Everybody knows of Oahu as the most popular Hawaii island, home of the state’s capital and Barack Obama. What anglers remember more than anything is that fishing here is off the hook. Oahu fishing charters can put you on the bite of an impressive number of species, you just have to choose what to target.
The fishing diversity of Oahu is fantastic. These warm Pacific waters are brimming with game fish and the seafloor drops to over 1,000 feet just a mile from shore. This means that monster pelagics like Yellowfin Tuna (Ahi), Marlin, Shortbill Spearfish, Wahoo (Ono), and Mahi Mahi are all in the cards.
There’s also plenty to fish for around Oahu’s vibrant reefs. You can go after Trevallies, Wrasse, and Triggerfish, or focus on bottom fishing and reel in Grouper, Snapper, and Green Jobfish. Sandy flats hide a strong population of Bonefish. You can even go freshwater fishing for Bass, Snakehead, and Tilapia.
As you can see, the variety of species you can catch in Oahu is fascinating. That’s why there’s a good number of Oahu fishing charters that can take you to them. You can go after bragworthy pelagics even on half day trips, because the fish feed so close to shore. If you want to battle your catch while your family is snorkeling, pick a combo excursion.
Honolulu is the fishing hub of the island where you’ll easily find a professional guide, and Haleiwa is another famous location.
Rules & Regulations
When you’re going saltwater fishing in Oahu, you don’t need a fishing license. However, if you’re exploring freshwater, you’ll need to buy a valid license. In Oahu, it’s common to keep all the fish you catch (even Billfish) and share it with the crew, so consult your captain about their release policy.