Quick Details
3 Hour Charter
$ 449
Tour Rating
Near shore still means outside the breakwall. Expect swell, wind, and spray for three hours. Our captain reads conditions every morning, picks the spot, and makes the call before we leave the harbor.
Book at your level. Check the rating and the local weather before you book. Be honest about your experience.
About the Charter
Three hours, your own boat, Hilo’s reef edges. This is a private charter. Up to six of you, one captain, one crew, and a coast with far less fishing pressure than Kona.
We run just outside the breakwall to reef edges, rocky points, and drop-offs where fish stack up on the tide. Your crew sets you up, shows you how to bait and fight a fish, and handles the rest. First timers fit right in.
Whatever you catch is yours. We clean the deck, not your cooler.
Price & What’s Included
3 Hour Private Charter (up to 6 guests)
$449
Charter Includes
- Captain, crew, and boat for your group
- Rods with Penn Battle IV 8000 reels
- Bait and tackle
- Hands-on coaching for beginners
- Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks
- All required safety equipment
Keep Your Catch
Every legal fish you land goes home with you, at no extra cost. Your crew will tell you what is worth keeping and what is better released.
Not a full group?
Split the boat with another party on a shared charter.
Ready to wet a line?
Pick your date and departure time. The whole boat is yours.
Pick Your Time
We run this charter all day: 7am, 8am, 11am, 2pm, and 7pm. Same boat, same crew. What bites changes with the light. See our Hilo Fish Species Guide for every fish and when it feeds.
Dawn
7am or 8am
Prime time for papio on the hunt. Mornings are usually the calmest water of the day, before the trade winds build.
Best for: serious anglers and anyone prone to seasickness.
Midday
11am or 2pm
Steady reef fishing for goatfish, snapper, and uku. Bright, warm, and no early alarm. Afternoon wind can pick up.
Best for: families and first timers.
Dusk
7pm
Papio at sunset, then menpachi after dark. Menpachi hide in the reef all day and only feed at night. Back around 10pm.
Best for: night fishing and a local favorite on the table.
Requirements & What to Bring
Requirements
- Ages 5 and up. Kids fish with a parent or guardian.
- Nonresidents 15 and up need a Hawaiʻi fishing license. See below.
- Steady on your feet on a moving boat.
- Prone to seasickness? Take medication before the trip, not on the boat.
What to Bring
- Your fishing license, if you need one
- Hat, sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen
- Light jacket or rain layer
- Reusable water bottle
- A cooler for your catch
- Phone in a waterproof case (we sell them at the shop)
- Extra food, if you want more than our snacks
Fishing license required for nonresidents.
Hawaiʻi requires a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License for anyone 15 and older who is not a Hawaiʻi resident, including on charter boats. Active duty military and their families are exempt.
Buy it online at fishing.hawaii.gov before your trip. Our step by step guide walks you through it.
Charter Details
- Meet: Our slip at Wailoa Harbor. Free parking nearby. Directions come in your confirmation email.
- Check-in: 15 minutes before departure for your safety briefing.
- Duration: 3 hours on the water.
- Departures: 7am, 8am, 11am, 2pm, and 7pm.
- Group size: Up to 6 guests, private to your group.
Where We Fish
The captain picks the spot right before departure, based on swell and wind. Most days it is one of two:
- North toward Onomea Bay. Sea cliffs, reef structure, and pockets of productive water along the Hāmākua Coast.
- Reef edges near Hilo Bay. Rocky points and drop-offs where fish gather, especially on the tide change.
What You Might Catch
Every day is different. These are the regulars on Hilo’s reef edges. For how each one fights and when it bites, see our Hilo Fish Species Guide.
- Papio (Trevally / Juvenile Ulua)
- Omilu (Bluefin Trevally)
- Moi (Pacific Threadfin)
- Moana (Manybar Goatfish)
- Moana Kali (Blue Goatfish)
- Uku (Grey Snapper / Gray Jobfish)
- Kahala (Amberjack)
- Taʻape (Bluestripe Snapper)
- Toau (Blacktail Snapper)
- Roi (Peacock Grouper)
- Aʻawa (Hawaiian Hogfish)
- Nabeta (Razor Wrasse / Laenihi)
- Menpachi (Soldierfish), best on the 7pm trip
Moi season.
Moi are closed statewide June 1 through August 31. Any moi caught in those months goes back.
Eat only what you catch, catch only what you eat.
Roi, taʻape, and toau are invasive, so taking them helps the reef. Roi carries a ciguatera risk, so we do not recommend eating it.
FAQs
I have never fished. Is that okay?
Yes. Your crew shows you how to use the gear, bait the line, and fight your fish. Most of our near shore guests are first timers.
Which time should I pick?
Dawn for papio and calmer water. Midday for families and steady reef fishing. 7pm for menpachi after dark. Check the species guide if you are after a specific fish.
Do I get to keep my fish?
Yes. Every legal fish you catch is yours, at no extra cost. Bring a cooler.
Do I need a fishing license?
Nonresidents 15 and older do. Hawaiʻi residents and active duty military and their families do not. Buy it at fishing.hawaii.gov before your trip.
Is the price per person?
No. $449 is for the whole boat, up to 6 guests. If you want to split the cost with another group, book a shared charter.
Will I get seasick?
This is open ocean, so it is possible. If you are prone to it, take medication before the trip. It does not help once you are already sick.
What if the weather is bad?
Our captain makes the call before we leave the harbor. If it is not safe, we do not go, and we will work with you to reschedule.