Private sportfishing from Kawaihae

A game plan before we leave the dock

Scott calls you before the trip to find out what you want to catch, explains what’s around, and plans the day from the conditions — current first, then sea surface temperature, tide and moon phase.

Out of Kawaihae there are ledges and drop-offs where the current stacks up bait, and that’s where predators wait to strike. Lines go in as soon as we clear the harbor mouth. We mostly troll: the fish here aren’t permanent residents, so we cover ground to cross paths with them. “That’s Hawaiʻi fishing in a nutshell.”

And we aren’t stuck with the Kohala Coast. Scott’s permit covers the entire west side of the Big Island, from the northern tip down to South Point. Kohala is less crowded, but when the fish are south, we fish south — and a day down there can finish with a snorkel at Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook). Reach out before you book and we’ll make a game plan for your group. We never leave the dock without one.

Set up to fish every way there is

A center console gives you unobstructed views for wildlife and for the spread, and it’s nimble enough to turn quickly and chase down the monsters.

The open deck has room for every tactic in modern fishing. Scott trolls live bait and artificial lures, drifts live bait over the reefs and ledges out of Kawaihae, and flies the kite when conditions are right for it. He throws everything but the kitchen sink at the fish we target, so if we don’t catch, it isn’t from lack of effort. Some days the fish just don’t want in the boat.

The fishing calendar, month by month

The six fish Scott targets off the Kohala Coast, and the months that give us the best shot at each one.

swipe for all 12 months →

Any of these fish can be caught at any time of year — the calendar is a guide to the months that give us the best chance at each one.

In winter, Scott often jigs for ʻōpelu or akule and drifts live bait on lighter tackle for striped marlin, spearfish and shibi (yellowfin under 100 lb). Live-bait drifting needs the ¾ day (6 hour) trip.

Not a numbers fishery. A big-fish fishery.

There are no limits-by-noon days here. We’re after that one great fish — what the ocean lacks in numbers it makes up in size and meat quality.

You catch it, you keep it

“Most all other boats keep ahi to sell. That rubs guests the wrong way and I won’t do that.”

Capt. Scott

Scott fillets the catch and you take as much as you want. He keeps a fillet for himself and some in the cooler for slow days — because they happen, and on those days he’d still rather you went home with something. Plan to eat it on-island: shipping fish home costs too much, and nobody here processes it for travel any more.

What if we don’t catch anything?

It happens to every boat. Fish sometimes refuse to do their part, and some bite then throw the hook at the boat. What you will see is Scott working every tactic he has to get you hooked up — he fishes almost every day, charter or not.

See more photos from Scott’s trips →

Not much of a fisherman? Pick a number.

Half day or ¾ day, per boat

Prices are per boat, for up to 6 guests — your group only. Peak season is spring break, Memorial Day through Labor Day, Thanksgiving week, and Christmas week through New Year’s Day. The rest of the year is shoulder season.

What’s aboard, what to bring