Hawaii fishing report for the week of September 10, 2026. The late-summer marlin season off Kona is still producing this week, with the charter fleet raising blues on the Kona and Kohala coasts and the ahi on the buoys and around the porpoise schools. Around Oahu and Maui, the mahi have moved closer to shore, and the shore anglers have had steady action on the papio and the ulua on the calm evenings.
What’s Hitting
This week the blue marlin are still the headline off Kona. Fish from 150 to 400 pounds have been raised along the Kona coast and up to the Kohala grounds, with a few bigger fish reported. Yellowfin tuna are on the FADs off Kona and around the porpoise schools, with fish from 30 to 100 pounds. Mahi are on the debris lines and closer to shore off Oahu and Maui, and the ono have been on the ledges in 100 to 200 feet off the Kona coast and off Waianae on Oahu. Shore anglers have been catching papio and some ulua on the calm evenings, along with oio on the flats.
Bottom fishing on the deep drops has been producing opakapaka and onaga for the boats making the run.
Where to Find Them
For blue marlin, the Kona coast from the harbor up toward the Kohala grounds, working the 500 to 1,000-fathom ledges and the current lines. Ahi are on the FADs off Kona and around the porpoise schools outside the 1,000-fathom line. Mahi are on the debris and the current lines off the Waianae coast of Oahu and the south shore of Maui. Ono are on the ledges in 100 to 200 feet along the Kona coast and off Waianae. Shore anglers are fishing the rocky points and the reef edges around all the islands at dusk, and the oio are on the flats at Kaneohe Bay and the south shore of Oahu.
Tides & Conditions
The new moon this weekend has historically been a good marlin moon off Kona, with the dark nights concentrating the bait. Trade winds have been moderate at 10 to 20 out of the east-northeast, which keeps the Kona side calm and the windward sides rough. Water temps are in the low 80s. Seas on the Kona side have been 2 to 4 feet, with rougher conditions on the windward coasts.
Tackle & Tactics
For blue marlin, troll big lures on 80 to 130-pound tackle along the ledges, and run a live aku or opelu when the bait is available. Ahi on the FADs want a live opelu on a downrigger or a fly-lined bait, and the trollers are pulling small jets and plugs. Mahi are taking trolled lures and a live bait cast to the debris. Ono want deep-diving plugs or a wire-rigged lure on the ledges. Shore anglers want a dunked bait for ulua at night, a small lure or a fly for papio, and a shrimp pattern for the oio on the flats.
Local Intel This Week
Public ramps: the Honokohau Harbor ramp in Kona is the main launch for the Big Island charter and private fleet, the Kawaihae Harbor ramp serves the Kohala coast, and on Oahu the Waianae Boat Harbor and the Haleiwa ramp are the busiest launches. On Maui, the Maalaea Harbor ramp covers the south shore. Shore anglers have been fishing the points along the Kona coast, the Waianae coast, and the Kaneohe Bay flats. Fish are concentrating on the ledges and the FADs offshore and on the reef edges at dusk inshore. Check current Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources regulations before keeping fish — most pelagic species have no bag limits in state waters, but the bottomfish season and limits for the deep-seven species and the shore-fishing size limits for papio and ulua should be confirmed.
This Week’s Tip
Blue marlin off Kona in September are on the current lines where the bait is concentrated, and those lines move with the tide and the wind. Instead of trolling a straight line along the ledge, find the color change or the current edge and work it with long passes, turning at each end. A lure spread that crosses the edge repeatedly raises far more fish than one that runs parallel to it.
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