Hawaii

The Division of Aquatic Resources issues various permits and licenses for fishing, collecting aquatic life, and other activities relating to aquatic resources. These are either required by State law or by departmental administrative rule and often come with conditions concerning qualifications for application and the use of the permit or license. In some cases, special permits are issued that allow persons or organizations to pursue certain fishing activities or collect aquatic life that would normally be prohibited.

Note: most licenses and permits require the license/permit holder to report activities and take of marine life to the department. Non-reporting or delinquent reporting could lead to revocation or denial of renewal.

Most licenses and permits are available from statewide, except for Anuenue Fisheries Research Center. The Freshwater Game Fishing License is also available from on O'ahu and Kaua'i and. Please contact the nearest for more information.

1) Commercial Marine License (Resident, Non-resident) - required for anyone to take marine life for commercial purpose. Also known as the commercial fishing license. Fees vary. Report required. HRS §189-2 & 3.

2) Bait License - required for any commercial marine licensee to take certain species of fish for use as live bait. A current Commercial Marine License is a pre-requisite. Fee. HRS §188-45.

3) NWHI Taking Permit - required to fish in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and to land marine life in the State of Hawai'i that would normally be prohibited or regulated in Main Hawaiian Islands. No longer being issued.

4) Mullet Pond Operator and Pond Dealer - required for a fish pond owner or operator to catch young mullet during the closed season to stock their pond, and to sell pond raised mullet during the closed season. Commercial Marine License required. Fee. Report required. HRS §188-44.

5) Special Marine Product License for marine animal or product possession and sale - required for an importer, wholesaler, retailer, or restaurant to possess, sell, or offer for sale, any marine animal or product prohibited or restricted by regulations. Fee. Inventory report required. HRS §189-6.

6) Kona Crab/Lobster Closed Season Sales Licenses (Wholesaler, Retailer, Hotel/Restaurant) - required for any dealer or restaurant to sell or serve during the closed season, any Kona crab or lobster lawfully caught during the open season. Fee. Inventory report required. HRS §188-57.

7) (Resident, Non-resident, Minor, Tourist 7-day, Tourist 30-day, Senior Citizen, Duplicate) - required for any person to take any introduced fresh water game fish. Fees vary. HRS §188-50.

Regulated Species - Marine Fishes

ahi image

Ahi
Minimum size 3 pounds (sale)

HAR 13-95

aholehole image

Aholehole
Minimum size 5 inches

HAR 13-95

amaama image

‘Ama‘ama
(striped mullet)
Closed season December - March
Minimum size 11 inches

HAR 13-95
HRS 188-44

awa image

Awa
Minimum size 9 inches (spearing and sale)

HAR 13-95

moi image

Moi
Closed season June - August
Minimum size 11 inches
Bag limit 15

HAR 13-95
HAR 13-88

oio image

‘O‘io
Minimum size 14 inches

HAR 13-95

uhu image

Uhu
Minimum size 12 inches

HAR 13-95

omilu image

Ulua and papio
Minimum size 10 inches Minimum size 16 inches for sale Bag limit 20 (total all species)

HAR 13-95
HAR 13-87

weke image

Weke and ‘Oama
Minimum size 7 inches
Bag limit 50 ‘oama (‘oama are weke under 7 inches)

HAR 13-95
HAR 13-88

kumu image

Kumu
Minimum size 10 inches

HAR 13-95

moana image

Moano
Minimum size 7 inches

HAR 13-95

kala image

Kala
Minimum size 14 inches

HAR 13-95

opelu kala image

‘Opelu kala
Minimum size 16 inches

HAR 13-95

manini image

Manini
Minimum size 5 inches

HAR 13-95

ehu image

Ehu
Bag limit 5 (total onaga and ehu, applies to non-commercial fishing only
See additional

HAR 13-94

onaga image

Onaga
Minimum size 1 pound (sale)
Bag limit 5 (total onaga and ehu, applies to non-commercial fishing only
See additional

HAR 13-95
HAR 13-94

opakapaka image

Opakapaka
Minimum size 1 pound (sale)
See additional

HAR 13-95
HAR 13-94

uku image

Uku
Minimum size 1 pound (sale)

HAR 13-95

Akule and Halalu
Unlawful to take akule under
8-1/2 inches with net July through October, or possess or sell more than 200 pounds of akule under
8-1/2 inches per day from July through October
See additional

HAR 13-95

akule image

‘Opelu
No minimum mesh size;
Unlawful to use animal bait except with hook-and-line in waters of South Kona between Kiilae-Keokea and Kapua-Kaulanamauna boundaries

HAR 13-95

opelu image

Nehu
Bag limit one gallon (home consumption);
Nets over 50 feet for commercial use only;
Bait license required for commercial use;
Unlawful to sell or trade dried or cured nehu

HAR 13-95
HAR 13-90
HRS 188-45

nehu image

iao image

‘Iao
Commercial use only, bait license required;
Unlawful to sell or trade dried or cured ‘iao

HAR 13-95
HRS 188-45

Other Baitfish

Marquesan sardine, piha, tabai, and threadfin shad

Season open; small mesh nets for commercial use only, bait license required, no bag limit

HAR 13-74

Other Regulated Marine Vertebrates

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Honu
(Sea turtles)
No open season
Federal laws also apply to these endangered and threatened species

HRS 195D-4

monk seal image

‘Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua
(Hawaiian monk seal)
Unlawful to molest, kill, capture, or possess at any time;
Federal laws also apply to these endangered species

HRS 195D-4

Scientific names of regulated species

Hawaiian or common name, Scientific name (or recognized synonym)

