Hawaii fishing seasons
37 species profiles in our database list Hawaii waters among their fisheries — including Wahoo, Bigeye Tuna, Butterfly Peacock Bass, Convict Cichlid. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.
Hawaii fishing calendar, month by month
Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.
Freshwater species in Hawaii
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation | |
| Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation | |
| Redtail Brycon | Varies by region and regulation |
| Varies by region and regulation |
Saltwater & brackish species in Hawaii
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation | |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation | |
| Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature | |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation | |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Northern Puffer | Varies by region and regulation |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation | |
| Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation | |
| Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Smooth Trunkfish | Varies by region and regulation |
| Southern Puffer | Varies by region and regulation |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Varies by region and regulation | |
| Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation | |
| Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature |
Where to fish in Hawaii
Fishing in the West
Washington · Oregon · California · Nevada · Arizona · Utah · Idaho · Montana · Wyoming · Colorado · New Mexico · Alaska
Licences & regulations — Hawaii (DAR)
Rules, seasons and size limits change: check the official agency before you fish.
Official: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar
Catch something you can't name?
Upload a photo for an AI-assisted identification, then confirm it against the Hawaii species list above.
Identify my fish