Licenses
No license is required for saltwater sport fishing in Hawaiian waters. Freshwater fishing requires a license, and seven- and 30-day nonresident licenses are available.
Size
The main regulation of concern to marine recreational fishermen in Hawaii is the strict size regulations. For example, ahi must be at least 3 pounds, and smaller ahi must be returned to the sea.
Banned Species
Some species are limited to commercial fishermen only such as the iao. It is also prohibited to fish for sea turtles or disturb monk seals.
Seasons
Permission to catch some fish is regulated by season. For example, striped mullet are out of season from December to March.
Shore Fishing
For shore fishing, the rule is unless you see a sign specifically regulating or prohibiting fishing, it is legal to do so.
Banned Methods
Snagging, explosives, firearms, poisons, other chemicals or using electricity to catch fish are banned methods in Hawaii.
Article Written By Edwin Thomas
Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.
