Reel Escapes Hawaii 

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!!

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!!

Booked the trip as a surprise for my fiancée’s birthday - day started a little slow and we were just happy to be on the water with a great team - then wound up bagging a good size Ono and a 200lb Blue Marlin…dinner and a show! He was so thrilled, and the Reel Escapes team was awesome, thank you guys for the best day ever!

We went out on a four-hour afternoon fish and hooked up on two great fish. The captain and crew were fun, knowledgeable, and educational, while maintaining safety as a top priority. This is a great trip for folks that like to fish; everyone on the boat is working their butt off to get you onto some fish. We caught two ono, one about 20 pounds and the other around 40-45 pounds. Put up a hell of a fight, but they were no match for Dave with the gaff!

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!!

I booked a 5-hour trip with Captain Brent two months in advance, and I was impressed when he called me personally within minutes of booking to welcome us. This is a top-tier operation. My wife, two sons, and I had an amazing time, but it’s important to know that this isn't like a standard charter out of Padre Island or Galveston where you're just looking to hit a limit on Red Snapper. This is about the "big game" experience. About an hour into the trip, my son hooked a beautiful Blue Marlin—easily one of the most exciting fish you can catch. Captain Brent and Rooster really know their stuff. They are total pros who made the entire trip fun and memorable for my whole family. If you're looking for a high-quality, professional fishing experience, I highly recommend booking with them.

We booked a 4-hour fishing trip with Reel Escapes Hawaii in Kailua-Kona and specifically asked ahead of time to target marlin, as it was a lifelong dream for both my son and me. The captain acknowledged this request in advance, and from the moment we arrived, it was clear how seriously he took it. The captain was extremely well prepared and thoughtful in his approach. He has a fleet of boats and intentionally selected the one that produced the least noise on the water to improve our chances. He checked in with other charters to find where Marlin had been most active, referenced his own detailed fishing log to choose the most successful lure, and rigged our lines accordingly. He even considered the moon phase to anticipate when fish were most likely to strike and actively searched for birds, explaining how they often work with game fish to trap baitfish. After about an hour of trolling, we hooked a marlin, but unfortunately, the hook didn’t set and came loose. Instead of moving on, the captain circled back and continued working the area. About an hour later, we hooked another marlin—and this time my son successfully brought it in. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for us. Even as our four hours were nearly up, the captain and deckhand kept trying to hook another fish. Their commitment, determination, and genuine desire to give us an unforgettable experience really stood out. This charter exceeded our expectations in every way, and I highly recommend Reel Escapes Hawaii to anyone looking for a professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated fishing experience in Kona.

We went on an 8 hour excursion with Capt. Brent and Deckhand Ian. It was truly amazing, they made the day so memorable for us! We caught a stripped marlin and it was truly a RUSH! Ian was the biggest help when reeling it in, he talked me through it and coached me like a champ! Both Brent and Ian kept the vibes high the whole time and the excursion flew by! They also kept us feeling safe and were thorough with the rules. I would highly recommend Reel Escapes with Capt Brent and Deckhand Ian! Cant wait to book again, next time we are back on the island! Mahalo!!!

Had a great experience with Captain Brent and TJ on the 6-hour trip. Hooked a Blue Marlin. Didn’t get it to the boat, but was fun still. Got a good picture of it jumping while on the line. Then went on to catch 2 Short Nose Speerfish and missing a few other bites. Knowing how tough these big water trips can be to get into something, getting the action we had was pretty awesome.

Beautiful day on the ocean! boat was wonderful, crew was amazing! They were professional but fun and did everything possible to get us a bite. One of the best parts of our vacation. We saw dolphins and a monk seal. The only thing that would have made it better was a catch, but maybe next time! We would highly recommend this crew and boat! Mahalo for a wonderful day!