Fishing in Kona, Hawaii

My friend Nick is an avid fisherman with his sites set on a Kona fishing vacation. His dream was further fueled after hearing the tale of a 975 pound Marlin being reeled in this past November off the coast of the Big Island. So, baited with the lore of catching the big one, Nick has decided to come to the Big Island of Hawaii and try his luck off of Kona’s infamous coast.

He looked into rental property in Hawaii and found lots of options for Hawaii condos on the Kona side of the island. This shore is known for its sunny weather and is a favorite among vacationers. Most of the charter companies that offer fishing trips launch from Honokohau Harbor just outside of Kailua-Kona. Though the Big Island is most well-known for an abundance of marlin, fisherman can also catch mahi mahi, ahi and ono in these gorgeous tropical waters.

I’ve been encouraging Nick to book his fishing trip during the Humpback whale watching season, which falls between November and April (with the height of the season being between January and March). That way he will have a chance to watch these incredible sea mammals as they  breach and teach their young while he’s out at sea.

As Nick was imagining hooking his dream fish, he had a few questions about the local protocol for the charter companies that offer fishing expeditions. Would he be able to keep his catch? What about if he wanted to mount that giant marlin he was dreaming of? After researching a few companies he found that most followed the same mode of operation. Companies asked that fisherman speak with the boat captains about their preference for keeping their catch. Smaller, table-size fish could be kept or sometimes even shipped back home if arrangements were made in advance.  It is advised to compensate the crew if the fish were kept. As for larger Marlin, in most cases the fish is released, but it seemed that the companies each had their own philosophy and policies. Speak to them about it and be clear about the protocol in advance.

Should Nick catch that elusive Marlin and want to mount it, measurements could be taken and he’d be referred to a taxidermist that makes a fiberglass mold duplicate.

All charter companies advise taking preventive measures for those prone to getting seasick. He discovered that because of the presence of Mauna Kea, a natural wind protection is there for the Kona coast, making it one of the more smooth sails of the islands.

Most companies offer the ice, bait and tackle for the expedition, but fishermen are generally held responsible for their own food and beverages on these trips. Nick discovered that no boat allows for the presence of bananas on board. Apparently, there is an ancient Hawaiian kapu (translated as “forbidden”) against bananas on fishing trips. They are considered very unlucky and local fisherman take this very seriously, citing numerous stories of how bananas have jinxed their fishing trips. So when packing snacks, leave the bananas at home.

Gathering all of this information has only further excited Nick about solidifying his Hawaiian fishing trip. I’ve got my fingers crossed for him to reel in his dream catch in the glorious beauty of the Big Island’s azure seas.