13 Big Island Fishing Trips That Earn Their Price

1.Half Day Morning Fishing Charter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) Our pick

Meet Captain Shawn and the Kona Cowboy crew at Finger Pier J-8 for a private four-hour morning charter. The group is limited to four, gear and ice are provided, and you can aim for seasonal fish ranging from aku to blue marlin. Bring your own food and drinks, and plan to tip the captain and deckhand.

“Shawn and Bo at Kona Cowboy we’re great. They took us on a nice fishing trip down the Kona coast and told us so much about the island and history. We even caught a Wahoo and had it for dinner. The boat was in great shape and provided us with plenty of room and shade out of the sun. Well worth it and highly recommended.”

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2.Kona Hawaii Per Person Shared Fishing with Bite Me Sportfishing

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 43 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $166Best value

Spend about four hours fishing off Kona with Bite Me Sportfishing, in a shared group capped at six people. Captain Chad, Sandy, and the crew have helped anglers land marlin, tuna, and ono, though bites are never promised. Gear and an iced cooler are supplied. Bring food, drinks, sunscreen, and a fishing license.

“Very competent captain and first mate. We had a great experience. I’m not a person of many words so this last sentence is to here to make up the minimum character count.”

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3.6 Hour Fishing Charter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Set out from Kailua-Kona at 6:30 am aboard the private Kona Cowboy for up to four anglers. The crew tailors the day to your goals, from chasing blue marlin and yellowfin tuna to catching Aku with children. Tackle, bait, a cooler, and ice are provided. Bring your own food and drinks.

“They were super professional and polite. We are a family that is comfortable being outside and they were super mellow about us all being up top. Ryan, the deck hand, was almost more excited about us ALMOST snagging a huge blue marlin. He was very excited about our catch, the meat quality and size, which made it super fun! I have done other fishing guides who shuffle you off to get your catch cut up for a big price. I was a little surprised and happy that they simply tossed it on the table and began cutting it up. We also chatted about recipes and other things to do on…”

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4.Kona Hawaii Deep Sea Fishing experience on the Bite Me 4

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 29 reviews · 4 to 8 hours (approx.)

Book a private Kona fishing charter for up to six people aboard the Bite Me 4. The captain and crew provide rods, tackle, and fishing instruction, while you bring food, drinks, sunscreen, and a required fishing license. Expect roughly 4 to 8 hours at sea, with the chance to try several fishing methods.

“Our trip was scheduled for 6:30 am, we drove 45 minutes, arrived early, only to find out at 6:20 am that trip was cancelled ( I have the captains email). What a perfectly terrible experience, still haven’t gotten a refund, and we would have to given them 48 hours notice, hmmmmm, think they’ll reimburse us for gas and time, ha ha ha….”

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5.Kona – 5 Hours Private Fishing Charter in Kailua-Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · 5 hours (approx.)

Set out from Manta Adventures in Kailua-Kona for five hours of private trolling along Hawaii’s west coast. Your captain and mate handle the tackle while you fish at your own pace. Crews may include Brent, William, Dean, Logan, Rooster, or other Reel Escapes Hawaii staff. Marlin, ono, mahi mahi, and spearfish are possible catches.

“Brent and William were so nice! Brent explained a lot to us about fishing, tides, etc. The lures were the biggest I’ve ever seen. Fishing on Hawaii was a bucket list item for us and it was amazing!!! The day was beautiful and we enjoyed ourselves. We will definitely go again with them if we are blessed enough to come back ❤️”

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6.Half Day Afternoon Angler Charter

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Fish off Kailua-Kona on a private four-hour afternoon charter with Kona Cowboy Sport Fishing. Gaige and Bo may run the gear while you watch the lines and take over when a fish strikes. Equipment and an ice-filled cooler are included, and up to six people can share the boat, with room for four anglers.

“We spent the afternoon with three experienced marlin fisherman, who readily shared their experiences and knowledge. We learned a lot and even a caught a small marlin. Of course, we would have enjoyed another catch, but that’s fishing! Highly recommend this group for a fun fishing afternoon.”

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7.Kona – 6 Hour Private Fishing Charter Kona, Hawaii

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Set out from Kailua-Kona with a private crew for six hours of trolling, bait fishing, or bottom fishing when conditions allow. Dean, Claydo, Logan, and other Reel Escapes Hawaii crew members work for big game such as blue marlin, wahoo, and spearfish. Bring sunblock, layers, and patience.

