Skillet Sportfishing 

4.9/5 (421 reviews)
 Kealakehe Parkway 74-380, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, United States

Skillet Sportfishing 

Kailua-Kona, HI, United States
32 ft
6
4.9/5 (421 reviews)

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Skillet Sportfishing and Captain John Burke wish you a warm welcome to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Captain John is a seasoned angler with over 5 decades of fishing, the majority of which he has spent fishing in Hawaii. He invites you to join him aboard on a trip to the areas' beautiful offshore waters and discover the richness this fishery has to offer. Captain John will do everything he can to provide an enjoyable and productive trip for each of his guests, regardless of their skills and fishing experience. Bring your family or friends and have a memorable time sportfishing in Hawaii.

Captain John owns and runs a 32' Topaz saltwater fishing boat that can safely take up to 6 guests. It is powered by twin 370HP Cummins engines and equipped with extensive navigation technology, making your ride to the fish smooth and quick. There's a very nice bathroom on board as well as a table and seating downstairs. The rest of the onboard amenities include a fighting chair, a livewell, an ice box, and various fishing gear.

Kona is the billfish capital of the world. There are more thousand pound marlin caught here than anywhere else. You and the crew may catch many other pelagic species but large blue marlin are what most anglers come to Kona to catch. To reel them in, you use heavy tackle/ trolling.

The crew will have all the fishing tackle and bait(provided they are biting). You should only bring food and drinks to stay energized while on the boat.

Upon request we will cut up a designated portion of the catch per charter to provide each charter guest onboard. Just enough fish to enjoy for a few meals while on island. Ahi over 100 pounds stays with the boat. Blue marlin over 100 pounds is strictly catch and release.

Fishing License (Nonresidents Only) – Visitors to Hawaii must have a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (NRMFL) to fish. Licenses are available online. PASSENGERS MUST BE 10 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

Skillet Sportfishing and Captain John Burke wish you a warm welcome to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Captain John is a seasoned angler with over 5 decades of fishing, the majority of which he has spent fishing in Hawaii. He invites you to join him aboard on a trip to the areas' beautiful offshore waters and discover the richness this fishery has to offer. Captain John will do everything he can to provide an enjoyable and productive trip for each of his guests, regardless of their skills and fishing experience. Bring your family or friends and have a memorable time sportfishing in Hawaii.

Captain John owns and runs a 32' Topaz saltwater fishing boat that can safely take up to 6 guests. It is powered by twin 370HP Cummins engines and equipped with extensive navigation technology, making your ride to the fish smooth and quick. There's a very nice bathroom on board as well as a table and seating downstairs. The rest of the onboard amenities include a fighting chair, a livewell, an ice box, and various fishing gear.

Kona is the billfish capital of the world. There are more thousand pound marlin caught here than anywhere else. You and the crew may catch many other pelagic species but large blue marlin are what most anglers come to Kona to catch. To reel them in, you use heavy tackle/ trolling.

The crew will have all the fishing tackle and bait(provided they are biting). You should only bring food and drinks to stay energized while on the boat.

Upon request we will cut up a designated portion of the catch per charter to provide each charter guest onboard. Just enough fish to enjoy for a few meals while on island. Ahi over 100 pounds stays with the boat. Blue marlin over 100 pounds is strictly catch and release.

Fishing License (Nonresidents Only) – Visitors to Hawaii must have a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License (NRMFL) to fish. Licenses are available online. PASSENGERS MUST BE 10 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

Skillet Sportfishing
Charter Operator
Skillet Sportfishing
38 years of experience
ID & credentials verified
responds within an hour

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Group Size:
Select date to see availability
July 2026
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Number of days
1
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Almost there...
4 Hour Trip
In high demand Last booked: 6 days ago
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
4 hour trip multiple starting times (6:30 AM, 1:00 PM)
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Marlin (Blue)
Tuna (Skipjack)
Tuna (Yellowfin)
+3
US $975
Entire boat: up to 6 people
6 Hour Trip
In high demand Last booked: 1 day ago
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 6:30 AM
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Marlin (Blue)
Tuna (Skipjack)
Tuna (Yellowfin)
+3
US $1,200
Entire boat: up to 6 people
8 Hour Trip
In high demand Last booked: 2 days ago
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
8 hour trip starts at 6:30 AM
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Marlin (Blue)
Tuna (Skipjack)
Tuna (Yellowfin)
+3
US $1,400
Entire boat: up to 6 people
There are 16 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

4.9
421 reviews
4.9
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
4.8
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (355)

What anglers say

96%
Great experience
85%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Good boat
97%
Recommended
67%
Caught fish

All reviews (421)

Frequently mentioned
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Showing 15 of 421 reviews
Aaron Polkoski
Aaron Polkoski
us
Arizona, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
New
Great charter!
4 Hour Trip - 1:00 PM on July 9, 20263 adults1 child

Excellent charter with experienced and professional crew. I’ve done a lot of offshore fishing on my own boat and charters, but the kids and family have not and this crew went out of their way to make the experience perfect for everyone. We’ve been on a Kona charter that has been nothing more than a boat ride, but Skillet was different in that they worked hard to get us on fish. We found some beautiful ahi to round out an exceptional day on the water. Don’t hesitate booking with Skillet.

