UTERMahi-mahi fishing in Hawaii
In Hawaii, mahi-mahi peak April–May and October–November and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Peak spring run.
Peak fall mahimahi; floating debris and FADs.
Mahi-mahi in Hawaii, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAroundStripers peak; spearfish; winter ōʻio. Kona stripers and shortbill spearfish; ōʻio on crab and shrimp in the sand channels.
- MarchArrivingThe spring mahimahi run — trolling lures along the current lines and around the FADs.
- AprilPeakPeak spring run.
- MayPeakPeak.
- JuneLeavingThinning; caught as bycatch on marlin trips.
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArrivingThe fall run starts.
- OctoberPeakPeak fall mahimahi; floating debris and FADs.
- NovemberPeakStill good.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish mahi-mahi 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 97 wreck, 29 artificial reef spots in the The Hawaiian Islands map area — the kinds mahi-mahi hold on.
What to use for mahi-mahi
- BallyhooRigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 72–88°F water, best at 76–84°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch mahi-mahi in Hawaii?
Peak season is April–May and October–November. Mahi-mahi are here year-round. April: Peak spring run.
Where do mahi-mahi hold in Hawaii?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom — around Kona, Hilo, Honolulu, Waianae, Lahaina, Kahului.
What is the best bait for mahi-mahi in Hawaii?
Live bait: ballyhoo, pilchards (whitebait), blue runners (hardtails). Ballyhoo: Rigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for mahi-mahi 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/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about mahi-mahi · The Hawaiian Islands, the whole year