As a bonus, many full-day trips will also make special time for watching dolphins and whales which may show up. In fact, many captains in Kailua-Kona, if asked, will get as close to whales as possible to let you get a once-in-a-lifetime look.
Multi-Day
Multi-day trips aren’t as common in Kailua-Kona, simply because the entire view is scenic. Many charters remain close to land, always keeping it in sight; that’s how close the deep waters are to the shore.
However, if you want to fish for multiple different types of fish while in Kailua-Kona, multi-day trips can be booked with the same charter, but the boat will return to dock each night.
Kailua-Kona fishing & tidal impacts
Surprisingly enough, Hawai’i, and especially Kailua-Kona, has little to no tides. This can be explained by many different factors, including the shape of its shoreline and continental shelf configuration. The negligible tidal swings are also one of the reasons why surfing is so popular in this area.
However, as we know from other locations, tides can have an effect on the movement of the water which, in turn, cause the fish to be more active. The reason this isn’t an issue for Kailua-Kona is that Hawai’i is in the middle of what is known as the “convergence zone.”
Simply put, the convergence zone is where several different ocean currents meet, causing constant movement in the water.
These currents include the California, North Equatorial, and North Pacific currents. This constant movement helps make Kailua-Kona the incredible fishing destination it is.
Storms & Kailua-Kona Fishing Timing
The climate of Kailua-Kona is more likened to a lake than an ocean, as the tall mountains of the Big Island block a lot of the weather which would normally cause issues with fishing.
That being said, cyclones are known to spin up during the winter months. The islands are usually affected by these two to three times a year. During these storms, there is no fishing to be done.
However, after the storms clear, you will have to wait a few days for the fishing to return to normal. Once it does, though, the normalcy is there to stay for long periods of time.
Also, rainfall is higher during the summer months than it is in the winter, and often the biggest rainfalls will be during the afternoon hours verse the morning.
Pro tip: Be sure to pack plenty of sunblock with you; the sun is much stronger here than you might be accustomed to.
Is winter Fishing bad of good?
With the exception of the two to three cyclones a year mentioned earlier, winter fishing in Kailua-Kona is excellent. The wahoo can especially be caught during the winter months, including some species of tuna.
The dolphin fish and trevally also peak during these winter months, so you won’t be hard-pressed to find some excellent winter fishing in Kailua-Kona.
For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Maui, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
