Fly Fishing Hawaii
Location Details / Hawaii
Fly Fishing Hawaii: Bonefish, Ulua, Seasons and Tips
Hawaii fly fishing is mostly a saltwater sight-fishing trip: big ʻōʻio (roundjaw bonefish) on shallow sand and reef flats, plus ulua and pāpio (trevally) along the shoreline, all year. Fresh water adds peacock bass in Oʻahu's Wahiawā Reservoir and a short rainbow trout season at Kōkeʻe on Kauaʻi.
The Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) sets no closed season and no bag limit on ʻōʻio, only a 14-inch minimum size, and its rule book lists the local fish as Albula glossodonta, the roundjaw bonefish. Since May 2, 2024, visitors need a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License to fish the ocean; residents still need no saltwater license. This page maps where to fish, when to go and which rules matter.
The Hawaii moment in our archive came from James Johnson, who runs Katmai Trophy Lodge in Alaska and ran a lodge in Belize for years. On the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast episode published September 10, 2024, Christian asked him how he works a shrimp pattern for bonefish. Johnson set the scene in Hawaii: a 10-pound bonefish tailing in thigh-deep water. A fly dropped a foot in front of that fish needs longer to sink into its zone than in water so skinny the fish's back is showing, so he lets it sink while he strips out the slack from the cast, then reads the fish. A fast, aggressive approach gets a faster strip; a slow, timid one gets a few bounces and a drop to the bottom; a fish following casually gets a dead stop until it closes the gap.
Top species
ʻŌʻio (roundjaw bonefish), ulua and pāpio (giant, bluefin and other trevally), tucunare (peacock bass), largemouth and smallmouth bass, rainbow trout at Kōkeʻe
Best months
Saltwater all year (no closed season on ʻōʻio or ulua); Kōkeʻe trout June 20 to September 30 in 2026
Top waters
Shoreline sand and reef flats on Oʻahu and Maui, the Kona coast of Hawaiʻi Island, Wahiawā Reservoir (Lake Wilson) on Oʻahu, Puʻu Lua and Wailua reservoirs on Kauaʻi
License and regs
DAR fishing regulations; nonresidents 15 and older need a marine license for the ocean; a Freshwater Game Fishing License covers introduced freshwater fish
Nearest airports
Honolulu (HNL) on Oʻahu, Kahului (OGG) on Maui, Kona (KOA) and Hilo (ITO) on Hawaiʻi Island, Līhuʻe (LIH) on Kauaʻi
Rule to know
ʻŌʻio must be 14 inches to keep; Marine Life Conservation Districts such as Hanauma Bay and Waikīkī are closed to all fishing
Where to Fly Fish in Hawaii
Oʻahu and Maui Bonefish Flats
Hawaii's bonefish feed on shallow sand and reef flats, and a fish tailing in thigh-deep water can be a big one. A 2023 genetic study in the journal Fishes, built on fin clips collected by volunteer anglers, found no population difference between roundjaw bonefish from Oʻahu and Maui, and its authors suggested managing the species regionally. Much of the shoreline crosses private land, and DAR reminds anglers that landowner permission is required for access; the right of public entry is never implied.
Ulua and Pāpio Along the Shoreline
Ulua is the Hawaiian name for the large trevally, including giant trevally; pāpio are the young ones. DAR's 10-inch minimum and 20-fish daily limit for all ulua and pāpio combined apply statewide, and selling one requires 16 inches. A baitfish fly on a fast strip covers channel edges and reef drop-offs.
Kona Coast, Hawaiʻi Island
The West Hawaiʻi Regional Fishery Management Area runs along the west coast of the Big Island, with its own rules on top of the statewide ones, plus Marine Life Conservation Districts at Kealakekua Bay and Old Kona Airport where fishing is prohibited.
Waikīkī to Diamond Head
The Waikīkī-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area opens to hook and line in even-numbered years and closes in odd-numbered years, so it is open through December 31, 2026 and closed for 2027. The Waikīkī Marine Life Conservation District next to it is closed to fishing every year.