Reported catch:
Yellowfin Tuna
Joseph Gil
Joseph Gil
us
Seattle, WA, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great Day on the Water – Highly Recommended Charter
6 Hour Trip on June 10, 20262 adults

I took my dad on a 6-hour fishing trip with Captain John Burke and his deckhand, Shawn, and it was an outstanding experience. I would definitely recommend booking a 6- or 8-hour trip, as the additional time significantly increases your chances of hooking into more fish. For anyone prone to seasickness, bringing Dramamine is a good idea, although the ride itself was quite comfortable and not rough at all. During our trip, we fought four fish in total—a wahoo, a spearfish, a striped marlin, and one fish that unfortunately came off after an impressive jump and head shake before we could identify it. We successfully landed two fish and released one. Captain John and Shawn did an excellent job throughout the day. They thoroughly explained the fishing process, demonstrated how to use the equipment, shared techniques, and taught us what to watch for while trolling. Everything was organized, prepared, and ready to go from the moment we stepped aboard. The crew was professional, knowledgeable, well-prepared, and personable. They made the trip both productive and enjoyable. Great people and great company. As a bonus, I even learned a new phrase from Shawn: “cuddle and release” instead of “catch and release”—which definitely gave us a good laugh! Highly recommended.

Skillet Sportfishing
Response from Charter operator

Hi Joe. Thank you very much for the great review! It was such an awesome day and a real pleasure to take you and your Dad fishing. Congratulations on your Ono and Striped marlin. we look forward to fishing with you again.

Josh Holt
Josh Holt
Repeat angler
us
Utah, US
Member since 2020
6 trips
5.0
Verified
hardest working captain and crew
6 Hour Trip on June 8, 20263 adults2 children

i have done nearly 20 guided fishing tours over the last several years and have generally always had a great experience….but this captain and first mate top them all. Captain John was great with me and my kids and worked hard to find us fish and made sure everyone was having a great time. And then there is his first mate Shawn, who worked harder than anyone i have been out fishing with trying everything under the sun to help us land a fish. He never stopped working, swapping things out, keeping the boat clean, trying something new, it was impressive. All while having fun, being very friendly, teaching me and my boys along the way. At the end of the day we were only able to land one Wahoo but that was not because of a lack of effort on the crew. And despite the slow day of fish, me and my boys had a wonderful day and really enjoyed being on the water with Captain John and Shawn.

Skillet Sportfishing
Response from Charter operator

Hi Josh. Thank you very much for the great review. I would just like to say that you and your family were such a pleasure to take fishing and spend the day with. Everyone was extremely patient and a lot of fun. Congratulations on your fish and we look forward to fishing with you again!

Chuck Chiddix
Chuck Chiddix
Repeat angler
us
Kansas, US
Member since 2026
2 trips
5.0
Verified
New
For our first trip it was great and memorable.
8 Hour Trip on June 15, 20263 adults

Even though we did not catch any fish ( any real angler knows it does happen) it was still a wonderful day on the ocean. Captian John and his crew mate Sean were knowledgeable and very friendly. They tried just about every lure in their arsenal. The boat was very clean and organized. We would definitely recommend and book them again. Thank you Captain John and Sean.

Skillet Sportfishing
Response from Charter operator

Hi Chuck. Thank you very much for the great review. I really appreciate the honesty and positive feedback. I’m sorry it wasnt our day out there but I look forward to taking you and your party out in the future .

Phillip Buffington
Phillip Buffington
Repeat angler
us
Arizona, US
Member since 2024
4 trips
5.0
Verified
New
Great day on Capt John's boat
4 Hour Trip - 1:00 PM on July 12, 20264 adults

I've gone out on Skillet with Capt John a number of times and highly recommend him. He's a great person who has like kind people crewing with him. Top notch equipment and John's experience gives you the best chance to catch fish. This time we came home with 3 big beautiful tunas! Last time, Marlins Just do it!

