Waterlands

Species guide · Hawaii

Yellowfin tuna fishing in Hawaii

Thunnus albacares, a pelagic species also called ahi, yellowfin and allison tuna. Listed for the Hawaii region. Off season, about 20 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Chuuk Coastal Waters at 35, one of 4 Hawaii bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Off season
Where it's scoring nowAll Hawaii waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

Hawaii

Off season, about 20 more weeks
  1. Jan: Off season
  2. Feb: Off season
  3. Mar: Off season
  4. Apr: Shoulder season
  5. May: Peak season
  6. Jun: Peak season
  7. Jul: Peak season
  8. Aug: Peak season
  9. Sep: Peak season
  10. Oct: Shoulder season
  11. Nov: Off season
  12. Dec: Off season

Peak: May to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Oct.

Research notes, Hawaii region

Caught year-round but most abundant May through September (Hawaii Seafood Council). Smaller fish hold around FADs and seamounts; fish over 100 pounds come from deeper open water.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 4

Hawaii bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's yellowfin tuna score this hour.

1
35Fair
Chuuk Coastal Waters

Best window today 11 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35)

2
35Fair
Kosrae Coastal Waters

Best window today 12 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35)

3
35Fair
Majuro Coastal Waters

Best window today 1 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35)

4
35Fair
Pohnpei Coastal Waters

Best window today 12 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35)

Not scored in this forecast: Alenuihaha Channel, Big Island Leeward Waters, Big Island Southeast Waters, Big Island Windward Waters, Kaiwi Channel, Kauai Channel, Kauai Leeward Waters, Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Maalaea Bay, Maui County Leeward Waters, Maui County Windward Waters, Oahu Leeward Waters, Oahu Windward Waters, Pailolo Channel and Waters out to 40 Nautical Miles.

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 66°F to 88°F, best between 72°F and 82°F.
Water depth
100 to 10000 ft of water.
Structure
Bluewater, canyon, ledge, bank, pinnacle and open water, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers moving water, with light current.Tide stage has little influence offshore. Current edges, eddies (warm-core eddies in the Gulf), temperature breaks and bait around platforms and FADs drive the bite.
Light
Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
Pressure
Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits
20 kt of wind and 6 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Yellowfin feed in blue water along canyon edges, the shelf break, current edges, deepwater platforms and FADs, usually from the surface to about 300 feet. Troll ballyhoo, spreader bars and cedar plugs early in the day, then chunk butterfish or sardines, fish live hardtails, or drop jigs to marks. Around Gulf platforms and in the canyons the night bite on chunks and jigs is often better than the day.

Methods
trolling, chunking, live bait, vertical jigging, popping
Lures
skirted ballyhoo rigs, spreader bars, daisy chains, cedar plugs, diving plugs, butterfly and knife jigs, poppers
Bait
ballyhoo, butterfish chunks, sardine, live blue runner (hardtail), squid, flying fish

Regulations

DLNR DAR saltwater regulations Buy a Hawaii fishing license License types

Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. Synced with DLNR DAR Nov 4, 2026.

No reviewed yellowfin tuna rule for Hawaii is on file yet. Check with DLNR DAR before you keep one.

Other Hawaii species