“Experience was great. Just Captain and first mate along with my family. They were knowledge and took the time to make sure we and our child knew what to do when we caught a fish. The day was beautiful. Crew was polite and easy to talk with. Unfortunately we didn't catch any fish but they damn well tried. Covered alot of ground, just nothing was bitting. Would absolutely go again with this folks.”

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8.Kona Hawaii Fishing/Snorkel Large Group Private Charter on OE

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · 4 to 8 hours (approx.)

Set out from Kailua-Kona on a private 4 to 8 hour fishing charter for up to 10 people. Captain Taylor, Momi, Brad, and deckhand Nakai are among the crew named by past guests. Bring food, drinks, sunscreen, and a fishing license. Gear and an iced cooler are provided.

“Our crew was very helpful and taught us basic deep sea fishing skills. They were very friendly and entertained us while we waiting for fish to bite. When pilot whales were spotted they took us to the area to watch. Highly recommend this company!”

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9.Kona – 8 Hour Private Fishing Charter in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Join Reel Escapes Hawaii for an eight-hour private charter from Kailua-Kona. Captain Brent and crew explain the trolling setup, provide all tackle and bottled water, and shape the outing around your group’s goals. You can take an active hand or simply enjoy the open water while lines are set for big-game fish such as blue marlin.

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10.Kona Hawaii Fishing/Snorkel Large Group Private Charter on OE II

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 4 to 8 hours (approx.)

Set out from Kailua-Kona aboard OE II for a private 4 to 8-hour fishing and snorkel charter. Your captain and crew provide the boat, tackle, ice, and hands-on coaching. Bring lunch and drinks, request snorkel gear at least 24 hours ahead, and watch for marlin, bigeye tuna, spearfish, dolphins, whales, or turtles.

“Highly recommend Bite Me Sportfishing! Captain Brian was excellent as well as his crew Jason and Cory! Brian was super fun and played great music and kept the vibe fun and relaxing while also keeping an eye out for any signs of fish! We got to see pilot whales and a rare but beautiful whale shark! Captain Brian even took the extra time for us to see them up close! Captain Jason was super helpful with giving us instructions and ensuring our safety as well as helping us land a Mahi Mahi and a 84lb Blue Marlin!!! As for Cory, he was so kind and helpful with ensuring we had…”

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11.Kona Hawaii Deep Sea Fishing Escapade on the Bite Me 6

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Join Captain Brian and crew aboard the family-friendly 41-foot Bite Me 6 for a private Kona fishing trip of up to six people. Tackle and ice are supplied, while a fishing license is required. You may troll for marlin, tuna, mahi mahi, ono, spearfish, or wahoo, and spot dolphins or whales along the way.

“Another great day out fishing! This was our second trip out with Captain Brian and his crew, and they did another fantastic job! Left early morning to get live bait, which is where the fun starts! We all helped catch the live bait, which got the fishing started. We then set off to get what we set out for, fishing for something bigger! After some trolling with lures, we broke out the live bait and began fishing to catch something with fight. Within a few moments, we hooked a beautiful Yellow-fin Tuna. It put up a fight, but we were able to land it. After that catch, we had a…”

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12.Half Day Private Cruise Tour with Snorkeling and Fishing in Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 hours (approx.)

Spend about five hours on a private Ocean Blue Kona boat, cruising the Big Island’s west coast for snorkeling, fishing, and possible dolphin sightings. Your captain chooses between Captain Cook Monument, Makalawena, and other marine sanctuaries based on weather, crowds, and safety. Lunch, drinks, and dietary requests can be arranged.

“Our experience with Ocean Blue Kona was absolutely top-notch! They crafted a perfect pre-sunset private cruise for our family, complete with snorkeling in the stunning Captain Cook Bay. We enjoyed a delightful charcuterie spread and a selection of both adult and soft beverages while taking in the serene beauty of the bay. The evening was capped off with a breathtaking sunset on our way back, making it an unforgettable adventure.”

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13.4 Hour Private Sunset Fishing Charter

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

You’ll leave Manta Adventures in Kailua-Kona at 2 pm for a private four-hour fishing trip with Reel Escapes Hawaii. Your group of up to five gets all fishing gear, tackle, and bottled water while the crew targets large pelagic fish and uses information from earlier charters to guide the afternoon.

“Nice boat, Nice Crew, No Fish. This was our first fishing charter, we were so excited to go, unfortunately we even didn’t get a bite.”

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