What special fishing regulations apply at Kāneʻohe Bay?

Kāneʻohe Bay carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Hawaii's statewide 2026 rules, covering Bonefish (ʻōʻio), Giant trevally (ulua / papio), and Moi (Pacific threadfin). One of them reads: "Oʻahu windward coast; protected bay reef + flats; bonefish (ʻōʻio) + papio (juvenile trevally) + oama (juvenile goatfish) + barracuda + Kāneʻohe Sandbar (popular weekend boating destination); HAR Title 13 marine rules apply; NO recreational licence required." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Kāneʻohe Bay?

Yes. Kāneʻohe Bay is in Hawaii, so a valid Hawaii fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) — Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Kāneʻohe Bay; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Hawaii rules.

Do Kāneʻohe Bay's special rules replace Hawaii's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Hawaii's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Kāneʻohe Bay by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Kāneʻohe Bay?

Bonefish (ʻōʻio), Giant trevally (ulua / papio), and Moi (Pacific threadfin) have a water-body-specific rule on Kāneʻohe Bay, each linking to its full Hawaii regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Hawaii limits.

2026 regulation year

Kāneʻohe Bay 2026 — Hawaii Fishing Regulations

Hawaii statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 3, 2026

Kāneʻohe Bay carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Hawaii's 2026 fishing rules — covering Bonefish (ʻōʻio), Giant trevally (ulua / papio), Moi (Pacific threadfin). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Oʻahu windward coast; protected bay reef + flats; bonefish (ʻōʻio) + papio (juvenile trevally) + oama (juvenile goatfish) + barracuda + Kāneʻohe Sandbar (popular weekend boating destination); HAR Title 13 marine rules apply; NO recreational licence required
Source: Hawaii special-water list

Per-species rules on Kāneʻohe Bay

Bonefish (ʻōʻio) regulations →
14 in min, no statewide bag limit; protected windward bay flats + sandbar tier
Giant trevally (ulua / papio) regulations →
10 in fork min; papio (juvenile ulua) dominant in protected bay flats
Moi (Pacific threadfin) regulations →
11 in min, 15 / day; CLOSED Jun 1 – Aug 31; windward sandy-flat + surf-zone moi

Official source

Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) — Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) publishes the authoritative 2026 Hawaii fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Hawaii fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.

Other special-regulation waters in Hawaii

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Kāneʻohe Bay?: Kāneʻohe Bay carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Hawaii's statewide 2026 rules, covering Bonefish (ʻōʻio), Giant trevally (ulua / papio), and Moi (Pacific threadfin). One of them reads: "Oʻahu windward coast; protected bay reef + flats; bonefish (ʻōʻio) + papio (juvenile trevally) + oama (juvenile goatfish) + barracuda + Kāneʻohe Sandbar (popular weekend boating destination); HAR Title 13 marine rules apply; NO recreational licence required." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Kāneʻohe Bay?: Yes. Kāneʻohe Bay is in Hawaii, so a valid Hawaii fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) — Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Kāneʻohe Bay; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Hawaii rules.
Do Kāneʻohe Bay's special rules replace Hawaii's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Hawaii's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Kāneʻohe Bay by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Kāneʻohe Bay?: Bonefish (ʻōʻio), Giant trevally (ulua / papio), and Moi (Pacific threadfin) have a water-body-specific rule on Kāneʻohe Bay, each linking to its full Hawaii regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Hawaii limits.

← Back to Hawaii regulations overview