Bluewater. Big fish. Big Island.
Reserve by phone (808) 366-4808 Call to Book
Hawaiians have fished these waters for generations. Long before sport fishing, the moana — the open ocean — fed these islands.
That history runs through every Kona charter — and every captain and crew who chooses to fish here. We're proud to be part of a tradition that goes back generations, and we take it seriously. When you step aboard Ambush, you're part of it for the day. That's a piece of what makes fishing in Kona different from fishing anywhere else.
We want this to be a day you'll talk about for years — big fish, big stories, real fishing. We also fish with kuleana, the Hawaiian word for the responsibility that comes with what's been entrusted to you. Healthy marlin are tagged and released, we take only what gets eaten, and we leave the water the way we found it. If you bring that same spirit aboard — respect for the fish, the ocean, and the people who fished these waters long before us — the day takes care of itself.
See all 8 big-game species, when each one is biting, and what makes Kona one of the best fishing spots in the world.
These are wild fish in open ocean — the bite isn’t guaranteed, and no honest captain will promise it. What we can promise is the boat. Ambush is built for this — one of the most capable rigs in Honokōhau Harbor. When fish are biting, we have what it takes to put you on them.
Some days they cooperate. Some days they don’t. Either way, you’ll have a story.
Career best aboard Ambush800lbBlue marlin·275lbYellowfin tuna
Bring a camera. The fight, the gaff shot, the dock photo — those are the parts you’ll want to keep. Curious what’s biting and when? See the full species guide →
Standard etiquette is 15–20% of the trip, with 20% being customary in Kona. On a $1,500 day, that’s $225–$300 for the captain and crew. Cash, check, or Venmo at the end of the trip — not required, just appreciated. Mahalo.
The water off Kailua-Kona is some of the prettiest you’ll see anywhere. A day on Ambush in that water is the kind of thing that stays with you — fish or no fish, you’ll come back to the dock with a story.
One trip. One price. Your group on the boat, up to four anglers. Call to lock in a date.
Two captains. Decades on the same water. One trip a day, with the boat to yourselves.
Mark is one of the top captains in Kona. He has caught the Hawaiian Grand Slam four times. That means landing a marlin, an ahi, a mahi, and an ono — all four fish — in a single day. Most captains never do it once. Mark has done it four times. He has also had days where the boat hooked twelve marlin and landed seven, with no sonar. His biggest fish to date is an 800-pound marlin. He has also landed a 275-pound ahi — both at the high end of what these waters produce. The local paper, West Hawaiʻi Today, has listed him on its Big-Fish List every year since 2014. He has fished this same water for twenty-two years and knows where the big fish move with each season.
When Mark is not fishing, he is hunting in the hills above Kona, working his farm, or building something with his hands. He is outside every day. That is why he can spot an ahi feeding a quarter mile away — before anyone else on the boat has even seen the birds above it.
Jordan grew up on the Big Island and has fished here his whole life. He learned to fish the way Hawaiians have for generations. He is an expert in every kind of fishing Kona has to offer — shore fishing for ulua off the cliffs at night, spearfishing on the reef, kayak fishing offshore for ahi, and deep-water fishing on the Ambush. He also competes in local tournaments. He spears his own octopus and eel for bait. In 2023, MeatEater’s Cal in the Field flew host Ryan Callaghan to Hawaiʻi to fish with him. They spent a night on the rocks together going after ulua — a fish most anglers only catch from a boat.
All those years of shoreline fishing made Jordan a great captain offshore too. He is USCG-licensed and runs the Ambush alongside Mark. With Jordan at the helm, the boat has landed several marlin over six hundred pounds. Those fish can fight for hours, and the captain has to read the water and put the boat in the right place. Jordan has fished these waters his whole life. The boat is in good hands when he is at the wheel.
The questions guests ask most.
$1,500 for a nine-hour day aboard Ambush. Up to four anglers, all-inclusive — tackle, bait, ice, snacks, and dockside fish cleaning and filleting. No fuel surcharge, no add-ons at the dock. The price is the price.
Nine hours is the longest standard charter in the Kona market. Because Kona’s deep water is right outside the harbor mouth, every hour we’re out is fishing time. Payment at the end of the day — cash, check, or Venmo. No deposit to book.
