Hunting big game fish in Hawaii is always a game of strategy and skill, and fishing for yellowfin tuna in Oahu is no exception. Also known as ahi, they’re a challenging fish to catch at an average weight of 125 pounds. Given their beauty and deliciousness to eat, it’s no wonder why they are a perennial favorite. You’ll enjoy the exhilarating experience of catching one and have good pictures and good eating afterward.
Yellowfin tuna travel together, and when porpoises are around, they’re often not far behind. It makes locating them quicker than some other species — all it takes is getting out to deep waters past the island’s coastal shelf. You have a range of choices for baiting your hook, and the most popular include anchovies or sardines. When you hook one, you can’t be in a hurry and must work your way into reeling it in.
Yellowfins are a favorite of Oahu tuna charters for a good reason. Experienced sport fishermen always have an exciting day hunting for them in Hawaii’s pelagic (open sea) waters. The average size, weight, and patience it takes to bring one in successfully make it a worthy challenge. Distinctive bright yellow fins against a dark metallic blue and silver body make them a striking and recognizable appearance.
You can fish for yellowfins at any time of year, and their peak number occurs during a large part of the year — from April through November. When you have one on the hook, expect turns and circles that increase your challenge. They rarely jump the way some other gamefish do but will give you an intense fight. As you’re working your way through sport fishing species to larger sizes, you’ll want to go for ahi at least once in your career.
