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

Kona’s offshore waters can turn a family outing into a serious fishing story fast. On OE II, you can troll for blue marlin, bigeye tuna, spearfish, and other prized fish, then switch gears for snorkeling or wildlife viewing if the captain and conditions allow. Past outings with Bite Me crews have produced marlin fights lasting hours, fresh fish for dinner, and close looks at dolphins and whales.

I like the private format for up to 10 people, since your group controls the pace and does not share the boat with strangers. I also like the practical setup: fishing gear, ice, and a crew that coaches first-timers through the fight. The main drawback is simple: fishing is never guaranteed, and a full day can include long stretches of trolling with no bite.

Key things to know before you book

• Big-fish country: Kona is known for blue marlin, spearfish, tuna, mahi mahi, ono, and other offshore catches.
• Private boat, up to 10 people: The price covers your whole party, not just one seat.
• Bring your own provisions: Lunch, snacks, and drinks go in the onboard cooler, but glass bottles are not allowed.
• Crew coaching matters: Captains and mates can help children and first-timers handle the rod, chair, line, and fish safely.
• Snorkeling needs advance notice: Request equipment at least 24 hours before departure if you want to add time in the water.
• Plan for flexibility: The charter lasts roughly 4 to 8 hours, depending on the trip you choose, the weather, and the day’s fishing plan.

Leaving Kailua-Kona on OE II

Your day begins at Bite Me Sportfishing, located at 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, Unit 1, in Kailua-Kona. Check in 15 minutes before departure. That buffer is useful, especially if your group includes children, fishing newcomers, or anyone still organizing lunch and drinks.

The office also sells Bite Me logo gear and handles bookings for other ocean trips, including reef snorkeling and manta ray night snorkeling. For this charter, though, your focus is OE II and the open water beyond the Kona coast.

The boat is reserved for your party of up to 10 people. That changes the feel of the outing. You are not negotiating rod time with a boatload of strangers, and the captain can shape the day around your group’s interests. One person may want to fish hard all morning, while another hopes to see whales, dolphins, or turtles. A private charter gives the crew more room to work with those wishes.

Still, private does not mean the ocean follows a schedule. You may get a fast start with multiple hookups, or you may troll for hours while waiting for the right fish. That uncertainty is part of sportfishing, but it is worth discussing with your group before you book.

What fishing on the Kona Coast really involves

Kona fishing is built around patience. You will likely spend much of the trip moving through offshore water while lines trail behind the boat. This is sometimes called mowing the lawn, and it can feel slow until a fish hits.

Then the mood changes in an instant. A marlin can turn a quiet morning into a demanding fight. One family outing produced a blue marlin of roughly 160 pounds, a striped marlin around 65 pounds, and another blue marlin near 250 pounds. In another trip, a blue marlin reportedly weighed 437 pounds after a fight that lasted about two and a half hours.

Those catches are exciting examples, not promises. The crew’s job is to give you the best chance by reading the water, setting the gear, and adjusting tactics. On a slower day, a captain may switch attention to ono or another target fish. One trip produced an ono only about half a mile from shore when the offshore bite was poor. That kind of tactical change is where an experienced crew earns its keep.

You should also expect the crew to teach you as you go. First-timers may receive help with the rod, reel, harness, and fighting chair. In one successful outing, a mate coached a novice through landing a young blue marlin after a double hookup. Another group had children take turns with marlin while the crew kept instructions clear and safety in view.

The fishing is not passive sightseeing. Even a smaller fish can demand steady work. Ask for help early rather than trying to prove you can manage alone. The crew can show you how to keep pressure on the fish without wearing yourself out.

Marlin, tuna, spearfish, and fresh fish for dinner

Blue marlin is the headline catch along this coast, but it is not the only possibility. The charter description calls out bigeye tuna and spearfish, while past trips have also produced striped marlin, mahi mahi, ono, and yellowtail.

The fish may be released or kept, depending on the species, regulations, and the captain’s direction. On several outings, the crew cleaned and portioned legal fish so the group could take some home. A family shared striped marlin with the crew and ate it later that evening. Another group received enough ono for two dinners.

That is one of the nicest parts of a successful fishing day. You do not just have photographs and a sea story. You may also have fresh local fish for your final meal on the Big Island. Ask the crew what can be kept and how the catch will be handled before you set out.

You may also see animals that have nothing to do with the fishing lines. Past trips included pilot whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and a rare whale shark. One captain took extra time to let a group see marine life more closely. These sightings depend entirely on nature, so treat them as an added possibility rather than a scheduled part of the trip.

Snorkeling and wildlife viewing between fishing runs

This is primarily a fishing charter, but the boat can also work for a group that wants more than one kind of ocean day. You can ask about snorkeling, dolphin watching, or whale watching, depending on the conditions and the captain’s plan.

The key practical point is equipment. Snorkel gear is not automatically included. Request it from the office at least 24 hours before departure. Bring your own sunscreen, since that is also not supplied.

