Guide To Popular Choices For Great Freshwater Fishing In Hawaii

All about fishing in the Aloha State

The state offers somewhat limited freshwater fishing options. The islands are dotted with small lakes and ponds, some have a population of bass, sunfish and a few channel catfish. Most fishing waters are small and often difficult to get to. If you want to experience the islands and catch fish in the process, a guide is a very practical way to go about it. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, peacock bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill and tilapia in local lakes, rivers, ponds and streams.

Major Hawaii Lakes & Species

For a more complete list of local fish species, see the list below, which also includes state records.

Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.

Kōke‘e Public Fishing Area is a series of streams and ponds in Kōkeʻe State Park, in northwest Kauai.

Wahiawa Reservoir, aka Lake Wilson is a 400-acre reservoir in north-central O'ahu, at Wahiawa.

Wailua Reservoir Public Fishing Area is a 5-acre pond in eastern Kauai, above Wailua River State Park.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Find information about fishing in Hawaii at the Hawaii Department of Fish Management website.

Visit AA-Boats-Boating.com to find information about fishing boats in Hawaii and other boating information.

Hawaii Fishing License applications available here.

While the Islands are best noted for bass and peacock bass, rumor has it that some of the streams, rivers and ponds hold a trout or two. The HI state record rainbow trout came from the Koke'e area on the island of Kaua'i.

Fish for big bass

Some very good peacock bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers here.

Fishing in all states