Fishing in Kona

Deep Sea Sportfishing in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii offers Deep Sea Fishing for marlin and other big game fish.  This is a truly unique opportunity that you should not miss out on.  The Kona Coast of Hawaii is actually famours for deep sea fishing, and this is something you can enjoy with your family and friends while visiting these beautiful Hawaiian Islands. Anglers come to Kona, Hawaii from all around the world to fish for giant blue marlin and other Hawaiian Fish that are great to eat and fun to catch.  

Because large volcanic mountains protect the Kona Coast, the sea is usually calm. In fact, Kona is popularly referred to as "Lake Kona" becuase the waters are usually very flat.  Even better, the steep slopes of the volcanic mountains that extend into the sea make the shoreline exceptionally deep. In many sportfishing destinations, a boat must travel great distances to get to the fishing grounds, but in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the fishing starts just minutes outside of the harbor.  While you are fishing (usually less than 5 miles from shore) you are enjoying the blue waters and warmth of Hawaii, and the backdrop of the Big Island.  Kona is a Magical place where some of the World's Biggest Blue Marlin are caught year after year and its possible to fish almost every day out of the year.  Sportfishing charters in Kona target many species of fish, with the most sought-after being the giant blue marlin.   There are usually a couple of grander marlin (females that weight more than thousand pounds) taken every year. The other billfish targeted off the Kona Coast are Spearfish, Striped Marlin, Black Marlin and Swordfish.  Tuna is also a great sport fish and you will find many species roaming these waters including (but not limited to): Yellowfin, Bigeye, Skipjack and Albacore. You can also fish for mahi mahi (Dorado), Ono (Wahoo), Kahala (Amberjack), Ulua (Giant Trevally), Uku (Green Jobfish), Opakapaka, Onaga and few other snapper species. With the variety of fish, the calm seas, the wonderful Hawaiian weather and the majestic Hawaiian scenery, it's really no wonder why th the Kailua-Kona coast is considered one the absolute best fishing destinations in the World! 

"Hustler" uses several deep sea fishing techniques to catch fish off the Kona coast:

Trolling lures is the preferred and the most common deep sea fishing technique used by the "Hustler" to catch marlin, mahi mahi, ono and tuna. The lures we drag around the ocean are all hand crafted and locally made here in Hawaii. We will be trolling at a speed of approximately 8 knots and we will be in most situations fishing 5 lures at a time.  (2) On the Corner of the boat (2) on the Riggers and (1) on the Stinger.  When trolling you are covering a lot of water as we hunt and look for the fish. The lures we will be running will be all different shapes, sizes and colors.  Our large inventory of lures allows us to target all the flag fish that are around, and not just marlin. As mentioned previously, (2) of the lines we will be ran out of outriggers. The outriggers help to spread the lines apart and give the lures a little more action.  All trolling poles will be set into their designated rod holder until a fish strikes. Once we hook into a fish, the pole will be transferred over to the fighting chair where you will reel it in.  In some instances when we are trolling arond the FADs, we will be using lighter tackle which you can fight standing up. 

Trolling live bait is another deep sea fishing technique that is used for catching pelagic fish that are cruising around these Hawaiian Waters. When it comes to the skipjack tuna, yellow fin tuna and opelu (mackerel scad), these species are usually found around the ledges and FAD’s. The small tunas are a blast for kids and beginner anglers to catch on light tackle and they also make great baits. When "Live Baiting" we will usually be trolling two live baits at a speed of somewhere between 2-3 knots. We will stagger (offset) the baits so they are between 20-40 fathoms (six feet is a fathom) with a drop back in the line allowing the fish to swallow the bait before striking.  When using live bait we are waiting for the fish to come to us and in many instances we will be fishing in the same general location where we caught the bait. Catching live bait is not a guarantee and we can not buy live bait as we leave the harbor in Hawaii. Using live bait depends heavily on the currents, where the bait is schooled up and located, and of course how much time we have to fish.

Bottom dropping for Amberjack (Kahala), Giant Trevally, (ulua), Opakapaka (and other snappers), as well as Sharks is done by dropping dead or live bait to the bottom of the ocean.  In Hawaii, the bigger deep water fish are usually caught at depths of between 420-600 feet. This style of fishing is done at an area called “the grounds” which is just north of the Kona airport. When the current and the conditions are right, this is a very fun fishery for anglers who just want action. 

Vertical Jigging is another bottom fishing technique that is utilized by the Hustler Boat when fishing for big jacks and other bottom species.  Vertical Jigging is the most hands on fishing that we can do and this technique is the easiest and fastest way to get to the bottom.  The jigs will range in size from from 6-10 ounces and will usually be shaped like a knife for a quick deep "Vertical" drop. We will provide you with a small light reel that has a high retrieve ratio and braided line, and it will be fastened to a short stout fishing rod.

With a consistent and proven catch record, The "Hustler" Boat is here to help you grab some incredible fish for dinner or land that trophy blue marlin that you’ve been dreaming of. Either way, we’ll customize your deep sea fishing trip to meet your needs and try our hardest to exceed your expectations. The "Hustler" is great for those interested in catching blue marlin, stripe marlin, spearfish, mahi mahi, ono or tuna – and enjoying that fresh catch for dinner. We’ll fillet your fish for no charge.

Come Sport Fishing in Paradise and see the Kailua-Kona coast like you’ve never seen it before!