Reported catch:
Yellowfin Tuna

FAQs about Skillet Sportfishing

Skillet Sportfishing offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $975 per group - 4 Hour Trip (4 hours)
  • US $975 per group - 4 Hour Trip - 1:00 PM (4 hours)
  • US $1,200 per group - 6 Hour Trip (6 hours)
  • US $1,400 per group - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)
When you book a trip with Skillet Sportfishing, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet The bathroom or head on board is enclosed. The type of toilet is a vacuflush brand similar to what's on an airlines. Passengers are pleasantly surprised how clean it is when they use it.
  • Air conditioning
  • Fighting chair Professional fighting chair
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Bed
  • Live bait well When the bait are biting.
  • Outriggers Lee's outriggers
  • Tuna tubes When the bait are biting.
  • Ice box Please bring your own food and drinks.
Trips booked with Skillet Sportfishing include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle (130 class Shimano reels )
  • Live bait (Provided they are biting)
  • Lures ('''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''95 % of the pelagics are caught on lures''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''')
  • First mate ( )
Skillet Sportfishing offers the following type of fishing:
  • Offshore fishing (Big Game fishing)
Skillet Sportfishing offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Heavy tackle (130 class Shimano rods and reels)
  • Trolling (Species of fish vary throughout the year)
  • Deep sea fishing (No bottom fishing of any kind)
Top targeted fish species with Skillet Sportfishing include:
  • Marlin (Black)
  • Marlin (Blue)
  • Marlin (Striped)
  • Spearfish (Shortbill)
  • Tuna (Bigeye)
  • Tuna (Skipjack)

Your operator

Skillet Sportfishing
Skillet Sportfishing
Skillet Sportfishing

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States

ID & license verified
421 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since June 2022
Angler's Choice

The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.

Captain John's interest in fishing goes back to early childhood. He's been a fisherman for the past 50 years, 35 out of which in Hawaii. He holds a Captain's License from the US Coast Guard and has made a living in the guided fishing industry for the past 30 years. The four types of pelagic fish in the area that he loves to catch are Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Ono, and Tuna. Captain John treats everyone that steps foot on his boat with dignity and respect, and expects the same from each charter guest. He never assumes people have done this before and tries to show them the best time they can have while they're here fishing in Kona.

Our Team
John B.

John B.

Captain

ID & license verified
421 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since June 2022
Angler's Choice

The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.

Captain John's interest in fishing goes back to early childhood. He's been a fisherman for the past 50 years, 35 out of which in Hawaii. He holds a Captain's License from the US Coast Guard and has made a living in the guided fishing industry for the past 30 years. The four types of pelagic fish in the area that he loves to catch are Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Ono, and Tuna. Captain John treats everyone that steps foot on his boat with dignity and respect, and expects the same from each charter guest. He never assumes people have done this before and tries to show them the best time they can have while they're here fishing in Kona.

Our Team
John B.

John B.

Captain

The fish you can target

Black Marlin
Black Marlin
Blue Marlin
Blue Marlin
Striped Marlin
Striped Marlin
Shortbill Spearfish
Shortbill Spearfish
Bigeye Tuna
Bigeye Tuna
Skipjack Tuna
Skipjack Tuna
Black Marlin
Black Marlin
Blue Marlin
Blue Marlin
Striped Marlin
Striped Marlin
Shortbill Spearfish
Shortbill Spearfish
Bigeye Tuna
Bigeye Tuna

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Sportfishing boats
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
32 ft
Year built
2004
Boat manufacturer
Topaz
Boat type
Sportfishing
Engine model
Cummins
Powered by
2 x 370HP
Max cruising speed
20 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Offshore Fishing
Big Game fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Heavy Tackle
130 class Shimano rods and reels
Trolling
Species of fish vary throughout the year
Deep Sea Fishing
No bottom fishing of any kind

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet
The bathroom or head on board is enclosed. The type of toilet is a vacuflush brand similar to what's on an airlines. Passengers are pleasantly surprised how clean it is when they use it.
Air conditioning
Fighting chair
Professional fighting chair
GPS
Fishfinder
Bed
Live bait well
When the bait are biting.
Outriggers
Lee's outriggers
Tuna tubes
When the bait are biting.
Ice box
Please bring your own food and drinks.

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle
130 class Shimano reels
Live bait
Provided they are biting
Lures
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''95 % of the pelagics are caught on lures'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
First mate

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.

No smoking
Catch and release allowed
Species of fish vary throughout the year

How you can pay

Pay online in full

Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.

No additional fees.

What’s biting in Kailua-Kona right now

Marlin (Black)Marlin (Black)
Marlin (Blue)Marlin (Blue)
Marlin (Striped)Marlin (Striped)
Spearfish (Shortbill)Spearfish (Shortbill)
Spearfish (Shortbill)Spearfish (Shortbill)
Tuna (Bigeye)Tuna (Bigeye)
Tuna (Skipjack)Tuna (Skipjack)

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