Ambush fishes year-round. Summer (June through September) is peak Pacific blue marlin — the boat is rigged heavy for it. Winter into spring (January through May) is shortbill spearfish, striped marlin, and mahi mahi running thick. Yellowfin tuna (ahi) and ono (wahoo) are year-round.
See the full month-by-month calendar → for every species and its peak months.
For this week’s actual bite report, call Captain Mark: (808) 366-4808. He fishes this water every day.
Yes — non-resident anglers 15 and older need a Hawaiʻi Recreational Marine Fishing License: $20 day, $40 week, $70 year. Buy online at fishing.hawaii.gov. Mark will remind you when you book. Hawaiʻi residents, active-duty military, and anglers under 15 are exempt.
No experience required. Captain Mark and Co-Captain Jordan handle the boat, gear, rigging, strategy, and fish-fighting coaching. First-timers land marlin and tuna aboard Ambush regularly.
Bring respect for the fish and the ocean — we teach you the rest on the water.
The fastest way to get up to speed: read the Kona species guide →. It covers every fish that swims this water, the months each one bites, the size they get, and the technique we use to catch them. Five minutes of reading and you'll know more than most first-timers who step on the boat.
Then call Mark with any questions: (808) 366-4808.
Call Captain Mark: (808) 366-4808. He’ll give you the bite report, confirm your date, text you the meeting details, and set your start time. No deposit required to book.
If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the captain calls it and we rebook you on the next available day. No penalty, no fee. Kona rarely cancels — the Big Island blocks the trade winds and the leeward seas stay calm most days.
Ambush is a 40-foot Gamefisherman — a custom-built sportfishing hull out of Honokōhau Harbor. Rigged for serious fishing: Furuno Omni 360-degree sonar, twin 34-foot outriggers, tuna tower, fighting chair, full electronics, and the tackle to handle a grander if she shows up.
Captained by Mark Bartell with Co-Captain Jordan Kilkenny. Up to four anglers. Built to find fish and built to fight them.
Aboard Ambush: Pacific blue marlin and yellowfin tuna (ahi) are the headliners, with mahi mahi, ono (wahoo), and shortbill spearfish in the mix year-round.
These are wild fish in open ocean. No captain can promise a catch on any given day. What we can promise is a real shot at the bite, on a boat rigged for it, with a captain who fishes this water for a living.
Want the full breakdown by species? See the Kona species guide → for every fish, when it bites, and how big it gets.
We agree the plan before we leave the harbor. Healthy marlin are tagged and released. Table fish are typically split — you take home what you’ll enjoy on vacation, the rest stays with the boat. Tell us what you want and we’ll honor it. For marlin over 500 lbs, talk to the captain.
Filleting and bagging are free aboard Ambush. Most Kona operators charge to clean your catch; we don’t. You leave the dock with your fish prepped and ready to cook.
Kona is one of the calmest fishing destinations in the world — the Big Island blocks the trade winds and the leeward seas stay flat most days. Aboard Ambush, the fighting chair and the open teak deck give you stable footing.
Take Dramamine or Bonine the night before and the morning of, eat a light breakfast, lay off alcohol the night before. You’ll be fine.
Honokōhau Harbor — ten minutes north of downtown Kailua-Kona, five minutes from Kona International Airport. The harbor sits on the protected leeward side of the Big Island, and the Kona drop-off is minutes from the breakwater — which is why we’re fishing the moment we clear the harbor mouth.
Mark will set your start time when you call to book, then text you your exact meeting point and where to park.
To wear: lotion sunscreen (no spray on the deck), hat, polarized sunglasses, light layers.
For your feet: barefoot is preferred — everyone on the boat is barefoot most days. If you’d rather wear something, rubber-bottom boat shoes only. No black soles, no street shoes, no anything that’ll mark the teak.
Food: pack your own lunch. We have snacks, ice, and water on board, plus a microwave in the cabin if you want to warm something up. Bring your own drinks — cans only, no glass, no bananas.
15–20% of the charter price is standard. On a $1,500 day aboard Ambush, that’s $225–$300, handed to the crew at the end of the trip.
Tip more if the crew worked hard for the bite, hauled a tough fish, or made the day memorable. Cash if possible, separate from the charter payment.
Tell us your dates. We'll give you the bite report, the openings, and the plan.
Reserve by phone (808) 366-4808
