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, Oahu | Raymond J. Pregana Sep 19, 2014 |
| Bonito, Striped 13.51 lbs | North Moloka’i | Dedric Manaba Feb 5, 2019 |
| Kawakawa (Wavyback Skipjack) 33.37 lbs | Moloka’i | Capt. Eric Hawkins Jun 28, 2014 |
| Mackerel, Frigate 3 lbs, 11 oz | Maili Point, O’ahu | Edward Narimasu Aug 26, 2000 |
| Tuna, Albacore 89.2 lbs | Pohiki, Hawaii | Louis Bolos Jr. Apr 1, 2011 |
| Tuna, Bigeye 277 lbs, 5 oz | Poho’iki, Hawai’i | Jason Van Den Hende Thomas Pantalion Charley Lively Jul 22, 2013 |
| Tuna, Bluefin 376 lbs | Kumukahi Point, Hawaii | Jeffry C. Fear Aug 13, 1983 |
| Tuna, Skipjack 40 lbs, 8 oz | Haleiwa | David Borgman Jul 2, 2000 |
| Tuna, Yellowfin 325 lbs | Lana’i | Joey Cabell Jul 13, 1990 |
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’i | Lei Aloha Jul 19, 1980 |
| Marlin, Blue 1,805 lbs | Wai’anae, O’ahu | Gail Choy-Kaleiki Jun 10, 1970 |
| Marlin, Striped 212 lbs | Keahole Point, Hawai’i | Bickerstaff and Clark families 03/25/11 |
| Sailfish 151 lbs | Punalu’u, Hawai’i | Rodney Takaki May 5, 2013 |
| Spearfish 76.8 lbs | North Shore, Maui | Alan Cadiz Nov 20, 2011 |
| Swordfish 503 lbs | Kona, Hawai’i | Josh Bunch Jun 15, 2006 |
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’i | Eric Hawkins Jan 10, 2013 |
| Louvar 225 lbs | Kona, Hawaii | Capt. Molly Palmer Jul 22, 2013 |
| Mahimahi (Dorado, Dolphinfish) 82 lbs | Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i | Kathy Hunter Sep 24, 1987 |
| Ono (Wahoo) 133.2 lbs | Pohoiki, Hawaii | Tom Brandt & Sky Mullins Dec 2, 2000 |
| Opah (Moonfish) 138 lbs | Kona, Hawai’i | Capt. Dale Leverone Apr 11, 2005 |
| Shark, Mako 1,207 lbs | Kona, Hawai’i | Jodie Daniels Mar 2, 1990 |
| Shark, Thresher 952 lbs | Kona, Hawaii | John Patterson Bill Rhee Mar 30, 2007 |
| Sunfish (Mola Mola) 575 lbs | Palaoa Point Lighthouse, Lana’i | Capt. Dan Shaffer Jun 11, 1995 |
| Yellowtail 20.67 lbs | Waimea Bay, Oahu | Michael Billena Oct 18, 2020 |
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 | Maui | Russell Mori Feb 27, 1989 |
| Snapper, Long-tailed Red (Onaga) 34 lbs, 3 oz | Niihau | Marvin Lum Sep 16, 2020 |
| Snapper, Pink (Opakapaka) 21 lbs | Niihau | Jubilee Logan Nov 11, 2022 |
| Walu (Oil Fish) 125.5 lbs | South Point, Oahu | Gabe Hoover Sep 7, 2018 |
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, Maui | Dean Hayashi Mar 22, 1992 |
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, Hawaii | David Cabreros Dec 12, 2017 |
| Trevally, Giant (White Ulua) 191 lbs | Lahaina, Maui | Al Gadow Jan 14, 1980 |
| Trevally, Mirror (Kagami, African Pompano) 55 lbs | North Shore, O’ahu | Joseph Starkey May 28, 2014 |
| Tripletail 11 lbs, 9 oz | West, Kauai | KC Ornellas Mar 11, 2017 |
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’ahu | Darryl Nakasone Oct 26, 1985 |
| Knifejaw, Spotted 20 lbs | Hamakua Coast, Big Island | Wayne Cypriano May 24, 2017 |
| Milkfish (Awa) 44 lbs | Lehua, Niihau | David Hudcovic Jul 13, 2003 |
| ‘O’io (Bonefish) 18 lbs, 2 oz | Hawai’i | William Badua 1954 |
| ‘O’io, Sharpjaw (Bonefish) 15 lbs, 9 oz | Nanakuli, Oahu | Aly Melonson Feb 13, 2022 |
| Parrotfish, Redlip (uhu) 18 lbs, 1 oz | Uaoa Bay, Maui | William C. Mahin Mar 18, 2001 |
| Porcupine Fish 17 lbs, 12 oz | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii | Merrick Nishimoto Jan 24, 2003 |
| Triggerfish, Finescale 16.28 lbs | Ka’ena Point, Oahu | Hoala Greevy Feb 2, 2013 |
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, Hawaii | Garrick Fukuyama Dec 5, 2013 |
| Eel, Moray 81 lbs | North Kona, Big Island | Jordan Kilkenny Mar 13, 2011 |
| Octopus 25.95 lbs | Wahiawa, O’ahu | Michael Matsunaga Aug 30, 2022 |
| Squid, Diamondback 33.8 lbs | Hilo, Hawai’i | Nicholas “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’i | Barry Brun Nov 5, 1990 |
| Bass, Smallmouth 4.98 lbs | Secret Location | Chad Boteilho Feb 7, 2004 |
| Bluegill 8 oz | Lake Wilson, O’ahu | June Rae Maeda Jun 9, 2000 |
| Carp, Grass 15 lbs | Wailoa River, Hawai’i | Avery Berido Sep 13, 2013 |
| Catfish, Channel 43 lbs, 13 oz | Lake Wilson, O’ahu | Dayton Miyamura Mar 24, 1974 |
| Catfish, Chinese 2 lbs, 11 oz | Nu’uanu Reservoir | Madeline 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, Oahu | Steve Winner Jun 16, 2012 |
| ‘O’opu ‘akupa 6.7 oz | Hilo, Hawaii | Jesse Fernandez Dec 30, 2018 |
| Oopu Nakea 6 oz | Nu’uanu Stream, Oahu | Norton T.M. Chan Feb 7, 2010 |
| Oscar 2 lbs, 6 oz | Lake Wilson, O’ahu | Hugh Okuma Aug 27, 1976 |
| Pacu 27 lbs, 9.6 oz | Manoa, Oahu | Duke Sawa Nov 27, 2016 |
| Pongee (Snakehead) 7 lbs, 0.25 oz | Lake Wilson, O’ahu | Ann Hart Oct 24, 1977 |
| Red Devil 1.16 lbs | Lake Wilson, O’ahu | Denton Miyamura Jun 24, 2007 |
| Tilapia, Nile (tie) 10.2 lbs | Wailoa State Park, Hawaii | Dexter Aoki Nov 20, 2021 |
| Tilapia, Nile (tie) 10.2 lbs | Wailoa State Park, Hawaii | Bronson Sugahara Dec 16, 2021 |
| Trout, Rainbow 5 lbs, 10 oz | Koke’e, Kaua’i | Mark 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.