Big Island Shore Fishing

Shore Fishing Spots On The Kohala Coast & Kona Coast

There are some choice spots for shore fishing where you can cast off along the coastline, minutes away from Aloha Vacation Cottages. Pack your lunch and make a day of it. The official State beach parks provide picnic tables and grills to BBQ your catch….or eat it at one of the best restaurants on the Big Island…the BBQ on your private lanai at your cottage!Charter fishing boats are expensive. If you’re on a budget (who isn’t) or you just want to spend a quiet day casting off, shore fishing is free! You don’t need a license or expensive tackle to fish from Hawaii’s lava shores, protected bays and sandy beaches. You might even end up meeting a local resident to share bait with and “talk story”.

This is a little contribution about shore fishing / fly fishing on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Courtesy of Michael Bolte.

Tackle
For the last ten years I’ve taken a rod (Sage XP 8wt 4 piece originally, and I have recently switched to a Sage Xi2 8wt) and a couple dozen flies every time I go to the Big Island and have spent my free time starting to learn the beaches and the fly-fishing ropes. Big Island shore fishing is relaxing…and you can pass time making a day of it. If you are heading there, take a rod. The Hawaii waters are beautiful and there are many wonderful areas to be found with some exploring. Shore fishing is very popular among locals. At some of the beaches I go to, there are usually local guys …and I don’t want to intrude on their fishing spots. But, by being polite, respectful and talking fishing can usually keep things friendly.

Other Gear
I use a fast 8wt and used to always use shooting heads, mostly an intermediate 9wt 30′ head. Sometimes I switch to a type III or IV sinking head. I like the intermediate 0.31″ running line from Scientific Anglers (it is the light-blue stuff). Easy to handle and it doesn’t tangle too seriously. The last few trips I’ve switched to a full-length intermediate line. I have the “Bermuda Triangle Taper” line from Wulff lines. I cut about a foot off the front taper to make it a little more WF and love the line. I end up roll casting a lot and it works great for that. It only comes in clear in the intermediate. At first, I didn’t care for that, but I’ve grown to like it just fine. My typical `leader’ is 3 feet of 20lb Maxima and 3 feet of 12lb Maxima. The wind can blow a lot and pretty hard at times in Hawaii (trade wind). If it is too wild where I am fishing, I go someplace else looking for protection via cliffs or trees. The rocks can be extremely slippery. I tried lots of different water shoes and sandals that supposedly have sticky rubber, but have switched over to these ugly little sock booties with felt bottoms (called tabis) for $20 in lots of stores in Hawaii. They work very well.

There are several types of Trevally you can catch from shore. I’ve mostly caught Blue-fin Trevally (`omilu) and they are a blast in any size. The big boys I’ve seen caught and sometimes seen nosing around in the shallow water are Giant Trevally (`papio’ as juveniles and `white ulua’ when grown up) The Blue-fin trevally seem to be at most every beach wherever there is some structure. They are most common in the size range between 1/2 and 3 lbs. At 3 lbs they are very powerful fish, not overmatched at all by an 8wt. I’ve caught them on shrimp/bonefish patterns, deceivers, bunny leeches and epoxy minnows. The key is speed of the retrieve.

It is common to catch these blind casting. Anywhere you can cast into water with a little depth (usually off the lava edges) toss out as far as you can, count down so you start near the bottom and two-hand strip like crazy. Fish will flash out of nowhere (seemingly). Another place to find them is in or just beyond breaking waves. I think an accelerating retrieve is most effective. Start out fast and then go faster. They seem to be visually sensitive to fishermen so keep moving. Even more fun is to keep your eyes peeled for singles and pairs of larger trevally cruising rapidly along the beach or nosing around in the rocks. Twice now I’ve seen 30lb fish right at my feet when I walk up to the shore line. Lead them and do the fast strip in their line of sight. Places where I see bigger fish are at Kona Coast State Park, the Kawaihae jetties and the A-bay `flats’. I have not quite figured out the time-of-year variable. It seems that summer is a little better for the larger trevally. Early mornings (unfortunately even pre-dawn) look like the best times.
Barracuda – do not eat!

There are two species of barracuda in the near-shore waters. The Great Barracuda (Kaku) and the slimmer, smaller Heller’s Barracuda (Kawele’a). I’ve seen some big boys (36″) right there in Kona off the seawall but most commonly I catch juvenile kaku. Two good spots are the fish ponds just south of the airport and at A-bay. They lurk right next to shore. If you drag a fly behind as you walk along the beach you’ll often be surprised with a strike and hookup. The biggest I’ve caught are only 18″ or so. You definitely want to have a wire leader or at least a heavy bite tippet. I’ve discovered `Tyger Wire’ — a knot able multi strand wire with a nylon coating. It is thin enough in the 15lb version that you can use it pretty much all the time and be ready for the odd kaku.

Miscellaneous Other Fish To Catch
There are plenty of carnivorous fish out in Hawaii. I sometimes catch Lizard Fish that are typically not much larger than my fly. I get many strikes from needlefish (‘aha — sometimes the 1-foot small guys and much more rarely the 3-foot long giant needlefish) but have only one time hooked one. I discovered that a long bit of yarn will catch in their teeth. The various kinds of goatfish can be aggressive and fun to catch.

The Fishing Spots
I’m just starting to get to know the Kona/Kohala Coast. Send me information about other possibilities and I’ll check them out! I’ve found that you need to be able to cast within range of water with some depth to catch things and some kind of structure is important. Here are the beaches/access places that have worked for me, starting just south of the Kona Airport.

