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How does Kona Fishing Charters select boats for
its referral business?
There
are approximately 125-150 or so charter boats throughout the islands
at any given time. Kona leads the way with around 105, Maui is
second with roughly 25, Oahu has about 20, and Kauai has about
10. It's an industry standard that a booking agent will charge
a fee to the operation for referring business, so essentially
anyone can provide a list of boats and take a commission for selling
a trip. The skippers generally will not charge a lower rate for
a directly booked trip, because they know that type of practice
will sever relationships with the booking agents they use, and
besides, when they sell a trip themselves, they reward themselves
with not having to pay a booking fee.
We
select our boats based on several criteria. First and foremost
is the skipper. As with any business, the person in charge is
the lifeblood, and if that person has a good attitude, generally
so will everyone else. We select boats that are primarily owner
operators because we have found these skippers take better care
of the boats and give a little extra personal touch to the angling
customers. We also find they go fishing from a labor of love standpoint,
and since fishing is their way of life as opposed to a job, it
tends to be reflected in the way they carry their businesses.
We interview each skipper before placing the company in our program,
and we get to know them more and more on a personal basis all
the time.
Second,
we look at the condition of the boat and the gear, and personally
inspect each and every boat. We also talk with other people such
as marine surveyors and other skippers to find out how well maintained
the boats are, and we also look at the gear whenever we visit
our skippers (which is fairly regular). Premature line wear is
a sure sign of a boat that has stressed the gear on a big fish
without making repairs, and is a great indicator of how much the
skipper cares about your fishing trip. Other items such as weather
protection, size and weight of the boat, amenities, and the like
are also considered and mentioned on our pages.
Third,
we look at the reputation of the company. In addition to longevity
in business (or at least in fishing experience in the case of
guys who are former commercial fishermen) and frequency of catch,
we want to know if these skippers can catch a thousand pounder
if fortunate enough to hook one. Anyone can get lucky enough to
strike a grander, but can the skipper and the crew handle it,
even if an inexperienced charter is the angler?
In
short, we don't make a list available on the website and tell
you to go and do the research yourself. While you will probably
do some research and we do encourage that, we take the guesswork
out of your fishing charter. We would go fishing on any boat we
refer to, plain and simple, and to please us, that's an accomplishment.
How long are the trips?
Full
day trips are approx. 8 hours, 3/4 day are approx. 6 hours, 1/2
day are approx. 4 hours.
Why are the prices so different on each island?
Like
most things in life, supply and demand drives price. Kona has
a hundred boats in a world-famous Marlin fishery. Competition
is tough. Demand simply isn't high enough to allow all these boats
to charge premium rates, and thus, their average price is the
lowest in the state. Lahaina has 10-13 boats (the rest are on
the beach at Kaanapali or in Maalaea), and they are blessed with
the highest rate of foot traffic in the state. Demand is high
and supply is low. Also, Lahaina is a good 30-45 minute run to
the fishing grounds, so they run harder, which burns more fuel
and adds to the maintenance. Oahu boats, while close to the fishery,
are cursed with a tough location to attract foot traffic. People
have to want to fish by pre-planning a trip before leaving home,
or go through the phone book in their hotel room when they arrive.
Parking is tough, and the state simply hasn't done much to help
support the fleet by way of harbor improvements or proximity to
the customers. Given these constraints, Oahu boats do surprisingly
well, and the boats we refer will give a great trip at a very
reasonable price.
What happens to the fish?
Generally, the fish stays with the boat. If you are hoping to
take some home for dinner, a small ono or mahi-mahi is great.
Tag & Release is an option too, of course. As conservation
awareness arises, so does the popularity of Tag & Release. Be
aware, though, that releasing your fish may alter the price of
your charter. The skippers offset their costs with the sale of
the fish, allowing them to give you a better charter rate. The
charter rates listed in this web site are based on the ability to
sell the fish to market. Without that ability, costs go up, and
so may your charter.
Talk to us, and talk to your skipper, so you'll know what to
expect.
What are share trips?
Shares
are for anglers who don't have the inclination to book a private
charter and would like to go fishing without paying some $600.00
or so. The advantage, of course, is lower cost, but there are
several disadvantages. First, share trips generally do not go
unless the boat is able to get four or more passengers to go along.
So, if you are on a tight schedule, there is a possibility the
trip might not happen on the day you wanted to go fishing. It's
also difficult to go on the specific boat you wanted because private
charters tend to take priority.
Second,
when fishing is slow, there are times when only one or two fish
are hooked up. With rotational watches on the rods, it may mean
you won't get to fight the giant Marlin or big Ahi that strikes
the lures, and you may feel a little bit left out if this happens.
Still, a day on the water and witnessing the catching of a big
fish firsthand is pretty exciting, too.
Third,
personalities at sea tend to differ greatly. Some people may become
ill and want to go home just as the bite picks up, creating a
tension on board between those who want to stay out and those
who want to go home.
Are shorter (4 and 6 hour) trips worth it?
We
only recommend shorter (four hour) trips on the island of Kauai.
We will also book a shorter trip in Kona, but recommend against
it on Oahu and almost forbid it on Maui. Kauai and Kona have deep
water right near shore, and many times big fish are caught right
out of the harbor. Kauai also has a steep ledge very close that
tends to produce alot of Ono, Mahimahi and smaller Ahi, and the
charter skippers there are able to get you fish on the short,
4 hour trips. Kona is similar with the deep water, however, we
believe the hunt for a big Marlin should be done as a full day
event. The seas are calm and concentration should be pretty good
for the whole day. Current and trash lines run through Kona frequently,
and bait schools come in pretty close. So while longer trips always
increase the odds of catching something memorable, 4 hours trips
are better than not going at all.
