The Islands Of Hawaii Are A World Renowned Fishing Location

The islands of Hawaii are a famous fishing location, and has become a vacation hot spot for avid fishermen from around the world. Surrounded by water, with an abundance of streams and reservoirs, Hawaii fishing offers an abundance of options, from trolling off shore with a boat or kayak, shore fishing with a pole or net, or even diving with a mask and spear.

In ancient times Hawaii’s coastal regions were home to numerous seaside villages, fishponds, and reservoirs for the collecting sea salt.  Fishing has been a daily way of life for the peoples of Hawaii for time out of mind. Many modern day fishermen still practice some of the traditional fishing techniques passed on from the native Hawaiians. There are also a variety of other popular fishing methods employed throughout the islands.

Nets are a traditional Hawaiian tool for shore fishing. There are two common techniques; Throw-netting and Lay-netting. Throw-netting uses a circular net with weights around the perimeter. The net is cast over the fish, which then sinks to the bottom, capturing the fish. Lay-netting uses a rectangular net with floats on top and weights on the bottom. Early Hawaiians would use long lay nets that would require a group of people to pull on to shore.

Another method of shore fishing in Hawaii is by pole. Spinning or whipping is a technique where the line is cast out with bait, then quickly reeled in, as reef fish nip at the moving target. Another technique of rod fishing is casting out a weighted, baited line which is left/dropped for the fish to find. The later method is used in Hawaii for catching Ulua (giant trevally) , which can weigh over 100 pounds! Onshore Ulua fishing has become a popular sport in the islands, and fishermen will often have their prized catches printed in the traditional Gyotaku style, for documentation and posterity. Other types of fish commonly caught shore fishing, are the papio, menpachi, ‘aweoweo, oama, and akule

Spear fishing is as another popular sport in the islands, and is one of the most common ways that fishermen collect bait. Diver will take their masks, snorkels and spears to hunt from the shallow reefs to the open ocean. Spear fisher’s use either a three prong spear sling (a spear with a rubber sling at the end), or a modern spear gun.  When out in the open ocean they will often use dead fish to attract large hungry predators like mahimahi and ono.

Hawaii’s off shore fishermen will take boats and kayaks out into the open ocean, to troll and drop line for deep sea fish such as ahi (yellow fin tuna),  mahimahi (dolphin fish), ono (mackerel) and onaga (ruby snapper). Offshore fishing certainly offers a scenic perspective of the islands, from huge schools of fish that are often followed by sea birds, to waterfalls and beaches seen only from the ocean or air

Hawaii has become known as a destination vacation for avid fishermen (and women) from around the world! Fishing in Hawaii provides a unique connection with flora and fauna and the islands. A variety of marine life, abundant shoreline access, and the warm waters of the Pacific, offer the ideal conditions for a fishermen’s’ paradise!