Honokohau Harbor (H-harbor)
is reached by turning west off Highway 19 just a few miles south of the airport on your way to Kona. There is a fair bit of good access to the water here. One of my favorite spots to fish is reached by turning right at the head of the harbor and parking in one of the big lots for people launching boats there. There are a couple of trails to a natural 2 acre pond/bay. This is a popular spot for people looking for sheltered swimming. I walk up to the ocean end of the bay and cast out to the break in the reef where the water flows in and out. Lots of omilu and occasionally barracuda in the more sheltered parts of the bay. On the north side of the harbor entrance is also a good spot especially early in the morning. SEE MAP ….

Fish Pond
Just north of H-harbor is a dirt road with a gate (open till 3:30pm). West on this road takes you to one of the large, ancient fish ponds. This is where I have seen the largest number of Barracuda. It is a little muddy along the shore of the pond.

Kona Natural Energy Lab
This is just south of the airport. There is a parking area, restrooms and a shower (place to clean a rod and reel) and a mile or more of coastline with a cliff ranging from a couple feet to 10 feet above the water level. There are many possibilities here, but this is big water. Often this area gets slammed by big waves. You have to be extremely careful. I’ve caught Papio and Peacock Grouper in the little bays and slots and have a feeling this would be someplace to concentrate on if you are looking for bigger fish.

Kona Coast State Park (Kekaha Kai Beach). Just north of the Kona Airport off highway 19 turn west onto this well-marked, really rough road (but OK with a 2-wheel-drive car – note that most of the rental-car companies have signs that say you are not supposed to drive off the paved roads) that takes you down to a big parking lot. Straight ahead is a rough coast (with some good potential) and to the north is a beautiful bay with a steep sandy beach. My favorite fishing is to start on the rocks at the mouth of the bay and fish toward the beach. I’ve caught grouper in the rocks, goat fish and larger trevally here.

Four Seasons Resort/Hualalai. This is about 7 miles north of the airport. There is a gate where you have to ask for a beach parking pass. Follow the signs down to a lot (with restroom and shower). It is a short stroll to the beach. On the right is a path that follows a nice rock area with some deeper water (good omliu water), on the left is a beautiful sand beach with interesting reef off shore. This is a nice place to wade and cast to coral heads and rocks. At the southern end of the beach is a nice area with big lava rocks and access to good water. This place tends to be deserted.

`A-bay’ (Anaeho’omalu Bay) is in front of the Waikoloa Marriott Hotel. Turn off Highway 19 onto Waikoloa Village Road, left at King’s Shops to the big parking lot. There is a big, curved sandy beach in front of the hotel and as you go south, you get into reefs and small rocky ledges. This southern area is a good spot for papio and omilu. The north end of A-bay is a pretty good imitation of a classic flat with pockets of sandy areas interspersed with coral and lava. The beach in front of the Waikoloa Marriott (and big ancient fish pond) is where I have seen (and caught) Bonefish and there are often small Barracuda cruising in the very shallow water here. In the rock area south of the hotel I’ve seen ulua right offshore and all along the bay I’ve had shots at big Omilu cruising by fast in pairs. Get there early before the swimmers and snorkelers.

Puako Reefs Just before getting to Hapuna (when heading north) is a turnoff to Puako. A 3 or 4 mile road runs through a small community with four shore access turnouts. At the first turnout you can walk out onto rocks past big tidepools and access some water over a reef flats. At low tide there is not much water here, but on an incoming tide it looks great. I’ve never had much luck here, but some of my fishing friends from Hawaii assure me it can be productive (it looks good).

Mauna Kea Beach
To get to this beach you drive into the Mauna Kea Resort entrance and ask for a beach pass. The rocks/cliffs at the south end are good — be careful for snorkelers. Just around the south corner is a bay with some very deep water (in front of a nice home). At the south end of this little bay is a little lava island. Wade out to it and you are looking at some deep water. I put on a sinking head and find this to be a quite productive area.

Spencer’s Beach State Park
Spencer’s is a small park with a nice little sandy beach. There are some rocks on the south end that are OK fishing, but the more interesting place is the little bay at the north end of the park. Often in the morning you can see small blacktip reef sharks cruising here. I’ve tossed flies out in front of these guys ALOT and only one time hooked up (whether it was a take of a foul-hook I’m not sure). I guided the shark toward shore and it was as if it all of a sudden realized something was up and took off. As I got well into my backing, I put on some pressure and broke it off before testing my arbor knot. There are many mullet in the bay and I have seen some big ulua taken by bait guys here. There is a small outcrop of lava with a tree midway up the bay where you will often see fishermen.

Kawaihae area
The big jetties that have been used to create a harbor provide some interesting opportunities. To get there you now have to go through a little security and show some ID. Out in the jetty area there is a shower and stair down into the water and always a few people hanging out. It is a great place to watch the Sun set, at low tide there is a pretty good break about 100 yards off the jetty where people surf and this is a popular spot for spear fisher people. The water is 10 – 20 feet deep, has good motion and lots of interesting creatures cruise through. I’ve seen big (10lb+) trevally cruising through here next to shore, lots of turtles, manta rays and sharks. The casting is a little challenging because if you drop down to the rocks by the water, the parking level is 8 or 10 feet above you and back casts are tricky. I use a sinking head here.

In the sheltered water between the jetty and the shore there are some old concrete structures. I have often seen small Papio working schools of baitfish in here (although I have yet to catch anything in this water) and for some reason I see lots of the giant Needlefish in this quiet water.

If you drive through Kawaihae to the parking area at the boat launch there is a little breakwater that gives access to some really deep water. I’ve caught papio on the inside of the breakwater, nothing on the outside, but it still looks good.

Information about Hawaii Charter Fishing HERE.

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