Aholehole: Kuhlia sandvicensis, K. xenura
‘Ama‘ama (striped mullet): Mugil cephalus
Awa: Chanos chanos
Kala: Naso unicornis, N. brevirostris, N. annulatus
Kumu: Parupeneus porphyreus
Manini: Acanthurus triostegus sandvicensis
Moano: Parupeneus. multifasciatus
Moi: Polydactylus sexfilis
‘O‘io: Albula glossodonta
‘Opelu kala: Naso hexacanthus
Uhu: Scarus dubius, S. psittacus, S. rubroviolaceus, Chlorurus sordidus, C. perspicillatus
Ulua and papio: Caranx ignobilis, C. lugubris, C. melampygus, C. sexfasciatus
Carangoides equula, C. ferdau, C. orthogrammus
Weke and oama: Mulloidicthys flavolineatus

Ula (spiny lobster): Panulirus penicillatus, P. marginatus
Ula papapa (slipper lobster): Scyllarides squammosus, S. haanii
He‘e: Octopus cyanea, O. ornatus
Kona crab: Ranina ranina

Island	Agency	Address	City	ZIP	Phone
Kauai	Bucky's Liquor & TV	PO Box 695	Waimea	96796	338-9963
Kauai	Cast & Catch Freshwater Bass Guides	PO Box 1371	Koloa	96756	332-9707
Kauai	Hui o Laka Kokee Natural History Museum	PO Box 100, Kokee State Park	Kekaha	96752	335-9975
Kauai	K Mart Corp	4303 Nawiliwili Road	Lihue	96766	245-7742
Kauai	Kauai Freshwater Aquatics, Inc.	3088-B Aukele Street	Lihue	96766	245-7237
Kauai	KBTC "The Fun Lady"	PO Box 1469	Kapaa	96746	822-7447
Kauai	Kokee Lodge	PO Box 819	Waimea	96796	335-6061
Kauai	Lihue Fishing Supply	2985 Kalena Street	Lihue	96766	245-4930
Kauai	L&B Country Store & Tackle	1-3491 Kaumualii Hwy.	Hanapepe	96716	335-0552
Kauai	Salt Pond Country Store	PO Box 662	Eleele	96705	335-5966
Kauai	Waipouli Variety	4-901 1-A Kuhio Hwy	Kapaa	96746	822-1014
Kauai	Westside Sporting Goods	9681 Kaumualii Hwy	Waimea	96796	338-1411

Oahu	Charley's Fishing Supply	670 Auahi, Suite A10	Honolulu	96813	528-7474
Oahu	Kaya Fishing Supply	901 Kekaulike Street	Honolulu	96817	538-1578
Oahu	Kilani Rod & Tackle	709 Kilani Avenue	Wahiawa	96786	621-2811
Oahu	McCully Bicycle & Sporting Goods	2124 S. King Street	Honolulu	96826	955-6329
Oahu	Nanko, Inc.	46-003 Alaloa Street	Kaneohe	96744	247-0938
Oahu	Outdoor Quest Hawaii, Inc.	731-B 10th Avenue	Honolulu	96816	732-1492
Oahu	Sport Bass Hawaii	2030 Aamomi St.	Pearl City	96782	455-3364
Oahu	Sports Authority - Waikele	94-809 Lumiaina Street	Waipahu	96797	677-9933
Oahu	Sports Authority - Ward Avenue	333 Ward Avenue	Honolulu	96814	596-0166
Oahu	The Travel Connection/HI Bass Fishing	4114-A Maunaloa Ave.	Honolulu	96816	739-1634
Oahu	Wahiawa Sporting Goods	571 California Avenue	Wahiawa	96786	621-6091

O'ahu (Main Office)

Administrator: William S. Devick
Program Managers: Francis Oishi, Walter Ikehara
Education Coordinator: Randy R. Honebrink

Division of Aquatic Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330
Honolulu, HI 96813

Phone: 808-587-0100
FAX: 808-587-0115
email: dlnr_aquatics@exec.state.hi.us

Anuenue Fisheries Research Center

Section Chief: Michael M. Fujimoto

Anuenue Fisheries Research Center
1039 Sand Island Parkway
Honolulu, HI 96819-4347

Phone: 808-832-5000
FAX: 808-832-5012

Kaua'i

Aquatic Biologist: Donald E. Heacock
Education Specialist: Wade M. Ishikawa

Division of Aquatic Resources
3060 Eiwa Street, Room 306
Lihue, HI 96766

Phone: 808-274-3344
FAX: 808-274-3448

Maui

Aquatic Biologist: Skippy Hau
Education Specialist: Russell T. Sparks

Division of Aquatic Resources
130 Mahalani Street
Wailuku, HI 96793

Phone: 808-243-5294
FAX: 808-243-5833

Moloka'i

Aquatic Biologist: William K. C. L. Puleloa

Division of Aquatic Resources
Pu'u Kape'elua Avenue
Ho'olehua, HI 96729

Phone: 808-567-6696
FAX: 808-567-9014

Hilo, Island of Hawai'i

Aquatic Biologist: Dr. Robert T. Nishimoto
Education Specialist: John N. Kahiapo

Division of Aquatic Resources
75 Aupuni Street, Room 204
Hilo, HI 96720

Phone: 808-974-6201
FAX: 808-974-6222

Kona, Island of Hawai'i

Aquatic Biologist: Dr. William j Walsh
Education Specialist: John N. Kahiapo

Division of Aquatic Resources
74-381 Kealakehe Parkway, Suite L
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Phone: 808-327-6226
FAX: 808-327-6229

PLEASE NOTE: email addresses are provided for your convenience for informal requests of information only