Skillet Sportfishing 

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.

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.

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.

Amazing experience. Highly recommend. Captain John was knowledgeable & helped us catch a 750lb Marlin. We also caught 2 spearfish. Deion was a fantastic deck hand and very supportive. This was a great trip for both experienced & novices. They were so funny, and kept us laughing throughout the trip. The weather wasn’t cooperating with the original date we booked, Captain John was wonderful about working with us to find another time during our stay in Hawaii.

We had an incredible morning on the water with Captain John and his crew. From the moment we stepped on board, they made the trip feel special with their great storytelling, humor, and deep knowledge of the ocean. They kept us entertained and engaged the whole time, turning the trip into more than just fishing—it was an experience. The real highlight came when my wife hooked into a beautiful Ono. The crew’s excitement and encouragement made the catch even more memorable. Later, we prepared the fresh Ono into amazing blackened fish tacos with mango salsa—hands down one of the best meals we’ve ever had. Captain John and his team go above and beyond to create not just a fishing trip, but a lasting memory. Highly recommend them if you want a fun, professional, and unforgettable day on the water!