When is pacific blue marlin season in Hawaii?

Hawaii keeps pacific blue marlin open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Hawaii bag limit for pacific blue marlin?

The Hawaii daily bag limit for pacific blue marlin is No state daily bag limit; federal HMS billfish recreational rules + tournament tag-and-release standard apply. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size pacific blue marlin can you keep in Hawaii?

The Hawaii size rule for pacific blue marlin is No state minimum; federal HMS recreational rules apply. Trophy rule: Trophy 'grander' blue marlin (1000+ lb) is the rare lifetime trophy class; IGFA all-tackle Pacific blue marlin world record 1,376 lb (1982, Honokōhau); Hawaiʻi Charter Boat Association strongly encourages tag-and-release.

Do you need a license to fish for pacific blue marlin in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii requires a valid fishing license to fish for pacific blue marlin, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Hawaii license — compare resident and non-resident Hawaii fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for pacific blue marlin in Hawaii?

Yes. In Hawaii, pacific blue marlin fishing carries these gear rules: Heavy stand-up + chair conventional 80-130 lb tackle + large skirted lures standard; Tag-and-release dominant ethic under Hawaiian International Billfish Association + IGFA tournament rules; Federal NOAA HMS billfish rules apply (Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council); Commercial sale of catch requires Hawaiʻi Commercial Marine Licence (CML) + federal HMS billfish permit (kajiki is one of the few billfish species commercially landable); NO state recreational licence required (Hawaiʻi-only open-access model); Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument waters closed to commercial fishing; recreational only by permit.

Do specific Hawaii waters have different pacific blue marlin rules?

Yes. 3 named Hawaii waters carry rules that override the statewide pacific blue marlin regulation, including Kona Coast — Honokōhau Harbor, ʻAuʻau Channel, Penguin Bank. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Hawaii Pacific blue marlin (kajiki) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Makaira nigricans

Last updated May 28, 2026

Pacific blue marlin — known locally as 'kajiki' from the Japanese-Hawaiian fishing tradition — is THE iconic Hawaiian sport fish and the Kona Coast (Big Island) is widely considered the world's premier blue marlin destination. The IGFA all-tackle Pacific blue marlin world record (1,376 lb, caught August 1982 by Capt. Cornelius Choy aboard the Coreene C off Honokōhau Harbor) was landed here; the species concentrates over the deep-water drop-offs that fall to 1000+ ft within 1 mile of the Kona shoreline — a bathymetric profile shared by no other major sport-fishing destination on the US mainland. Peak season is July – September when surface temps and tournament cycles align (the annual Hawaiʻi International Billfish Tournament + the Lazy Marlin Hunt + the Skins Marlin Derby all run during this window), but kajiki are caught year-round off Kona. Honokōhau Harbor hosts the largest charter fleet in the Pacific (~80+ active boats) running daily 8-12-hour offshore trips. Tackle is heavy conventional 80-130 lb stand-up + chair gear with large skirted lures (Joe Yee, Marlin Magic, Black Bart, Aloha Lures, Pakula) trolled at 7-9 knots. Tag-and-release is the dominant ethic — the Hawaiian International Billfish Association + IGFA + tournament rules strongly encourage release of all healthy blue marlin under 'granders' (1000+ lb fish, the rare trophy class). NO state size or bag limit; federal NOAA HMS billfish rules + Hawaiʻi Charter Boat Association tag-and-release standards apply. NO recreational marine licence required.

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Season

Open year-round Year-round; practical peak July – September coinciding with annual tournament cycle. Kona Coast world-premier destination.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No state daily bag limit; federal HMS billfish recreational rules + tournament tag-and-release standard apply

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No state minimum; federal HMS recreational rules apply
Trophy rule: Trophy 'grander' blue marlin (1000+ lb) is the rare lifetime trophy class; IGFA all-tackle Pacific blue marlin world record 1,376 lb (1982, Honokōhau); Hawaiʻi Charter Boat Association strongly encourages tag-and-release

Gear restrictions

Heavy stand-up + chair conventional 80-130 lb tackle + large skirted lures standard
Tag-and-release dominant ethic under Hawaiian International Billfish Association + IGFA tournament rules
Federal NOAA HMS billfish rules apply (Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council)
Commercial sale of catch requires Hawaiʻi Commercial Marine Licence (CML) + federal HMS billfish permit (kajiki is one of the few billfish species commercially landable)
NO state recreational licence required (Hawaiʻi-only open-access model)
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument waters closed to commercial fishing; recreational only by permit

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Hawaii waters:

Kona Coast — Honokōhau Harbor
No state limit; world-premier blue marlin destination — IGFA all-tackle world record 1,376 lb (1982); 1000+ ft depth within 1 mile of shore
ʻAuʻau Channel
No state limit; Maui – Lānaʻi inter-island billfish + pelagic corridor
Penguin Bank
No state limit; offshore billfish + ahi trolling tier

Official source

Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) — Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) publishes the authoritative 2026 Hawaiifishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Hawaii fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Pacific blue marlin closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Hawaii trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is pacific blue marlin season in Hawaii?: Hawaii keeps pacific blue marlin open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Hawaii bag limit for pacific blue marlin?: The Hawaii daily bag limit for pacific blue marlin is No state daily bag limit; federal HMS billfish recreational rules + tournament tag-and-release standard apply. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size pacific blue marlin can you keep in Hawaii?: The Hawaii size rule for pacific blue marlin is No state minimum; federal HMS recreational rules apply. Trophy rule: Trophy 'grander' blue marlin (1000+ lb) is the rare lifetime trophy class; IGFA all-tackle Pacific blue marlin world record 1,376 lb (1982, Honokōhau); Hawaiʻi Charter Boat Association strongly encourages tag-and-release.
Do you need a license to fish for pacific blue marlin in Hawaii?: Yes. Hawaii requires a valid fishing license to fish for pacific blue marlin, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Hawaii license — compare resident and non-resident Hawaii fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for pacific blue marlin in Hawaii?: Yes. In Hawaii, pacific blue marlin fishing carries these gear rules: Heavy stand-up + chair conventional 80-130 lb tackle + large skirted lures standard; Tag-and-release dominant ethic under Hawaiian International Billfish Association + IGFA tournament rules; Federal NOAA HMS billfish rules apply (Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council); Commercial sale of catch requires Hawaiʻi Commercial Marine Licence (CML) + federal HMS billfish permit (kajiki is one of the few billfish species commercially landable); NO state recreational licence required (Hawaiʻi-only open-access model); Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument waters closed to commercial fishing; recreational only by permit.
Do specific Hawaii waters have different pacific blue marlin rules?: Yes. 3 named Hawaii waters carry rules that override the statewide pacific blue marlin regulation, including Kona Coast — Honokōhau Harbor, ʻAuʻau Channel, Penguin Bank. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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