Great Experience

Anglers' gallery (360)

What anglers say

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  Eric Pedersen

  Repeat angler

  

  Middlebury, CT, US

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  Member since 2019

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  3 trips

  0

  5.0

  Verified

  A truly fantastic experience - Captain Brent and his crew delivers

  5 Hour Fishing Escape on August 8, 2026 • 4 adults

  Brought my wife, son and daughter out on the Reel Escapes Innovator 33" for a 5 hour trip off the coast of Kona on the Big Island. We were fortunate with the weather but really fortunate to have selected this charter company. Captain Brent is a truly seasoned charter captain who knows the water, knows the fish and knows where to find them. We hooked up within an hour and then hooked up again within 3 hours of our trip - this time 3 rods at once - my daughter, son and I brought in 3 Otaru tuna simultaneously and had a most memorable time reeling them in together, wife operating the camera the whole time. The boat is immaculate and fitted out with the highest quality equipment. We rode in the tuna tower with the Captain the whole time (when we weren't busy reeling in fish), talking fishing, Hawaiian traditions, recipes etc. It would have been a very enjoyable trip without the fish, but the Captain is very skilled and determined. We came away with nearly 30 lbs of delicious fillets and family memories we will never forget...

  

  Response from Charter operator

  August 15, 2026

  Thank you so much for the incredible review! It was an absolute pleasure having your family out with us. That triple hookup with you, your son, and your daughter all fighting otaru at the same time was definitely a great moment, and having Mom on camera duty made it even better! I really enjoyed having you all up on the bridge, talking fishing, Hawaii, food, and everything in between. Those are the days that remind us why we love what we do. We’re glad you enjoyed the boat, the fishing, and especially those fresh tuna fillets! Thanks again for choosing Reel Escapes Hawaii and trusting us with part of your family vacation. We hope to get you all back out with us again someday! Aloha, Captain Brent

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  Karen Lowery

  Repeat angler

  

  St. Charles, MO, US

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  Member since 2024

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  4 trips

  0

  5.0

  Verified

  5 Star Day On The Water!

  6 Hour Fishing Escape on July 29, 2026 • 4 adults

  We had an incredible day with Captain Brent and TJ and caught a big tuna within the first hour of being on the water! Brent welcomed us first thing in the morning and walked us though all the safety guidelines and expectations for a safe and fun day on the boat. When we snagged a big tuna they coached my son Max through reeling in the big catch! Brent and TJ were super friendly and fun to hang out with all day! They went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and havig a good time! We had such a great time getting to know them and leaneing all about fishing on the big island. they also gave us great recommendations for the rest of our trip. we would love to come back and make more memories on the water with Reel Escape Hawaii!!! Thank you guys so much for an amazing day!!

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  Response from Charter operator

  July 31, 2026

  Mahalo so much for the incredible review! It was an absolute pleasure spending the day with your family. Congratulations to Max on landing that beautiful tuna! Watching him battle such an incredible fish within the first hour made for an unforgettable start to the day, and we're so glad we could be there to coach him through the experience. Thank you for the kind words about TJ and me. We love sharing our passion for Kona's unique big game fishery and helping our guests create memories that will last a lifetime. It means so much to hear you enjoyed not only the fishing but also getting to know us and learning more about the Big Island. We truly appreciate you choosing Reel Escapes Hawaii and are honored to have been part of your vacation. We can't wait to welcome your family back for another adventure on the water! With aloha, Captain Brent, TJ & The Reel Escapes Crew

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  Dennis Schmidt

  

  Minnesota, US

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  Member since 2026

  1

  5.0

  Verified

  Never give up

  6 Hour Fishing Escape on May 20, 2026 • 2 adults

  Captain Dean and First mate Logan put us on Ahi within the first half hour. Unfortunately, we didn’t get hooks in either one. It was a slow bite for the rest of our trip, fishing deep, then shallower, we covered a lot of water. It was less than two minutes before Logan was going to pull lines for the day when “pop” and the fish was on. My wife, Darlene, nervously took the chair. Logan got her buckled in and the fight was on. Less than five minutes later she had a very rare, Short billed spearfish boat side. A few pictures and the fish lives to fight another day. Both Captain Dean and First mate Logan are professionals in their field. They did everything exactly as they should have to make sure we got the fish boat sided without losing it. They were always communicating with each other along with giving words of encouragement to my wife and letting her know what the next moves were. Fantastic job by the crew, an amazing and memorable experience, and we most certainly recommend Reel Escapes Hawaii for your fishing experience. Top notch!!