On
Oahu, it's 18 miles to the 1,000 fathom line. While it's still
pretty deep running out to this area and Mahimahi, Ono and smaller
Ahi are caught in close (heck even the Marlin venture in close
fairly regularly), it does take a little time to get to the prime
fishing grounds. A 6 hour trip is alright on Oahu, but we do try
to discourage going for only four hours if at all possible.
Finally,
on Maui, we feel a four hour trip is a waste of time and money.
A six hour trip is barely acceptable, and the best thing to do
is fish for the full day. Lahaina is the playground for the humpback
whales every winter, and they play in the shallow waters in the
triangle between Lahaina, Lanai and Kahoolawe. Accordingly, the
Lahaina boats need to run about 45 minutes at planing speeds to
get you to the grounds where the highest fishing potential exists
(that's also a big reason why the charter rates are higher - more
fuel burn)
Which is the best island to fish from?
It's
purely subjective. While all the Kona boats will tell you Kona
is the place to fish, the Kauai guys will tell you their island
is the best. The truth is, the total number of fish caught in
Kona is the highest. And the reason the boats operate from there
is because the seas are calmer. Many claim the North Shore of
Molokai would be Hawaii's great fishery if the predominant weather
pattern was from the South. But as it is, coming from the Northeast,
Kona has all the wind shadow from Mauna Kea making the waters
nicer to work with every day.
Lahaina
boats have some of the best scenery, and that fishery has produced
the only double grander in a single tournament. Large Marlin come
into Lahaina all the time, but with only 10 percent of the boats
that Kona has, of course there will be fewer total fish brought
in. The same holds true for Oahu and Kauai. The bottom line is
that Hawaii is the best place in the world to fish, because we
have the opportunity to catch everything from a 10 pound Mahimahi
to a thousand pound Pacific Blue Marlin every single day of the
year, and do it within plain sight of land. No other fishery in
the world can claim this, and history speaks for itself.
What is the policy on tipping?
Similar to restaurants, tipping should be considered when service
is good or exceptional. Fishing is one of those things that we
have such little control over that the judge of a good fishing
trip should be based upon how well the skipper and crew present
their product and service to you. If the boat is clean, and in
good condition, and the crew are courteous, friendly and place you
in a position which gives the appearance you are about catch fish
at any given moment should be your guide as opposed to the final
result.
What if we don't catch any fish?
It
is a simple fact of life that all fishing places, no matter how
good or how many stories have been written about them, sometimes
don't produce fish on a given day. Some people feel there should
be a guarantee in chartering a boat, however, what customers are
paying for is the opportunity to be on a boat with an opportunity
to catch a large fish and the story of a lifetime. We believe
our angling customers should enjoy the beautiful scenery, the
color of the water and the sky, the camaraderie with the crew,
and the good fortune they have for being on the water in Hawaii
with the opportunity to participate in the Yankee Stadium of all
fisheries. We have fished in many places and have experienced
getting skunked firsthand. However it is very seldom that we get
upset over failing to catch any fish if we feel the crew did everything
they possibly could to catch us fish. If the crew shows us a good
time and gives us a chance to catch fish, that's all we ask for.
Do I need to bring tackle?
All
of the boats listed provide tackle, bait, ice and fresh water
unless otherwise noted. However, if you have a favorite lure or
rod you would like to bring, most skippers will certainly oblige.
What should I wear?
Dress
as though you were going to work in the garden on a hot summer
day. T-shirts and shorts, a light baseball type hat, polarized
sunglasses, and preferably deck type shoes are perfect for your
day on the water. Be sure to bring
plenty of sunscreen. Even on a cool, comfortable, overcast
day, you are likely to get burned if you aren't' careful.
The sun is much more intense here since we are closer to the
equator. What about food and drink?
You are asked to bring all of your food
and drink aboard with you. Cans are better than glass for drinks,
and snacks like Cheetos and Doritos for some reason seem to go
down well at sea. It's tough to please everyone's appetite especially
at sea, so every skipper in the state asks that you bring what
you would like to eat for the day. The boats will have fresh water, ice, and
a way to keep your stuff cold aboard.
What's this I hear about no bananas?
If
you have not heard of the Hawaiian tradition/superstition, absolutely,
positively, no if's and's or but's, do not bring bananas on your
trip!! Bananas are considered unlucky on a boat in Hawaii, and
we have personally witnessed and heard way too many stories to
even think about bringing bananas or anything with banana in it
on a boat. We wouldn't recommend testing this superstition. Ask
your skipper about this age old Hawaiian kapu.
What can I do about seasickness?
If
you are at all prone to motion sickness, a healthy (non-greasy)
dinner the evening before, a good night's sleep, and a light breakfast
(again, non-greasy) will contribute significantly to your enjoyment
of the trip. It may also help if you take commercially available
medications the night before, and bring some along for the trip
depending on how long they last. Ginger ale and/or ginger snaps
to snack on are also helpful. If you feel ill during the trip,
stay out in the fresh air and drink plenty of fluids such as water
or ginger ale.
What kind of sunscreen should I bring?
We
recommend a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher as the Hawaiian
sun is very strong, especially on the water. Also, a tip: select a
brand that doesn't run into your eyes as you sweat; this makes for
a terrible time when you are angling a fish for a couple of hours.
What else should I bring?
Other
things to bring along for the trip include a hat to shade your
head and face, sunglasses with a restraint (polarized are best
to see debris and fish in the water), an extra t-shirt, and closed
toe boating shoes to keep you from slipping and to protect your
feet from flying hooks, etc. when the action gets good.
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