Kona Sportfishing Charters

NOTE: We recommend making reservations at least a month in advance to ensure your date / time is available

The Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii is famous for sportfishing and giant Blue Marlin. Bring along the family for a day filled with excitement and adventure as you join the crew of Bite Me Sportfishing, Kona's premier fishing fleet. They offer a wide selection of fishing charters - from full-day privates to half-day share trips. All boats of the Bite Me Sportfishing fleet are conveniently located at Honokohau small boat harbor which is halfway between downtown Kailua-Kona and the airport along Highway 19.

No fishing license is required. They provide all tackle, as well as ice and a cooler. All you need is to bring your own food and beverages for the day.

Bite Me I - She is a 40' luxury yacht with Gold Penn International two-speed reels, Shimano TLD graphite reels, tuna tubes, live bait wells, Rupp tournament outriggers, and a full-size Murray Brothers fighting chair.

Bite Me II - The pride of the fleet is this 46' air conditioned Hatteras which is also equipped with Gold Penn International two-speed reels, Shimano TLD graphite reels, tuna tubes, live bait wells, Rupp tournament outriggers, and a full-size Murray Brothers fighting chair. Please note that share trips are not offered on Bite Me II.

Bite Me III - She is a 40' Egg Harbor with Gold Penn International two-speed reels, Shimano TLD graphite reels, tuna tubes, live bait wells, Rupp tournament outriggers, and a full-size Murray Brothers fighting chair.

Bite Me IV - She is a 46' Delta similarly equipped to Bite Me 1 and 3.

Bite Me V - The baby of the fleet, Bite Me 5 is a 33' Island Hopper and is economical way to enjoy a private charter. She can hold 6, but if you've just got two in your party this is a good boat for you!

Private charter rate is good for 1-6 passengers. Groups larger than 6 will require a second boat. Share rate is per person. 7.1667% tax/harbor fee added to all rates. No share rates are available on Bite Me 2 & 5; only Bite Me 1, 3, and 4 offer shares. Bite Me 1, 3 and 4 are priced exactly the same and specific boat assignment is made by the tour operator. Bite Me II is slightly more expensive as it is 46' and Bite Me V is less expensive as it is 33'.

	BiteMe 1,3,4	BiteMe 2	BiteMe 5
Full Day Private - 8 hr	$695	$800	$550	6:30am
3/4 Day Private - 6 hr	$575	$600	$450	6:30am
1/2 Day Private - 4 hr	$395	$450	$350	6:30am 10:30am 2:30pm
1/2 Day Share - 4 hr	$109pp	NA	NA	6:30am 10:30am 2:30pm

When you reserve this adventure on our website your reservation will be guaranteed on your credit card. The charter is charged five days before the beginning of your vacation.

BMS / V

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS

Cruise ship passengers are able to do a half-day charter at 10:30am. A short cab ride of approximately 10 minutes is required to get from the cruise ship dock to Honokohau Harbor.

ACTIVITY TIPS

One of the things that makes Kona the BEST sportfishing location in Hawaii is the deep water that exists just offshore. This makes it possible to have a successful charter with less time getting to and from the productive fishing areas. Normally we don't recommend half-day, four hour charters but Kona is the one place where trips of this length are often successful. For your highest probability of a productive charter, you should still consider a 6 or 8 hour trip if your budget and schedule allows.

We are often asked about the policy of handling fish that are caught during the charter. Here in Hawaii it is traditional for the fish that are caught to be kept by the crew as part of their compensation (it's actually good for the visitor's fishing experience because it gives the captain and crew a greater incentive to try HARD to find the fish). While that's the general rule in Hawaii, each company has a slightly different policy. Bite Me Sportfishing's policy is that any fish under 50 pounds is normally cut up for the guests to cook in their condo (if they have cooking facilities). Larger fish are either kept by the crew for later sale to a fish market or restaurant, or tag and release is practiced. It is very important to the crew that fish that is caught is NEVER wasted ... our ocean rescources are a precious thing and that would be very bad karma.

