Maui, the second largest island in the Hawaiian Island chain, was a well-known port for whale hunters and merchant ships in the early 1800s. The deep and warm waters off of Lahaina are humpback whale breeding and birthing. The same waters are filled with large game fish for those with the skill, patience, and luck to catch them.
Fishing Grounds
Most Maui deep sea fishing charters head out from Lahaina Harbor, but some may also come out of Molokai's Kaunakakai Harbor. Because Maui County consists of four islands, there are many spots considered as part of the Maui fisherman's experience. Off of Lahaina's shores, between Lanai and Kahoolawe, is a channel proven to yield large sport fish. Charters will also take you to the west side of Lanai, the northern shores of Molokai, or the shoals off of the southern tip of Kahoolawe.
Fish of Sport
Sport fishermen seek approximately 10 species of large game fish. The Pacific blue marlin is the king, with a record weight of 1,805 pounds. But fisherman are just as happy with the smaller of the deep ocean channel fighters, such as the stripped marlin, the black marlin, and the swordfish. Spearfish and sailfish are also very popular catches, with dolphinfish, wahoo, and tuna being among the most popular culinary catches (locally known as the mahimahi, ono, and ahi respectively).
Increasing Probability
The highest charters have a proven track record of finding the fish. Some use sonar and other high-tech methods of tracking schools of fish whereas others use decades of family experience and ocean understanding to locate fish. Anglers must be aware of the ahi's flustering of the ocean surface while hunting. Seabirds can also be good indications of a school on the move.
Baiting
Game fish don't smell the bait; they see it. This is why synthetic lures often work well, creating the right amount of movement with the right amount of shimmer as they troll through the waters. Many well-respected anglers, though, use live-baiting methods to catch the big one. In fact, the gamefish skipjack tuna, called aku in the islands, is often caught and released as live bait in hunts for the large blue marlin. It is not uncommon for live baiting to attract sharks also.
Reeling the Catch In
Landing a fish and bringing it into a boat are two very different things. Game fish are known for strength and spirit, often taking deep dives combined with long runs from a boat. Reeling a fish in requires a team effort, with the captain following the fish, spotters keeping an eye on it, and anglers working the ebb and flow of letting the fish run and fighting it to tire it out. It may take several hours to bring in a fish more than two hundred pounds.
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