Marlin Charters in Kauai, Hawaii

[Sluggoslinger]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

I've done lots of shore fishing on both Kauai and the big island. My experience in Kauai is limited to the Poipu area. Let me know if you need info. I never charterd out of Kauai but have many tomes out of Honakahu.

What did you get shore fishing out of Poipu? Did you do it off the rocks. I've heard you can chunk for bonefish but they are deep there since Hawaii really doesn't have any flats... When you get a chance I'd love to talk with you before I go so I know what to bring.

[american spirit]

i've been here on kauai for the past 5 or 6 days. from my experience and talking with some locals the shore fishing is not very good this time of year (october - december).

lots of people are taking boats to head out and catch some ono, ahi, and mahi.

there are some smaller fish that keep close to the shore. i do not recall the names. i've seen local fisherman on almost every beach i've been on. they have not produced. the surf is incredibly rough now and the current will easily drag a 155 lb man right out to sea (speaking from experience )

i've seen alot of conventional set ups with chunk bait.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Sluggoslinger

What did you get shore fishing out of Poipu? Did you do it off the rocks. I've heard you can chunk for bonefish but they are deep there since Hawaii really doesn't have any flats... When you get a chance I'd love to talk with you before I go so I know what to bring.

Bonefish, lizardfish, needlefish, trumpet fish, goatfish, Papio, filefish, trigerfish, some kind of black grouper with purple spots, and a fish that looked like a sunny with horizontal black bands.

[fishpoopoo]

my last trips out were on the big island and Maui in the month of June.

we boated yft (ahi), a wahoo (ono, I think) and dolphin (mahi).

do your homework! tides DO matter, even though you are in deep water within eyesight of the dock.

there are a ton of charter boats. avoid the ones affiliated with or suggested by hotels (tourist traps).

most of the offshore fishing is fittingly called the hawaiian circle jerk. troll a bird around an island etc for half a day. equipment won't be terribly fancy ... large Penn Senators, etc.

i found the inshore action to be a lot more fun - especially while snorkeling. find a reef and you'll find fish!

[Adrian]

Just got back from Kauai - big time rain this week. We have a timeshare over in Princeville and this is usually my non-fishing trip to build up a big stash of good-will points for the rest of the year

I chartered with Captain Don's a couple of year ago. Cool guy based in Nawiliwili harbor. Just a short hop to deep water and great fishing. Big swells during the winter months. I chartered in April and there were plenty of Mahi Mahi to 20lb, Skipjacks and Ono. They nailed a baby (150lb) blue marlin the previous week. I also tried fly casting from shore but the big surf made it impossible to get near the best spots on the reef. Hooked up a bunch of trumpet fish and all sorts of colorful critters.

There is a great general guide book "Kauai Revealed" by Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman (Wizard publications). Its got aerial pics of all the beaches/inshore reefs and good directions etc. You can see the likely spots to wet a line.