Wahiawā Reservoir (Lake Wilson), Oʻahu
The Wahiawā Public Fishing Area is part of a privately owned reservoir in central Oʻahu with a state park ramp. DAR rules specifically allow two artificial flies on a single line. Bass and tucunare are catch and release only there, and you need a Freshwater Game Fishing License, an entry permit and a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.
Kōkeʻe and Wailua, Kauaʻi
Rainbow trout are fished only at the Kōkeʻe Public Fishing Area during a season DAR announces each year. In 2026 it runs June 20 to September 30, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Puʻu Lua Reservoir producing more than 95 percent of the catch. The rules call for one line with one single barbed hook, lure or bait, and every trout caught must be kept (limit seven), so it is a family outing more than a fly trip. Wailua Reservoir, above Wailua town, allows one lure per line and an aggregate of three fish a day, with maximum sizes on largemouth bass (14 inches) and tucunare (15 inches).
When to Go Fly Fishing in Hawaii
There is no closed season for the main saltwater fly targets, so wind, surf and tides decide your days more than the calendar. Treat this table as general guidance built from DAR rules, not a catch report.
| Target | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ʻŌʻio (bonefish) flats | ||||||||||||
| Ulua and pāpio, shoreline | ||||||||||||
| Peacock bass, Wahiawā | ||||||||||||
| Kōkeʻe trout (2026 season) | ||||||||||||
| Moi (closed June to August) |
Intensity:LightModerateHeavy
Blank cells mean closed or not worth planning around. Moi (Pacific threadfin) carry an 11-inch minimum and a 15-fish limit when open.
Book a Local Pro in Hawaii
Guide or lodge in Hawaii? Get listed. No FFIP Certified guide, lodge or outfitter is in Hawaii yet. Put your business in front of anglers planning bonefish, ulua and island-hopping fly trips.
Market Your ServicesBrowse every FFIP Certified pro in the guides and lodges directory.
Custom Flies and Rods from Hawaii
These independent Hawaii fly tyers sell flies tied for island water, most of them saltwater patterns, through their own sites.
- Kai Flies Maui, Kahului
- Maui Fly Co., Pukalani
- Scroggsstickyflies, Kailua-Kona
- Traveler Flies, Volcano
- Hiflies.com
- Tied with Aloha
- Fly Fishing Hawaii
No Hawaii custom rod builder is listed with FFIP yet. Tie flies or build rods in Hawaii and want to be on this list? Get listed with FFIP.
Hawaii Tips from Podcast Guests
-
Keep a 90-degree rod-to-fish angle to control a running fish
Worth knowing before a big ʻōʻio heads for the reef edge.
Karin Miller, tenkara angler and saltwater guide, on Bonefish on Tenkara and the Fishing Triangle for Fish Management -
Return your hauling hand to the reel after every haul
Island trade winds punish a triangle of slack.
Mary Alice and Chris, Belize DIY bonefish and permit lodge hosts -
Build your own stepped fluorocarbon leader instead of buying tapered
Josh Hutchins, Australian flats guide and filmmaker, on Guided EP #13 -
Get advice from the specialist in that exact fish
Planning to cast at ulua? Ask a trevally angler, not a trout angler.
A New Zealand saltwater guide who targets kingfish and trevally -
Clip used flies to a safety pin on your shirt to dry
Good flies are hard to replace on an island trip, and salt eats hooks.
Stratton Hunter, Western North Carolina guide, on How to Fly Fish and Travel When it is Your Second Priority?
Want more? Browse every tip in the Fly Fishing Tips Library, sorted by region, water type, species and skill.
Hear Bonefish Talk on the Podcast
Fly Fishing for Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit in Belize: James Johnson on leads, strip sets, clearing line and the Hawaii shrimp scenario above. Listen to the audio episode or read the episode notes.
Bonefish on Tenkara and the Fishing Triangle for Fish Management: Karin Miller of Zen Tenkara on managing a fast fish with rod angle, then catching bonefish on a line-only rod. Read the episode notes.
