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Jennifer De Bakker
Jennifer De Bakker
ca
Ontario, Canada
•
Member since 2025
5.0
Verified

A morning of marlin!

6 Hour Fishing Escapes1 adult

What an unforgettable adventure! We booked a fishing charter with Reel Escapes aboard the A'u Nui, and from start to finish, it was an amazing experience. The staff was incredibly helpful and took the time to answer all of our questions, making the booking process smooth and easy. The boat was spacious, extremely clean, and honestly, I wish it was mine! It made the entire day feel even more comfortable and enjoyable. We kicked off the trip with a spectacular sighting of humpback whales just outside the harbor, setting the tone for an epic day ahead. Throughout the day, we were treated to playful dolphins and even encountered a pod of pilot whales right next to the boat! The highlight? Catching a blue marlin—I’ve been dreaming of that moment my whole life! The crew was incredibly supportive and guided us through every step of reeling it in, making the seemingly daunting task easy! We also hooked a mahi mahi, which we brought to a local restaurant to cook it up for a delicious dinner. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I can’t wait for our next trip to Kona! If you want an unforgettable experience, contact Reel Escapes. We can't recommend them enough. The crew was fantastic, the day was filled with unforgettable moments, and the overall experience was nothing short of exceptional. Thank you for making our adventure one to remember!

Reported Catch
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Blue Marlin
Blue Marlin
Response from Charter operator

Aloha Jennifer, Thanks so much for the great review and the super kind words! We had a great time with your group and we knew it was going to be a great day with such an epic showing of whales right out of the harbor! Honestly, probably one of the best shows we've had so far this year! Captain Dan and I really appreciated your enthusiasm and positive optimism all day. It was super fun. Of course catching a marlin always makes for a great adventure, but the whole day was a ton of fun as well. Hope you can all make it back again. With aloha, Captain Brent

Compare similar fishing charters

Current
Reel Escapes Hawaii – A'u Nui
Reel Escapes Hawaii – A'u Nui
4.9
(68)
40 ft
Group size 1 - 6
1 - 6
Fish 1
Fish 2
+5
4 hour trip • 6 persons
US $1,075

Rating

4.9
68 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
4.8
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

  • 97%
    Great experience
  • 100%
    Family friendly
  • 100%
    Friendly captain
  • 100%
    Good boat
  • 99%
    Recommended
  • 75%
    Caught fish

All reviews (68)

Showing 1 – 5 of 68 reviews
  • Ashley Smotherman
    Ashley Smotherman
    us
    Montana, US
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Great Day on the Water!

    6 Hour Trip — Fishing Escape • 4 adults • 1 child

    We had a great experience from start to finish. From booking the trip to getting back to the dock, everything was easy and well organized. They were upfront from the beginning about it being a slower fishing season, which we really appreciated because it helped us set our expectations. They were also super communicative and accommodating, especially when we decided to add two family members to the trip at the last minute. We had a pretty slow start, but about four hours in we hooked a 100-pound yellowfin. They also found a school of aku so our boys could reel in some fish too, which was such a fun bonus and made the trip even more special for our family. Captain Dan and Logan were awesome! They were extremely knowledgeable, patient, and accommodating, and you could genuinely tell they wanted us to catch fish just as much as we did. They worked hard to give us the best experience possible, and we really appreciated it. We had an absolute blast and would 100% recommend this charter! We’ll definitely be booking with them again next time we’re in Hawaii!

    Reported Catch
    Skipjack Tuna
    Yellowfin Tuna
    Response from Charter operator

    Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We really appreciate your understanding about the slower fishing and are thrilled it paid off with a 100-pound ahi! Getting the boys into the aku made it even better. Captain Dan and Logan will appreciate the kind words. Thanks for choosing Reel Escapes Hawaii and making us part of your family’s memories!

  • Katie Van
    Katie Van
    us
    Utah, US
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    great captain; great crew; great boat;

    8 Hour Trip — Fishing Escape • 6 adults • 2 children

    Captain Dan and Logan were awesome! communication was great. They were very transparent ahead of time about current fishing conditions and catch rates which we really appreciated. especially right after LaLa. We decided it was worth trying. They hustled all day! Switching out gear, circling areas and trying different techniques. They put in the effort! The boat is awesome. comfortable air conditioned cabin. great table to play games at and plenty of space for naps. No fish, but the ocean isn’t a vending machine. It was a great day, we would definitely book with them again!

    Response from Charter operator

    Thank you so much for the fantastic review and, especially, for understanding what fishing is all about! “The ocean isn’t a vending machine” says it perfectly. Captain Dan and Logan truly hustle from start to finish, and we’re glad you could see how much effort they put into trying to make it happen, especially with the conditions following Hurricane LaLa. We really appreciate you recognizing our transparency about the fishing conditions as well. We always want our guests to know what’s happening before they make the decision to head out. It sounds like you made the most of the day and enjoyed the boat along the way! We’d absolutely love to have you back, and hopefully next time the ocean decides to cooperate! Aloha!

  • David Giordani
    David Giordani
    Repeat angler
    us
    California, US
    •
    Member since 2019
    •
    5 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    First Blue Marlin and Shortbill Spearfish

    6 Hour Trip — Fishing Escape • 4 adults • 1 child

    4 of us hit the water on Saturday at 6:30 AM for a 6-hour trip. My best friend’s son caught his first ocean fish a Shortbill Spearfish. The 2nd up was his dad and he caught his first Blue Marlin (roughly 200 lbs). 3rd up was my wife, she battled 2 shark bits but came up dry. I was the 4th at bat and enjoyed watching the other 3 have a good time. The weather was perfect and Captain Dan and first mate Logan made it an even better experience. Thank you again for a great day on the water! David, Kristin, Jon, Joshua

    Response from Charter operator

    Mahalo for the awesome review, David! What a fantastic day on the water! Watching Joshua catch his **first ocean fish—a short-billed spearfish—**was incredibly special, and then following that up with Jon's first blue marlin at around 200 pounds made for an unforgettable trip. While the sharks managed to get the better of Kristin's fish this time, that's all part of the adventure when fishing in Kona's waters! And sometimes being the fourth angler means getting the best seat in the house to watch everyone else battle fish and make memories. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Captain Dan and Logan. Thank you for spending the day with us, and we're thrilled that the weather, fishing, and company all came together for such a memorable experience. Hope to see all four of you back in Kona for another adventure soon! With aloha, Brent, Captain Dan, Logan & The Reel Escapes Crew

  • Nan Kuhn
    Nan Kuhn
    us
    Oregon, US
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Awesome time!

    8 Hour Trip — Fishing Escape • 6 adults

    Captain Dan and Deckhand Logan were super accommodating to our foursome! We did an 8 hour excursion on the A'u Nui and were excited with a couple of catches that put up the good fight! The charter boat itself was ideal with plenty of seating in and out~ AC , kitchen area and a nice bathroom! I would highly encourage this charter to anyone looking for a great time in Kona! Thanks again guys! Nan

    Response from Charter operator

    Mahalo, Nan! We're so glad you had a great day aboard the A'u Nui! We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to Captain Dan and Logan. It's great to hear you enjoyed the boat's comfort and landed a couple of hard-fighting fish along the way. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to fish with you again on your next trip to Kona! With aloha, Brent & The Reel Escapes Crew

  • Tracy Lorance
    Tracy Lorance
    us
    Texas, US
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Captain Dan and Logan

    6 Hour Trip — Fishing Escape - 12:00 PM • 4 adults

    We had a great time even though we didnt catch anything. We had 2 bites, saw some pilot whales and we had a relaxing time. My husband is fisherman and he enjoyed chatting with Capt Dan and Logan learning alot about the fish and such. Would definitely do it again! Mahalo 🤙

    Response from Charter operator

    Mahalo for the great review! We're so glad you had a great time, even though the fish didn't quite cooperate. Two bites, a pod of pilot whales, and a relaxing day on the beautiful Kona coast still make for a memorable adventure! We're especially happy to hear your husband enjoyed talking fishing with Captain Dan and Logan. They both love sharing their knowledge of Kona's unique big game fishery and enjoy connecting with fellow anglers. Thank you for the kind words, and we truly appreciate your understanding that sometimes that's just how fishing goes. We'd love to welcome you both back for another adventure and hopefully put a fish in the boat next time! With aloha, Brent, Captain Dan, Logan & The Reel Escapes Crew