A mixed group can make good use of the private format. Strong anglers can focus on trolling while others look for wildlife or take a swim when the captain approves. A past multigenerational group, with ages from 8 to 82, combined fishing, dolphin swimming, and whale watching in one day, including a fish over 80 pounds.

Do not treat this as a guaranteed snorkel stop with a fixed reef itinerary. The supplied details leave the exact water time flexible. Conditions, fish activity, and the captain’s judgment will shape the day. If snorkeling is your main goal, Bite Me’s dedicated reef or manta ray trips may be a better fit. If you want fishing first with some room for ocean sightseeing, OE II makes more sense.

What the crew adds to the day

A fishing charter lives or dies by its crew. The boat and rods matter, but clear instruction matters just as much when a large fish takes the line.

Bite Me’s captains and mates have included Brian Harnden, Darin Castoro, Cam, Jason, Cory, Nate, Lee, Taylor, Curtis, Anthony, Kalin, and Tiger on past trips. Crew assignments can vary, so do not assume a particular captain will be aboard OE II on your date. What you can expect from the operation is hands-on help with the equipment, fish handling, safety, and the general flow of the day.

Several captains have been praised for keeping the mood relaxed while still watching the water closely. Music, conversation, and a light touch can help during long trolling stretches. When a fish hits, the tone changes quickly and the mate takes over with practical instructions.

That balance is especially useful for families. Children can participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult. A captain may help a young angler manage the rod while a mate handles the line and landing work. You should still be ready for a long fight, especially if a marlin takes the bait.

The crew may also tag and release a fish rather than bring it aboard. One blue marlin around 250 pounds was tagged and released, while other legal fish were brought in and divided. The decision depends on the fish and the captain’s direction.

The price: better value for a full group

The listed price is $1,938.82 for up to 10 people. That works out to about $194 per person if you fill every place, before your own food, drinks, sunscreen, and any required fishing license.

For a couple or a small family, that total is a serious expense. For a group of 8 to 10, the math looks much better than buying individual seats on separate boats. You are paying for privacy, boat time, tackle, ice, and crew attention, not just transportation over the water.

The value improves if your group has mixed interests. A dedicated angler may spend the morning chasing marlin, while another person watches for whales or dolphins. You can bring your own lunch and adult beverages, which keeps food costs under your control. Use cans or plastic containers, not glass bottles.

The biggest value question is your attitude toward uncertainty. If you need a guaranteed catch, this is not a safe purchase. If you enjoy the process and understand that a successful day may mean hours of waiting followed by one dramatic hookup, the charter offers a memorable use of a half or full day.

The available duration is approximately 4 to 8 hours. A half-day suits visitors with tight schedules or mixed plans. The full-day option gives the crew more time to find fish and gives you a better chance of experiencing a major fight, but it also demands more patience and costs more in time, energy, and food planning.

How to prepare for OE II

Pack as if you will spend the day in sun, wind, and spray. Bring:

• Lunch and plenty of drinks
• Sunscreen
• A hat and clothing that can handle saltwater
• Non-glass containers for adult beverages
• Motion-sickness medication if you normally need it
• A camera or phone protected from spray

The provided cooler has ice, so you do not need to bring your own cooler. Food and beverages are not included, and you should not count on an onboard meal.

If you want to snorkel, contact the office at least 24 hours ahead to request equipment. Fishing gear is included, but a fishing license is required. Confirm the current license process when you book, since the supplied information does not say if the charter arranges it or if you must obtain it yourself.

Children are welcome with an accompanying adult. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but this remains an active ocean outing. You may need to stand, handle equipment, and spend long periods exposed to sun and boat movement.

The cancellation terms are fair but firm. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted for a refund. Poor weather can cancel the trip, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

Who should book this private Kona charter?

I would recommend OE II to a group that wants a real fishing day rather than a short sightseeing cruise. It fits families, fishing friends, multigenerational groups, and anyone with a bucket-list marlin in mind.

It is also a good choice when your party has different interests. The private boat lets you combine fishing with wildlife watching and, if arranged ahead, snorkeling. That flexibility is harder to get on a shared trip.

I would hesitate if your group dislikes uncertain schedules, prolonged trolling, or the physical work of landing a fish. I would also steer a snorkeling-first group toward a dedicated snorkel trip. The boat can support a wider ocean day, but the main purpose here is fishing.

Book it if you can fill most of the 10 seats, bring your own provisions, and accept that the ocean may give you a record-worthy marlin or only a long, quiet ride. The strongest reason to choose this charter is the chance to share a serious fishing experience with your own group, with a crew ready to coach you when the line finally screams.

FAQ

Where does the charter meet?

Meet at Bite Me Sportfishing, 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, Unit 1, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740. The trip returns to the same meeting point.

How early should I arrive?

Check in 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

How many people can join the private charter?

The rate covers up to 10 people in your party. Only your group participates in the private activity.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Bring your own lunch, snacks, and drinks. Adult beverages are allowed, but glass bottles are not.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Snorkel equipment is available upon request. Notify the office at least 24 hours before departure if you need it.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the charter to be canceled.