Hawaii Fishing Report — Week of September 17, 2026: Kona Blue Marlin Steady, Ahi on the Buoys, Ono Along the Ledges

Hawaii fishing report for the week of September 17, 2026. September is a strong month on the Kona coast and this week has held to form. The blue marlin are steady on the grounds off the Big Island, the ahi have been on the buoys and under the porpoise, and the ono have shown up along the ledges in numbers. Across the other islands, the fall mahi are moving closer to shore and the nearshore fleet has had a good week.

What’s Hitting

This week on the water the blue marlin are the headline. Fish from 150 to 400 pounds are steady on the Kona grounds from the Grounds and the VV Buoy south to the Kaiwi Point area, with the occasional larger fish, and the charter fleet has been averaging a bite or two a day. Yellowfin tuna from 40 to 120 pounds are holding on the FAD buoys and under the porpoise schools off Kona and along the Maui and Oahu offshore banks. Ono are along the ledges in 40 to 60 fathoms off Kona, Maui, and Kauai, and the fall mahi are showing closer to shore around the buoys and the floating debris. Nearshore, the papio and ulua are on the reef edges and the points, and the bottom fishers are getting onaga, opakapaka, and uku on the deep drops.

Where to Find Them

Marlin are on the Kona grounds along the 1,000-fathom line and around the buoys and the porpoise schools. Ahi are on the FADs and under the porpoise off Kona and on the offshore banks around Maui and Oahu. Ono are on the ledges in 40 to 60 fathoms close to shore, especially along the Kona coast and the Kaiwi Channel. Mahi are on the buoys and the debris in the warm blue water. Papio and ulua are on the reef edges and the points at first light and after dark, and the deep-drop fish are on the ledges in 100 to 200 fathoms.

Tides & Conditions

Water temps are in the low 80s offshore and the blue water has been close to shore on the Kona coast, which is why the ono and mahi have moved in. The trade winds have been moderate, which keeps the Kona side calm in the mornings, and the windward sides of the other islands have been fishable on the lighter days. Seas have been 2 to 4 feet on the leeward coasts.

Tackle & Tactics

For marlin, a spread of large trolled lures in the 12 to 14-inch range, run at 8 to 9 knots along the ledges and around the buoys, on 80 to 130-pound stand-up or chair tackle. Ahi want live opelu or a trolled lure around the FADs and the porpoise, and a chunk or a jig once the school is located. Ono want a trolled lure or a rigged ballyhoo run fast along the ledges with a wire leader. Mahi want a small lure or a live bait pitched to the buoys. Papio and ulua want a whipped popper or a live bait from the shore, and the deep-drop fish want a multi-hook rig with squid or cut bait on an electric or heavy conventional reel.

Local Intel This Week

Honokohau Harbor is the main launch and charter port for the Kona coast, with the Kailua Pier for shore access, and the Kewalo Basin and Haleiwa harbors on Oahu, Maalaea and Lahaina on Maui, and Nawiliwili and Port Allen on Kauai serving the other islands. Shore anglers are catching papio and ulua from the Kona coast points and the Oahu and Maui reef edges. Fish are concentrating on the Kona grounds and the FADs offshore and along the ledges close to shore. Hawaii has no saltwater fishing license requirement for most recreational fishing, but bottomfish and certain species have limits and closed seasons; check current Hawaii DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources regulations before keeping fish.

This Week’s Tip

When the ono are on the ledges, speed is the answer. Run your spread at 10 to 12 knots along the 40 to 60-fathom line at first light with a wire leader on every lure, and watch the short corner. Ono hit the closest lure to the boat more often than any other position in the spread.

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