Hawaii stays on the list even for well-traveled anglers. When Curtis Fleming of Fly Rod Chronicles came on the show, he said he had caught fish in 48 states and had not yet been to Hawaii. Christian told him to go chase Hawaii's bonefish, which he had heard are big and tricky.
Shop the Water: Flies and Gear for Hawaii
Baitfish patterns for pāpio and ulua, a smaller Clouser box for Wahiawā peacock bass, a kit for tying your own shrimp and crab patterns for ʻōʻio, a floating saltwater line and a sun shirt for long days on bright sand. All in stock.
Clouser Minnow Saltwater Assortment, 1/0
Chartreuse and White Clouser, 1/0
Lefty's Deceiver, Blue and White
Freshwater Clouser Assortment, Size 4
Saltwater Fly Tying Kit Box
Apex Flight WF Saltwater Floating Line
Sun Protective Shirt, Bonefish
Hawaii Fly Fishing Questions, Answered
Do you need a fishing license to fly fish in Hawaii?
For the ocean, only if you are a nonresident. Since May 2, 2024, nonresidents 15 and older need a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License: $20 for one day, $40 for seven days or $70 for a year. Active-duty military and their families are exempt, and residents need no marine license. Anyone fishing for introduced freshwater fish needs a Freshwater Game Fishing License.
How much is a Hawaii freshwater fishing license for visitors?
DAR lists the Freshwater Game Fishing License at $25 for nonresidents, $10 for a 7-day tourist license and $20 for a 30-day tourist license, plus any online processing fee. Residents and military 16 and older pay $5, minors 9 to 15 pay $3 and seniors 65 and older are free.
When is the best time to fly fish Hawaii for bonefish?
Any month. DAR sets no closed season on ʻōʻio, ulua or pāpio, so the deciding factors are wind, surf, tides and light for sight fishing rather than a season. Kōkeʻe trout are the exception with a fixed window, June 20 to September 30 in 2026, and moi close every June through August.
Can you keep bonefish in Hawaii?
Legally, yes, if the fish is at least 14 inches; DAR sets no bag limit or closed season on ʻōʻio. Most fly anglers release them, and a quick release keeps the fish on the flat for the next cast. Ulua and pāpio need 10 inches, with 20 a day combined.
Is Hawaii bonefishing hard?
It has that reputation. James Johnson's Hawaii example on the podcast was a 10-pound fish tailing in thigh-deep water, which means a longer sink, a tight line and reading the fish before you move the fly. Christian has described Hawaii bonefish on the show as big fish that, from what he has heard, are tricky.
Can you fly fish for trout in Hawaii?
Barely. Rainbow trout are open only in the Kōkeʻe Public Fishing Area on Kauaʻi during DAR's announced season, and the 2026 rules call for one single barbed hook, lure or bait, with every trout kept up to seven a day. For freshwater fly fishing, Wahiawā Reservoir on Oʻahu explicitly allows artificial flies for catch-and-release bass and tucunare.
Book the season you actually want
The best weeks go first, and the difference between a good trip and a great one is usually timing. Tell us the season you want and we'll find the water that fishes then.
Book a TripFly Fishing Insider Podcast has a referral partnership with Frontiers International Travel. If you book after being introduced through us, we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you.
Tight lines, everyone!
By Christian Bacasa, host of the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast. Last reviewed October 2026.
Prices, availability, flight routing and entry requirements change. Every figure on this page is the starting rate published by the lodge or by Frontiers International Travel at the time of writing, per angler, and is a starting point for a quote, not a quote. Seasons, lodge capacity, charter schedules, visa and passport rules and license requirements can all change without notice. Confirm current pricing, availability and entry requirements with your Frontiers specialist before you book anything.
Sources: Licenses, species rules, Marine Life Conservation Districts and public fishing areas: DAR Hawaii Fishing Regulations, May 2025 and DAR marine regulated species. Nonresident marine license: DAR. Freshwater license fees: DAR. Kōkeʻe 2026 trout season: DLNR. Roundjaw bonefish genetics: Kamikawa et al., Fishes, 2023. Guest stories: James Johnson, Karin Miller and Curtis Fleming on the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast.