Aloha, angler! There’s something special about the water here in Kona — calm, clear, and generous with what it offers. Thanks to a steep drop-off just offshore, you can be trolling for marlin in 100 fathoms within minutes of leaving the harbor. Below you’ll find our top-rated charter picks, favorite shore spots, and what to know before you try spearfishing.
Book a Charter
If you want the classic big-game experience — reels screaming, a mate hollering “fish on,” and a real shot at something enormous on the end of your line — a charter is the way to go. Here are three of the best-reviewed crews in Kona:
Reel Escapes Hawaii – A guest favorite for private trips, with visitors regularly landing blue marlin, ono, and mahi mahi alongside a hands-on crew that preps your catch dockside.
High Noon Sportfishing – Captain Dee Bradford has run these waters since 1990, earning a decade of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence and top ratings on Yelp. A simple flat rate books the whole boat, no license needed, and you keep what you catch.
Konadice Sportfishing – Year-round trips targeting blue and striped marlin, ahi, ono, and giant trevally, with a crew known for sharing decades of local knowledge with every group.
Tip: Half-day trips (4–5 hours) are common and often plenty of time to hook something, since the fishing grounds are so close to shore.
Best Shore Fishing Spots
No boat? No problem at all. Some of our favorite Kona fishing memories didn’t happen offshore — they happened standing on a lava rock ledge at sunrise with a rod and a thermos of coffee. Shore fishing here is relaxed, low-cost, and still puts you within reach of some genuinely exciting catches. Here are a few spots worth trying:
- Kailua Pier – Easy access right in town; watch for posted hours and rules.
- Honokohau Harbor – Fish the south side of the harbor mouth; cut squid or opelu works well in early morning or late afternoon.
- Keauhou Bay & Kahalu’u Beach Park – Reef structure holds ulua (giant trevally), papio, snapper, and uhu (parrotfish).
- Old Kona Airport Beach – Rocky points and coves popular with locals for reef species.
Early mornings and late afternoons tend to be the sweet spot, when the light is soft and the fish are more active near shore. Just remember that as a visitor, you’ll need a non-resident saltwater fishing license, which is quick and inexpensive to grab online through the state’s DAR site before you head out.
Spearfishing in Kona
If you’re the type who likes to be right in the water with your catch rather than reeling it in from above, spearfishing might be the most memorable thing you do all trip. Kona is considered one of the best spearfishing destinations in the entire Pacific, thanks to warm, clear water and healthy reef life close to shore. Visitors are welcome to dive under the exact same rules as residents, so there’s no special permit standing between you and your first dive:
- Freediving only — scuba-assisted spearfishing is illegal statewide.
- Common legal catches include uhu, ta’ape, roi, and kole, depending on size and zone.
- Marine Life Conservation Districts (like Kealakekua Bay) and harbor areas are off-limits — check zone maps before you dive.
- New to it? You don’t need any experience or your own gear to try it. Local outfitters like Kona Freedivers or Top Shot Spearfishing run beginner-friendly guided trips, complete with wetsuits, fins, and a patient instructor to walk you through your first breath-hold dive.
However you choose to spend your time on the water — trolling for marlin, casting from the rocks at sunrise, or diving down for your own dinner — we hope Kona gives you a story worth telling when you get home. Tight lines and see you on the water!
– Big Island Stays team
