UTERGiant trevally fishing in Hawaii
In Hawaii, giant trevally peak May–August and are around year-round, spawning in May–August, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Spawning season starts; big ulua school around full moons. Size and bag rules differ by island — check DAR.
Papio (juvenile ulua) on topwater along the reefs year-round.
Giant trevally in Hawaii, month by month
- JanuaryAroundUlua on the shoreline slide-bait rigs at night — eel or live aholehole on heavy gear off the lava ledges.
- FebruaryAroundStripers peak; spearfish; winter ōʻio. Kona stripers and shortbill spearfish; ōʻio on crab and shrimp in the sand channels.
- MarchAround
- AprilAroundMahimahi peak. FADs and floating debris for mahi; last of the spawning ōʻio.
- MaySpawningSpawning season starts; big ulua school around full moons. Size and bag rules differ by island — check DAR.
- JuneSpawningSummer nights on the south and west shores.
- JulySpawningSpawning; big fish on the ledges and in the channels.
- AugustSpawningStill spawning.
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAroundPapio (juvenile ulua) on topwater along the reefs year-round.
- NovemberAroundMahi; ōʻio spawning season begins. Mahi on the current lines; big ōʻio moving into the sand channels.
- DecemberAroundStripers arriving; ōʻio and ulua. The first stripers off Kona; winter swell closes the north shores — fish the lee.
Where to fish giant trevally near Kona, Hilo, Honolulu
Volcanic islands with deep water close to shore — the Kona coast drops to thousands of feet within a few miles — fringing reefs, sand channels and flats on the older islands, and a network of FADs (fish aggregation buoys) offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 29 artificial reef spots in the The Hawaiian Islands map area — the kinds giant trevally hold on.
What to use for giant trevally
- Live eelsHooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait.
- Opelu (mackerel scad)Bridled live and slow-trolled or drifted down for ahi, ono and marlin; cut for bottom fishing.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 74–84°F water, best at 76–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch giant trevally in Hawaii?
Peak season is May–August, with fish spawning in May–August (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Giant trevally are here year-round. May: Spawning season starts; big ulua school around full moons. Size and bag rules differ by island — check DAR.
Where do giant trevally hold in Hawaii?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, pass / inlet, beach / surf, other — around Kona, Hilo, Honolulu, Waianae, Lahaina, Kahului.
What is the best bait for giant trevally in Hawaii?
Live bait: live eels, opelu (mackerel scad). Live eels: Hooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for giant trevally in Hawaii?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Hawaii DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and change — read the current rule at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/fishing/fishing-regulations/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/fishing/licenses-and-permits/.
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