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Kawaihae Bay

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Hawaii, United States

28 catches

Top fish species at Kawaihae Bay

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Kawaihae Bay fishing reports

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Blacktail snapper

length · weight

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Bluefin trevally

length · weight

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Blacktail snapper

7 in · 6 oz

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Blacktail snapper

6 in · 5 oz

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Vermilion rockfish

13 in · 1 lb

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length · weight

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General info

Kawaihae Bay is a part of an ocean located in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. It is most popular for fishing Blacktail snapper, Bluefin trevally, and Wahoo.

Location

20°01′11.7″N 155°49′36.2″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Kawaihae Bay, HI

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Hawaii can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Bluefin trevally

Bluefin trevally

Regulation boundaryHI Hawaii State Waters
Bag limit20

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size10" (Fork Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Fork Length means the length of a fish as measured from the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail.

Aggregate limit20

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Additional information
Non-commercial aggregate bag limit = 20 (total all species of ulua and pāpio). Minimum size 16 inches fork length for sale.
Synonyms
Caranx melampygus, bluefin trevally, omilu, papio, pāpio, ulua, ‘ōmilu
Location regulation notes
To see maps of DAR's official marine managed areas, please see Hawaii DAR's ARCGIS Map Viewer.
Location specific information
To see maps of DAR's official marine managed areas, please see Hawaii DAR's ARCGIS Map Viewer. HI West Hawai'i Regional FMA Prohibited: To take, kill, possess, sell, or offer for sale, any specimen of the following: any shark, Hawaiian stingray, broad stingray, pelagic stingray, spotted eagle ray, horned helmet, and Triton's trumpet. See administrative rule for species list. To possess more than five yellow tang larger than 4.5 inches total length, or more than five yellow tang smaller than 2 inches total length. To engage in SCUBA spearfishing, possess both SCUBA gear and a spear at the same time, or possess SCUBA gear and any specimen of speared aquatic life at the same time. To possess aquarium collecting gear, or take or possess any specimen of aquatic life for aquarium purposes between sunset and sunrise, without a valid aquarium permit or in violation of its conditions, or while on a vessel that does not conform to registration requirements. To possess or use any net or container underwater to capture or hold aquatic life alive for aquarium purposes, which is not labeled with the commercial marine license number(s) of the person(s) owning, possessing, or using the equipment. Additional restrictions apply for certain activities and gear types; visit the website for more details. NEW effective Dec 19, 2022: prohibited to take pāku'iku'i (Achilles Tang) within the West Hawai'i Regional Fishery Management Area (WHRFMA) on Hawai'i Island.
Season open: year-round
Wahoo

Wahoo

Regulation boundaryHI Hawaii State Waters
Additional information
No closed season. Not a regulated species. Please fish pono.
Edibility
Excellent, but may contain high mercury levels.
Synonyms
Acanthocybium solandri, Ono
Location regulation notes
To see maps of DAR's official marine managed areas, please see Hawaii DAR's ARCGIS Map Viewer.
Location specific information
To see maps of DAR's official marine managed areas, please see Hawaii DAR's ARCGIS Map Viewer. HI West Hawai'i Regional FMA Prohibited: To take, kill, possess, sell, or offer for sale, any specimen of the following: any shark, Hawaiian stingray, broad stingray, pelagic stingray, spotted eagle ray, horned helmet, and Triton's trumpet. See administrative rule for species list. To possess more than five yellow tang larger than 4.5 inches total length, or more than five yellow tang smaller than 2 inches total length. To engage in SCUBA spearfishing, possess both SCUBA gear and a spear at the same time, or possess SCUBA gear and any specimen of speared aquatic life at the same time. To possess aquarium collecting gear, or take or possess any specimen of aquatic life for aquarium purposes between sunset and sunrise, without a valid aquarium permit or in violation of its conditions, or while on a vessel that does not conform to registration requirements. To possess or use any net or container underwater to capture or hold aquatic life alive for aquarium purposes, which is not labeled with the commercial marine license number(s) of the person(s) owning, possessing, or using the equipment. Additional restrictions apply for certain activities and gear types; visit the website for more details. NEW effective Dec 19, 2022: prohibited to take pāku'iku'i (Achilles Tang) within the West Hawai'i Regional Fishery Management Area (WHRFMA) on Hawai'i Island.
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Local laws and licenses

Hawaii fishing license

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Cities nearby

Puako

4.0 miles away

Waikoloa Village

5.4 miles away

Waikoloa Beach Resort

7.0 miles away

Waimea

12.3 miles away

Hawi

14.3 miles away

Halaula

14.5 miles away

Kaloko

22.1 miles away

Kalaoa

23.0 miles away

Holualoa

26.0 miles away

Honalo

30.7 miles away

Kahaluu-Keauhou

32.4 miles away

Kealakekua

34.4 miles away

Captain Cook

36.2 miles away

Honaunau-Napoopoo

39.2 miles away

Honomu

47.5 miles away

Papaikou

50.0 miles away

Wainaku

51.0 miles away

Hilo

53.3 miles away

Mountain View

54.8 miles away

Makena

57.3 miles away

Kurtistown

57.5 miles away

Keaau

57.5 miles away

Fern Acres

60.1 miles away

Orchidlands Estates

61.7 miles away

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FAQ about Kawaihae Bay fishing

📍 Where is Kawaihae Bay located?
Kawaihae Bay is a part of an ocean located in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. Its coordinates are:
20°01′11.7″N 155°49′36.2″W
.
🎣 Where on Kawaihae Bay is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Kawaihae Bay by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Kawaihae Bay?
The most common species in Kawaihae Bay are:
📢 What are the latest Kawaihae Bay fishing reports?
The latest Kawaihae Bay fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Kawaihae Bay right now?
According to fishing regulations at Kawaihae Bay, some of the species in season this November include: Striped mullet, and Sixfinger threadfin. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Kawaihae Bay?

Fishing in Hawaii requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Saltwater licenses include resident and non-resident options, available online and at authorized vendors.

In Hawaii, no freshwater fishing license is required for anglers of any age. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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