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  Reported Catch

  

  

  Response from Charter operator

  May 21, 2026

  Mahalo for such an incredible review and for sharing your experience with us! That’s exactly why we never quit early, you just never know when that last-minute bite is going to happen. Getting a shot at ahi right away definitely had everyone excited, and while they didn’t stick, it sounds like the ocean had one more surprise waiting for Darlene at the very end! A short billed spearfish is an incredibly special catch and not something many anglers get to experience. We’re so glad Logan and Dean were able to guide her through the fight and help make it such a memorable moment. Communication and teamwork are a huge part of successfully landing these fish, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to both of them. Thank you again for trusting us with your Kona fishing adventure and for recognizing the effort the crew puts in every day. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you both back out on the water again someday! With aloha, Brent & The Reel Escapes Crew

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  David Molina

  

  California, US

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  Member since 2026

  0

  5.0

  Verified

  Absolutely Fantastic

  5 Hour Fishing Escape on April 2, 2026 • 2 adults

  When planning our family trip to Kona, an excursion to try big game fishing with my son was a must. I reviewed every option I could find and eventually ended up booking with Reel Escapes Hawaii because of their reviews and customer feedback. If you are in the same situation trying to decide which charter to book, you can end your search right here and book with Reel Escapes Hawaii. Captain Brent and his deckhand (Dave) were absolutely AWESOME and made our experience even that much more memorable. In a society where customer service and providing a customer experience has become an afterthought, it’s refreshing to know there are still small business owners like Captain Brent who make the experience for the customer their main focus and priority. If I could give more than 5-stars, I would because that’s what is truly deserved based on the experience my son and I had aboard the Reel Escapes Hawaii. 10/10!!

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  Reported Catch

  

  

  Response from Charter operator

  April 3, 2026

  Aloha David, Wow… thank you so much for this. Truly. Reading this means more than I can properly put into words. The fact that you trusted us with something as important as a trip like this with your so, and that it lived up to (and exceeded) those expectations, truly means everything to us. We know there are a lot of options out there, and it’s not something we take lightly when someone chooses to spend their time with us. Hearing that the experience stood out, not just the fishing but the way you were treated, is exactly what we strive for every single day. Dave and I had an absolute blast with you both. Those shared moments out on the water, especially between a parent and their kid, are what make this job so special. It reminds me of my time spent with my father when we would fish for hours. Sometiumes catching, sometimes not. It’s never just about the fish, it’s about the memories that come with it, and we’re really grateful we got to be a part of yours. Your words about customer service honestly mean the world. That’s the foundation of everything we do, and knowing it came through like that makes all the effort worth it. Thank you again for taking the time to write this and for choosing us. We truly hope to have you both back out with us again someday. With aloha, Captain Brent

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  Mike Mason

  Repeat angler

  

  Florida, US

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  Member since 2023

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  2 trips

  0

  5.0

  Verified

  Great crew, great trip

  5 Hour Fishing Escape on June 22, 2026 • 2 adults

  Went out with Captain Brent and Clayton. Unfortunately, we didnt manage to catch anything, but thats just how it goes sometimes. Clayton was out there changing tackle and Brent was trolling as much water as he could. They did evetything they could to put us in the fish! It was still a great time being on the water so no regrets just because the fish didn’t cooperate. They were both great conversationalists and took the time to point out various other wildlife we saw lime the pilot whales, oceanic whitetip sharks, and some bird species.

  

  Response from Charter operator

  July 7, 2026

  Mahalo for the fantastic review! We really appreciate your understanding that sometimes, despite everyone's best efforts, the fish just don't cooperate. That's the reality of big game fishing, and we're grateful you recognized how hard Clayton and I worked to try to make it happen. One of the things we love most about being on the water is that there's always something incredible to see. Pilot whales, oceanic whitetip sharks, and the variety of seabirds all help make every trip unique, even when the fish are being stubborn. Thank you for making the most of the experience and for the great conversation throughout the day. Guests like you make our job easy, and we'd love the opportunity to get you back out for another shot at the fish next time! With aloha, Captain Brent, Clayton & The Reel Escapes Crew