Aloha, and meet Emma Nalani, the heart of Go Fish Kauai. She's a 41-foot, 17-ton Bertram 38 Convertible III Sport Fisher, USCG-licensed as a six-pack charter — the industry term for a licensed six-passenger sport fishing boat and the legal max in Hawaiian waters — and she's built for the kind of deep-sea sport fishing that Kauai's offshore waters demand.
The Emma Nalani isn't a rental pulled from a generic charter pool. She's home. Every morning before first light, her twin turbo diesel engines rumble awake at Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, and every afternoon she returns with a cooler that tells the story of another good day on the blue water.
Whether you're on a 4-hour sport fishing trip or a 12-hour custom day, the boat you're on matters. The Emma Nalani was built for exactly this, and every feature on board is there for a reason.
16 feet above the water with seating for six — panoramic view of the action and the beautiful Kauai coastline. Spots bait before the lines ever bend.
Shade, seating, and shelter when the trade winds pick up. A genuine comfort upgrade for families and guests on multi-hour trips.
A real bathroom aboard — one of the reasons families choose the Emma Nalani over smaller boats. Not a detail you'll miss until you need it.
109 square feet of working cockpit — room to rotate anglers, fight fish, manage multiple rods, and spread out on long trips.
Mounted, rigged, and ready for trophy marlin. Designed for the long, punishing battle — not for posing at the dock.
Custom rods and Penn International Gold reels, maintained to tournament standard. The gear that's landed hundreds of fish in Kauai waters.
Her flybridge sits 16 feet above the water, and that changes everything. From up there, you can see the birds working a bait ball before the lines ever bend. That's the Emma Nalani's edge — and it's one of the reasons her cooler fills up on days when other boats strike out.
Only 331 built, 1978–1987. The ones still in the water are there for a reason. The Emma Nalani is one of them — and she keeps fishing year after year.
Bertram is a legendary name in American sport fishing, and the 38 Convertible III is arguably the best-selling 38-foot sport fisher ever built. Only 331 were produced between 1978 and 1987, and the ones still in the water are there for a reason: they run. The Emma Nalani is one of them — with a hull built for the offshore water around the Hawaiian islands.
Kauai's waters can be rougher than the other Hawaiian islands, with no real lee side to hide behind when weather moves in. The Emma Nalani handles it without a problem. That's why she's at the dock every morning, and why Gina trusts her with guests who've flown across the Pacific for one good day of fishing.
Deep-vee hull slices through trade-wind chop instead of pounding through it — the difference between a comfortable day and a miserable one.
Stable in rolling seas, comfortable for guests. No bouncing-around seasickness on a 17-ton boat that was designed to be offshore.
Real working fishing space — big enough for full big-game rigs, rotating anglers, and the kind of fish that require room to fight.
Four-plus decades of proven offshore service in Hawaiian and Pacific waters. These hulls have been fishing since before most of our guests were born.
Not a converted cruiser. Not a repurposed yacht. Every inch was designed around landing fish — and it shows from the moment you step aboard.
Every trip Go Fish Kauai runs happens on the Emma Nalani — same boat, same crew, same aloha on every single charter. Six guests max. Here's how to plan your day.
Great for first-timers, families with young anglers, or anyone short on time. Still plenty of water to cover and fish to find.
The sweet spot for most guests — enough offshore range to reach productive water, and enough time to work it properly. Mahi, Ono, and Ahi all come in on this trip.
Best for Marlin and serious offshore fishing. Eight hours of range to run deep, work the 1,000-fathom ledge, and hunt the species that require real time offshore.
Maximum time on the water. Built entirely around your target species and conditions. Trophy Marlin hunters and serious offshore anglers book this trip. Call to reserve.
Not sure which trip length is right? Call Gina at 808-652-4556 for same-week or last-minute availability, or to plan the day around current conditions.
A Hawaii marine fishing license is required for all non-residents aged 15 and older. You can buy online at fishing.hawaii.gov ahead of time, or scan the QR code on the Emma Nalani the morning of your trip. Licenses are valid for 7 days and cost around $26. You bring your food and drinks — everything else is on board.
Book online through our reservation system, or call Gina directly at 808-652-4556. Every charter departs at 6 AM from Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor. Mahalo, and we'll see you aboard the Emma Nalani.
Mahalo for choosing Go Fish Kauai · Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, Lihue, HI