Hawaii Game Fish Records

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Updated: February 2024

The following tables represent a simplified list of Hawaii game fish records.

The Hawaii Fishing News (HFN) tracks state fishing records for the state and was our source for this article.

We’ve included all species in some of the categories the HFN approves, while others have so many smaller or lesser-known species to track that we’ve left it to them to provide you with the full records while we’ve given a sampling that includes some of the more popular or larger species.

We also have not included the crustaceans category that you’ll find on HFN’s website.

Follow the source links below any of the tables to access this organization’s full record list.

If you think you’ve caught your own record sport fish in Hawaiian saltwater or freshwater, be sure to check out the resources I’ve linked at the bottom of this page and follow their process.

Saltwater Fishing Records

Tuna

The following is a complete list of game fish records for the tuna species.

Bonito, Eastern Pacific
1.0085 lbs
Kaneohe Bay, OahuRaymond J. Pregana
Sep 19, 2014
Bonito, Striped
13.51 lbs
North Moloka’iDedric Manaba
Feb 5, 2019
Kawakawa
(Wavyback Skipjack)
33.37 lbs
Moloka’iCapt. Eric Hawkins
Jun 28, 2014
Mackerel, Frigate
3 lbs, 11 oz
Maili Point, O’ahuEdward Narimasu
Aug 26, 2000
Tuna, Albacore
89.2 lbs
Pohiki, HawaiiLouis Bolos Jr.
Apr 1, 2011
Tuna, Bigeye
277 lbs, 5 oz
Poho’iki, Hawai’iJason Van Den Hende
Thomas Pantalion
Charley Lively
Jul 22, 2013
Tuna, Bluefin
376 lbs
Kumukahi Point, HawaiiJeffry C. Fear
Aug 13, 1983
Tuna, Skipjack
40 lbs, 8 oz
HaleiwaDavid Borgman
Jul 2, 2000
Tuna, Yellowfin
325 lbs
Lana’iJoey Cabell
Jul 13, 1990
Source: Hawaii Fishing News

Marlin

The following is a complete list of game fish records for the marlin and billfish species.

Marlin, Black
1,205 lbs
Red Hill, Hawai’iLei Aloha
Jul 19, 1980
Marlin, Blue
1,805 lbs
Wai’anae, O’ahuGail Choy-Kaleiki
Jun 10, 1970
Marlin, Striped
212 lbs
Keahole Point, Hawai’iBickerstaff and
Clark families
03/25/11
Sailfish
151 lbs
Punalu’u, Hawai’iRodney Takaki
May 5, 2013
Spearfish
76.8 lbs
North Shore, MauiAlan Cadiz
Nov 20, 2011
Swordfish
503 lbs
Kona, Hawai’iJosh Bunch
Jun 15, 2006
Source: Hawaii Fishing News

Pelagics

The following category includes a selection of some more noteworthy pelagic species of game fish that can qualify for state records. Use the source link below the table to see the full list from Hawaii Fishing News.

Kamanu
(Rainbow Runner)
42 lbs 8 oz
Moloka’iEric Hawkins
Jan 10, 2013
Louvar
225 lbs
Kona, HawaiiCapt. Molly Palmer
Jul 22, 2013
Mahimahi
(Dorado, Dolphinfish)
82 lbs
Kailua-Kona, Hawai’iKathy Hunter
Sep 24, 1987
Ono (Wahoo)
133.2 lbs
Pohoiki, HawaiiTom Brandt & Sky Mullins
Dec 2, 2000
Opah (Moonfish)
138 lbs
Kona, Hawai’iCapt. Dale Leverone
Apr 11, 2005
Shark, Mako
1,207 lbs
Kona, Hawai’iJodie Daniels
Mar 2, 1990
Shark, Thresher
952 lbs
Kona, HawaiiJohn Patterson
Bill Rhee
Mar 30, 2007
Sunfish (Mola Mola)
575 lbs
Palaoa Point Lighthouse, Lana’iCapt. Dan Shaffer
Jun 11, 1995
Yellowtail
20.67 lbs
Waimea Bay, OahuMichael Billena
Oct 18, 2020
Source: Hawaii Fishing News

Bottom Fish

The following category includes a small selection of some more noteworthy bottom fish species of game fish that can qualify for state records. Use the source link below the table to see the full list from Hawaii Fishing News.

Seabass, Giant
(Hapu’upu’u)
563 lbs
MauiRussell Mori
Feb 27, 1989
Snapper, Long-tailed Red
(Onaga)
34 lbs, 3 oz
NiihauMarvin Lum
Sep 16, 2020
Snapper, Pink
(Opakapaka)
21 lbs
NiihauJubilee Logan
Nov 11, 2022
Walu (Oil Fish)
125.5 lbs
South Point, OahuGabe Hoover
Sep 7, 2018
Source: Hawaii Fishing News

Midwater Fish

The following category includes a very small selection of some more noteworthy midwater fish species of game fish that can qualify for state records. Use the source link below the table to see the full list from Hawaii Fishing News.

Baracuda (Kaku)
77 lbs
Olowalu, MauiDean Hayashi
Mar 22, 1992
Source: Hawaii Fishing News

Wide-Range Fish

The following category includes a small selection of some more noteworthy wide-ranging fish species of game fish that can qualify for state records. Use the source link below the table to see the full list from Hawaii Fishing News.

