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(Frequently asked questions)
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"In an attempt to provide the best Kona
fishing website possible, I've added this F.A.Q.
What size boat do we need?
One of the most important things needed is
enough shaded seating area for everyone. Though you probably plan on getting in
on some sunshine, you'll want to be able to hide from it too. 
Some
boats offer air conditioned cabins. While this can be very nice, shaded areas
with open air ventilation are sufficient for most. Some boats also have a flying
bridge (upper deck) where there's even more shaded seating. Another thing to
consider is that boat size and comfort (or stability) aren't necessarily the same
thing. Boat balance and hull design plays a big role. 
Kona's ocean is usually very calm but not always. If you're worried about sea
sickness, go to my sea sickness page and follow the
advice there.
How long of a charter should I
book? Booking a 1/2 day charter
(4 hours) is giving fishing just 1/2 a chance. That's OK if you're just testing
the waters but if you're serious about catching fish, a full day (8 hours) is
the way to go. 
A compromise would be a 3/4 day (6 hour) charter. Some boats
don't offer 3/4 day charters.
Can I/we join other people for a charter?
In Hawaii, these are called "share charters". There are only a few boats in Kona that put together share charters and they do 1/2 day shares only. They're OK for single anglers or couples on
a slim budget but remember you'll be sharing the boat with other tourists so in some cases, a 1/2 day may be long enough.
I don't do share charters so please don't ask me to set one up but I can help help you. I made a web page for people looking for share charters. Go to http://FISHinKONA.com/share.htm for more information.
Do I need a fishing
license? No. Hawaii has very little
in the way of fishing regulations. 
Only some fishing gear restrictions and size
limits for a few of the shoreline reef fish. A license is required to sell
fish.
Can I keep my fish? Most boats will say NO! 
Income from the sale of
fish is a calculated part of the boat and crews income. There's a few of us here
(like me) that don't play that game.
The captains that allow you to keep fish
will often even fillet it for you too (I fillet fish for my customers
). Even
with this in mind though, there are some restrictions and things to consider:
You can't take your fish to a restaurant or hotel and have them cook it for you. Hawaii Dept. of Health Title 11, Subchapter 2-20b prevents food establishments from accepting food from any non-regulated sources.
You can't just cut a piece out of a fish and expect the crew to
deal with the rest of it. Cutting a piece out of a fish renders the rest of the
fish unsaleable. Generally, this is only an issue with large (like over 50 lbs.)
fish. I eat a lot of fish. So do my neighbors 
But please, don't stick your
captain/crew with 45 lbs. of fillets.
There aren't any
places here that freeze and pack fish for the general public. The best way to get fish back
home is to take it back as baggage. Use a soft ice chest and some Blue Ice. Dry
Ice and regular ice are not allowed on the airplane. K-Mart and Wall-Mart have both items real cheap. Take your fish back with you fresh. Don't freeze it! It will stay cold enough on even long
flights.
What if I want to have my fish
mounted? 
There are only a few places in the U.S. that
do this. Most of them are in Florida. Little or none of the actual fish goes in
to making a mount. They're commonly made of fiberglass. Sometimes actual fins or
in the case of marlin, the actual bill can be used. Bill mounts (actual bill
required) are also common. Your captain/crew will have a price list and all the
paperwork required to have these made.
What about Tag &
Release? Some fish are commonly tagged and released while
others are commonly kept, sold or eaten. The fish that is the most controversial
when it comes to the decision to keep or release is marlin. 
Until recently, most marlin were killed and eaten in Kona as sashimi, poke or smoked but due to the current logistics of getting a marlin to market, most
are now being released. According
to the National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific blue marlin, black marlin and
striped marlin stocks in the Pacific are doing OK and are not being harvested
beyond their sustainable yield so don't be alarmed if someone kills and eats 'em.
Each captain has his own policy. My policy (sometimes deviated from) is to release all marlin except the occasional small striped marlin for the dinner table, most spearfish (also good eating ), all
amberjack, almaco jack, giant trevally, sharks and any shibi (small yellowfin
& bigeye tuna) that won't be consumed by the customers.
What are my chances of catching
fish? I made a fishing season calendar. The data came from a couple of local fishing books and reports from the Western
Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council but, the one thing you should know is that fish don't know how to read calendars. 
Like party guests, they don't always show up when they should and sometimes they still
hang around when they're supposed to leave. Most Kona charters will
only troll lures or live bait. With this style, the average Kona charter only has
a catch rate of about 50%. The best Kona captains will alter their style and target species
to give you the best chance of a successful fishing day. I've maintained the highest catch rate of
any captain in Kona every year since 1997 by using a variety of fishing methods. Many that few will even try! If I'm
already booked up, I refer captains/boats that have a higher than average catch
rate.
Should I wait 'til I
get to Kona to book a charter? 
If you're looking for a
share charter it's probably OK unless it's the busy summer season or you need a
particular day. Share charters are usually put together just days in advanced.
For private charters though, it's not a good idea. The best boats are also the
busiest and may already be booked up on the day(s) you want to fish.
Booking
agents
and activity desks only book the few boats that are listed with them. They'll
usually try to steer you toward the boats that give them the biggest commission.
Just for reference, I'm only listed with one charter desk in Kona and
I'm usually already booked up when they call.
Some tourists figure that they'll just cruise the docks
and pick out a boat. Be prepared. I once heard a guy compare it to walking
through a used car lot where each car had it's own salesman.
The problem is, most of the good boats aren't on
the lot. They're out fishing or will already be booked up.
What's up with not bringing
bananas? 
Ancient Hawaiian folklore stated that
bringing bananas out fishing would bring bad luck. I have caught fish even
though there's been bananas on the boat. I've also had some of the strangest BAD
luck things happen while out fishing only to find out later that there were
bananas on the boat.
Better safe than sorry. Leave 'em at home.
What's the rule on
tipping? Well, there is no "rule" but tipping the
captain/crew is customary in Hawaii. Like all captains/crews here, I've had tips
that made my eyes pop out (WOW, thanks!)
and I've had tips that were insulting
(are you sure you can spare this?) 
even though the people obviously had a good
time. If you enjoyed your trip, you should show it. 10% is a good place to
start.
How do I know if I'm getting a
reputable captain and a safe boat? This is a hard one
to answer. It's sad, but there are some very incompetent captains operating
here, poorly maintained boats and ancient, poorly maintained fishing gear.
You
may even be surprised that when you show up to your charter boat that you're not
getting the captain you thought you were. This is where references, reputable
charter desks, referrals and agents with local knowledge come in to play. They
can quickly root out captains and boats that would make them look bad. Finding
out if the agent is "reputable" can be tough too. There are a couple of them on
the Internet that I just shake my head and wonder who their next unsuspecting
sucker will be.
I can only vouch for myself by directing you to what others say
about me in my Guest Book .
Whether you book with me or I refer another boat, my reputation is on the line.
Be assured I will only refer the best Kona has to offer.