Share charters are available on Bite Me I and Bite Me III and Bite Me 4 but we recommend that you go with a private charter if your budget allows. Sportfishing is less expensive in Kona than on other Hawaiian islands, and for two people the cost of a private charter in Kona is about the same as the cost of a share trip on Maui. With a private charter you are guaranteed to be a part of all the action, and you don't have to worry about getting stuck with someone you don't "click with" during your charter.

Please be aware that bananas are strictly forbidden on fishing boats. Everything about a banana is slippery ... everybody's heard the expression "One foot over the edge and the other on a banana peel." In time bananas became known as a symbol of bad luck that would even affect your ability to catch fish.

The other thing you shouldn't bring on board ... glass bottles. All beverages should be in cans for safety of everyone on board.

What time slot to pick? That's actually a tough call in Kona. Generally in Hawaii ocean conditions are calmer in the morning, which makes for a more pleasant experience out on the water. That's less of an issue in Kona though, because this coastline is so sheltered from the trade winds that blow in the afternoon. There are more boats out on the water in the morning, and popular spots can be rather crowded. Afternoon charters in Kona are often just as productive (or more so). We recommend that you just select the time slot that sounds the best for your schedule if you are doing a 4 hour trip. If you are doing a 6 or 8 hour, those trips both leave early in the morning.

Occassionally we get asked if there is a money-back guarantee if fish are not caught. No, sorry ... boats are expensive to operate and maintain. The fishing gear is also expensive. The crew needs to be paid. It isn't common to get skunked on a fishing charter in Kona, but it does happen on occassion. Many factors come into play that make some days excellent and other days below average  ... surface conditions, tides, schooling patterns. There's also the human element. How lucky are you??? How's your karma??? Have you been nice to people lately? It's rare, but occasionally a boat gets skunked ... there are no guarantees. Just remember ... the sport is called "fishing" and not "catching." But the crew of your boat will try their very hardest ... they are professionals who know what they are doing. When you go to a restaurant in Hawaii and see a wide variety of fresh fish on the menu, just remember that SOMEONE caught those fish ... might as well get out there and let it be YOU!

Checkin for the 6:30am trips is done at the respective boat; Bite Me I is in slip H-17, Bite me II is in slip D-7, Bite Me III is in slip D-5, Bite Me 4 is in slip G-23, and Bite Me 5 docks at the Bite Me Fish Market (which opens for breakfast at 6am). Bite Me Sportfishing has a retail store at the harbor; be sure to stop in after your charter and check out their line of logowear. Checkin for the 10:30am and 2:30pm charters is done at the retail store. See the map below for exact locations which doesn't include the newly added boats 4 and 5..

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Big Island Fishing Reservations

Upon submitting your activity reservation for processing, one copy is sent to your e-mail address so that you have a record of your order. We will make reservations for you and send an e-mail confirming all of the details. These confirmations are often sent a few minutes after your reservation, but some activities take longer to confirm than others. You will receive an e-mail confirmation by the end of the next business day at the latest. There are no tickets that you need to pick up prior to your event. Your e-mail confirmation will have all the details you need to check in and enjoy your selected activity. This saves you precious time when you arrive in Hawaii. 

A credit card is required to guarantee payment for your reservations, but in most cases WE DO NOT charge your credit card when your order is placed. Your credit card is typically charged five days before you leave for Hawaii, and a voucher is faxed to the vendor. Some activities are charged at the time of check-in and your e-mail confirmation will inform you if this is the case. If you cancel your activity after your credit card has been charged you will receive a refund less 10% to cover our credit card processing costs.

We do have one vendor that requires payment at the time that your reservation is made. These activities are clearly marked on our website with the words, "Payment required at the time of reservation."

After making reservations, you may reschedule or cancel your activity up until 48 hours prior to its start (a few activities have 72 hour cancellation policies ... see your confirmation e-mail for details). Within 48 hours of the start of your activity all reservations are final and non-refundable (unless the event is cancelled by the vendor due to weather or other factors). Due to our incredible climate here, weather cancellations are rare.  No-shows and cancellations without adequate notice are charged in full on the credit card used to secure the reservation and are non-refundable.