Amberjack (Kahala)
153 lbs
South Point, HawaiiDavid Cabreros
Dec 12, 2017
Trevally, Giant
(White Ulua)
191 lbs
Lahaina, MauiAl Gadow
Jan 14, 1980
Trevally, Mirror
(Kagami, African Pompano)
55 lbs
North Shore, O’ahuJoseph Starkey
May 28, 2014
Tripletail
11 lbs, 9 oz
West, KauaiKC Ornellas
Mar 11, 2017
Source: Hawaii Fishing News

Nearshore Fish

The following category includes a small selection of some more noteworthy or larger nearshore fish species of game fish that can qualify for state records. Use the source link below the table to see the much longer full list from Hawaii Fishing News.

Awaawa (Ladyfish)
22 lbs, 3 oz
Pearl Harbor, O’ahuDarryl Nakasone
Oct 26, 1985
Knifejaw, Spotted
20 lbs
Hamakua Coast, Big IslandWayne Cypriano
May 24, 2017
Milkfish (Awa)
44 lbs
Lehua, NiihauDavid Hudcovic
Jul 13, 2003
‘O’io (Bonefish)
18 lbs, 2 oz
Hawai’iWilliam Badua
1954
‘O’io, Sharpjaw
(Bonefish)
15 lbs, 9 oz
Nanakuli, OahuAly Melonson
Feb 13, 2022
Parrotfish, Redlip (uhu)
18 lbs, 1 oz
Uaoa Bay, MauiWilliam C. Mahin
Mar 18, 2001
Porcupine Fish
17 lbs, 12 oz
Kailua-Kona, HawaiiMerrick Nishimoto
Jan 24, 2003
Triggerfish, Finescale
16.28 lbs
Ka’ena Point, OahuHoala Greevy
Feb 2, 2013
Source: Hawaii Fishing News

Squid/Octopus/Eels

The following category includes a selection of some larger species in this category. Use the source link below the table to see the much longer full list from Hawaii Fishing News.

Eel, Conger (Tohei)
28.27 lbs
Upolu/Kohala, HawaiiGarrick Fukuyama
Dec 5, 2013
Eel, Moray
81 lbs
North Kona, Big IslandJordan Kilkenny
Mar 13, 2011
Octopus
25.95 lbs
Wahiawa, O’ahuMichael Matsunaga
Aug 30, 2022
Squid, Diamondback
33.8 lbs
Hilo, Hawai’iNicholas “Nikko” Eterovich
Feb 2, 2022

Freshwater Fishing Records

The following table is a complete listing of freshwater sport fishing records in Hawaii.

Bass, Largemouth
9 lbs, 9.4 oz
Waita Reservoir,
Kaua’i
Dickie Broyles
Jan 26, 1992
Bass, Peacock
(Tucunare)
9 lbs, 4.2 oz
Lihu’e, Kaua’iBarry Brun
Nov 5, 1990
Bass, Smallmouth
4.98 lbs
Secret LocationChad Boteilho
Feb 7, 2004
Bluegill
8 oz
Lake Wilson, O’ahuJune Rae Maeda
Jun 9, 2000
Carp, Grass
15 lbs
Wailoa River, Hawai’iAvery Berido
Sep 13, 2013
Catfish, Channel
43 lbs, 13 oz
Lake Wilson, O’ahuDayton Miyamura
Mar 24, 1974
Catfish, Chinese
2 lbs, 11 oz
Nu’uanu ReservoirMadeline Pang Heather
Sep 2, 2006
Cichlid, Banded Jewel
0.4 lbs
Kahana Valley,
Upper water gauge pool
Fil Kentfield
Oct 24, 2019
Cichlid, Jaguar
3.28 lbs
Lake Wilson, OahuSteve Winner
Jun 16, 2012
‘O’opu ‘akupa
6.7 oz
Hilo, HawaiiJesse Fernandez
Dec 30, 2018
Oopu Nakea
6 oz
Nu’uanu Stream, OahuNorton T.M. Chan
Feb 7, 2010
Oscar
2 lbs, 6 oz
Lake Wilson, O’ahuHugh Okuma
Aug 27, 1976
Pacu
27 lbs, 9.6 oz
Manoa, OahuDuke Sawa
Nov 27, 2016
Pongee (Snakehead)
7 lbs, 0.25 oz
Lake Wilson, O’ahuAnn Hart
Oct 24, 1977
Red Devil
1.16 lbs
Lake Wilson, O’ahuDenton Miyamura
Jun 24, 2007
Tilapia, Nile (tie)
10.2 lbs
Wailoa State Park, HawaiiDexter Aoki
Nov 20, 2021
Tilapia, Nile (tie)
10.2 lbs
Wailoa State Park, HawaiiBronson Sugahara
Dec 16, 2021
Trout, Rainbow
5 lbs, 10 oz
Koke’e, Kaua’iMark I. Sueyasu
Aug 7, 1991

Setting a Hawaii Fishing Record

If you think you’ve just set a new fishing record for a saltwater or freshwater fish you caught in Hawaii, be sure to check out the full listings of curren game fish records at the Hawaii Fishing News’ State Records page.

That page includes contact information as well as a link to download the official application. That form includes the simple verification process you’ll need to follow to claim your spot in Hawaii fishing history.