UTERSkipjack tuna fishing in Hawaii
In Hawaii, skipjack tuna peak June–August and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Peak aku summer; the bait for the big marlin.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Skipjack tuna in Hawaii, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayArrivingAku season begins — birds and small feathers off every island.
- JunePeakPeak aku summer; the bait for the big marlin.
- JulyPeakPeak marlin and ahi; shoreline ulua at night. Tournament-season marlin; ika-shibi at night for ahi; slide-bait ulua on the ledges.
- AugustPeakStill good.
- SeptemberLeavingTapering.
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish skipjack tuna 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 spots in the The Hawaiian Islands map area — the kinds skipjack tuna hold on.
What to use for skipjack tuna
- 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.
- Flying fishRigged whole on a trolling rig for tuna and marlin, or a strip on a skirted lure.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 70–86°F water, best at 74–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch skipjack tuna in Hawaii?
Peak season is June–August. Skipjack tuna are here year-round. June: Peak aku summer; the bait for the big marlin.
Where do skipjack tuna hold in Hawaii?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Kona, Hilo, Honolulu, Waianae, Lahaina, Kahului.
What is the best bait for skipjack tuna in Hawaii?
Live bait: pilchards (whitebait), flying fish. 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. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for skipjack tuna 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 skipjack tuna · The Hawaiian Islands, the whole year