Hawaiians have fished these waters for more than a thousand years. 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 centuries, 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.
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 bests 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.
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 or card at the dock — 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 has caught the Hawaiʻi Grand Slam — a blue marlin, ahi, mahi, and ono all in one day — four times. Most captains never do it once. Doing it four times takes twenty-two years of fishing the same water: learning where the big fish move with each season, where the schools of bait gather at sunrise, and how the current changes outside Honokōhau when the tide turns. He knows this water better than anyone in the harbor.
When he isn’t fishing, he’s hunting the hills above Kona, working his farm, or building something with his hands. He’s outside every day. That’s why he can spot a tuna 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 learned to fish the way locals here have for generations — casting from the cliffs for ulua, spearing his own octopus and eel for bait, fishing through the night when the ulua come in close to shore. In 2023, MeatEater’s Cal in the Field brought host Ryan Callaghan to Hawaiʻi to spend a night on the rocks with him, learning how it’s done.
On the Ambush he runs the boat — at the helm, reading the currents, putting baits in front of fish. On one trip off Kona — no sonar, just instinct — they hooked twelve marlin and landed seven. Most captains will fish years before they see a day like that. He’s spent his whole life on this water, and it shows in how he runs it.
The questions guests ask most.
Pacific blue marlin and yellowfin tuna (ahi) lead the spread, with mahi mahi, ono (wahoo), and shortbill spearfish in the mix year-round. Blue marlin peak June through September. Spearfish are best January through May.
That said — these are wild fish in open ocean. We know how to find them, but 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.
Yes — as of 2024, Hawaiʻi requires non-resident anglers 15 and older to hold a Recreational Marine Fishing License: $20 day, $40 week, $70 year. Buy online at fishing.hawaii.gov. Hawaiʻi residents, active-duty military, and anglers under 15 are exempt.
We agree the plan before we leave the harbor. As a rule, healthy marlin are tagged and released. Table fish are typically split: you take home what you’ll enjoy on vacation, and the rest goes to the boat. Tell us what you want and we’ll honor it.
For marlin over 500 lbs, talk to the captain. There are situations where keeping a fish that size makes sense, and we’ll discuss it on the water.
Filleting and bagging are free aboard. Most Kona operators charge to clean your catch; we don’t. You leave the dock with your fish prepped and ready to cook.
We provide snacks aboard, but not a full meal — pack your own lunch, especially for three-quarter and full-day trips. There's a microwave in the cabin if you want to warm something up. Water and ice are on the boat. Bring your own drinks too. Cans only — no glass. No bananas.
Lotion sunscreen (no spray on the deck), hat, polarized sunglasses, light layers. Your packed lunch and drinks (see “What about food?” above).
For your feet: barefoot is preferred — most days everyone on the boat is barefoot and it’s easier on the deck. If you’d rather wear something, rubber-bottom boat shoes only. No street shoes, no black soles, no anything that’ll mark the teak.
Honokōhau Harbor — ten minutes north of downtown Kailua-Kona and five from the airport. Ask Mark when you call to book — he’ll set your start time, text you the slip number, and tell you where to park.
Kona rarely cancels — the leeward side of the Big Island is the protected side. If conditions truly aren’t safe, the captain calls it and you get a full refund.
Kona is one of the calmest fishing destinations in the world. Take Dramamine or Bonine the night before and the morning of, eat a light breakfast, and lay off the alcohol the night before. You'll be fine.
Call. The fastest way to lock in a date is a phone call — you can ask about the current bite and we’ll set the day right then. No deposit required. Pay the captain at the end of the trip — cash or credit.
Tell us your dates. We'll give you the bite report, the openings, and the plan.
Reserve by phone (808) 366-4808
