Aloha, and welcome to Ono fishing in Kauai aboard the Emma Nalani, our 41-foot Bertram six-pack sport fishing yacht running out of Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor. Ono, known on the mainland as Wahoo, is one of the fastest and most explosive game fish in the Pacific Ocean, and the Hawaiian name "Ono" literally translates to "delicious" — which tells you what generations of Hawaiian fishermen thought of this fish long before it ever ended up on a restaurant menu.
Ono fishing in Kauai is a high-speed, high-action experience, and when one hits a trolled lure behind the Emma Nalani, every angler on the boat knows it.
Ono fishing in Kauai produces year-round, with peak months falling between May and October when water temperatures are warmest and Ono are feeding most aggressively. Unlike Mahi or Ahi, Ono tend to be solitary or travel in small groups — so Ono fishing is often a game of covering water until you find one.
Ono patrol drop-offs and temperature breaks looking for bait. The geometry of Kauai's shelf puts us on productive ledges fast — one of the reasons the island fishes so well.
Underwater seamounts and ledges off Kauai's east and south coasts concentrate bait and attract Ono. The captain knows the structure — and runs to it.
Ono respond to fast-moving lures, so crews cover a lot of water when targeting them. Accessible on any trip type, from the half-day fishing charter on up.
Because Ono are fast and solitary, the longer trips — like the full-day or custom 10 to 12-hour — give you the best odds of multiple hookups. That said, plenty of Ono have been landed on 4-hour half-day trips, especially when the crew finds a productive ledge early in the run.
Penn International Gold 2-speed reels · 40–80 lb line · rigged for high-speed runs
Ono teeth will slice through monofilament instantly. Wire leaders are essential on every Ono setup we run.
High-speed jets and bullet-head lures that plane well at 10+ knots — the speed is what triggers the strike
Spread the pattern and cover maximum water — when Ono are solitary, the more ground you cover, the more you find
Ono fishing on the Emma Nalani is typically done at higher trolling speeds than Mahi or Marlin fishing — usually in the 8 to 12 knot range — because Ono respond to fast-moving flashy lures and they hit with no warning at all. When an Ono strikes, the reel goes from quiet to smoking hot in a single second.
The fight is short, blistering, and often over before you've fully caught your breath — but every second of it is intense.
Ono fights are short compared to Ahi or Marlin — 5 to 15 minutes depending on size — but that blistering first run stripping 100+ yards of line in a few seconds is something you won't forget. They come up fast, shiny, and delicious. Learn more about the rest of what we catch.
One of the most thrilling single-strike experiences in sport fishing. If the explosive strike and the speed of the fight sound like your kind of day, every trip we offer puts you in Ono country.
Great odds for Ono on the inshore ledges. The strike can happen anywhere — and plenty of Ono have been landed on 4-hour trips.
More water time, better odds of multiple Ono. Two extra hours to cover ground and find the solitary fish that make Ono fishing so addictive.
Ideal for combining Ono with Ahi and Mahi on the same trip. Full offshore range — cover the high-speed trolling grounds and more.
Maximum time to work the high-speed trolling grounds. The longest trip we run — built entirely around your target species. Call to book.
Not sure which trip length is right? Call Gina at 808-652-4556 — she'll tell you what's biting and put you on the right trip for Ono season.
Every charter departs at 6 AM from Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor aboard the Emma Nalani. Mahalo, and we'll see you at the dock.
Mahalo for choosing Go Fish Kauai · Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, Lihue, HI