The Waikiki deep sea fishing charter from Go Hawaii Watersports is a private trolling trip for up to 6 on a 47 ft air-conditioned Cabo Express from Kewalo Basin, $2,000 for 5 hours or $3,000 for 9 hours with lunch. It suits groups who value comfort and crew attention. The drawback is price; 3 of 9 reviews describe slow fishing.
Highlights
47 ft Cabo Express built in 2000 and restored in 2020, with enclosed head, air conditioning, galley, fighting chair, tuna tower and radar (FishingBooker, October 2026).
Half day runs 5 hours from 6:00 am or 12:00 pm for $2,000; full day runs 9 hours from 6:00 am or 8:30 am for $3,000 and includes lunch.
Rated 4.8 from 196 FishingBooker reviews, where 79% of reviewers report fish caught; 6 of the 9 reviews we read landed mahi mahi, tuna or marlin.
Crew keeps the catch but guests take home a portion of fish under 30 lb; cleaning and filleting are free.
Minimum age is 3, with child-size life jackets on board; a $20 Hawaii one-day fishing license is extra.
What to Expect
Meet the crew at 1025 Ala Moana Blvd, Slip F06, Kewalo Basin, for a 6:00 am, 8:30 am or 12:00 pm departure; one November 2025 reviewer mentions free parking.
The boat clears the harbor and the crew sets trolling lures and outriggers while heading offshore from Waikiki.
Captains watch for birds to locate fish; a July 2026 reviewer credits bird-spotting for hooking a 50 lb mahi mahi.
Guests take turns in the fighting chair when a fish hits; a March 2026 reviewer landed five mahi mahi from six hookups with first-timers aboard.
Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are served all day, with a choice of two lunches on 9-hour trips; guests 21+ may bring their own alcohol.
Back at the slip the crew cleans and fillets the catch, and guests take a portion of fish under 30 lb.
What's Included
Rods, reels, tackle and lures; live bait occasionally
Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks
Lunch on full-day trips (choice of two)
Cleaning and filleting of the catch
Child-size life jackets
What's Not Included
Hawaii one-day fishing license, $20 per angler (buy online in advance)
Gratuity, suggested at 15–20% on FishingBooker
Alcohol (BYOB for guests 21+)
Transportation to Kewalo Basin
What to Bring
Fishing license for each angler
Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
Motion sickness medication if needed
Your own alcohol if wanted (21+)
Restrictions and Requirements
Maximum 6 passengers
Minimum age 3
Crew keeps the catch; guests receive a share of fish under 30 lb
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to 7 days before the trip. Cancellations, changes or no-shows after that forfeit 100% of the payment. Checked October 2026 on FishingBooker.
Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1025 Ala Moana Blvd, Slip F06, Honolulu, HI 96814
Check-In
Departures at 6:00 am or 12:00 pm (half day) and 6:00 am or 8:30 am (full day); check-in time not stated
Parking and Getting There
One November 2025 reviewer reports free parking; the operator's parasail listing says Kewalo Basin parking is $1 per hour
Ratings from every source we could find
Other
4.8
196 reviews
Viator
4.9
11 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
Private deep sea fishing charters in Hawaii generally get strong marks when reviewers land fish, with typical caveats about seasonal variability affecting results.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We read 9 FishingBooker reviews dated November 2025 to July 2026, all 5-star, out of 196 on the platform; the 9 lower-rated reviews (6 three-star, 2 two-star, 1 one-star) were not displayed. Collected October 2026.
What Reviewers Praise
Crew effort and teaching for first-timers(8 of 9 reviews we read)
Nearly every reviewer names the captain or mate and describes patient coaching for beginners, teens and children; one crew gave a child a starter fishing kit.
— FishingBooker, 5★, March 2026: crew taught first-timers and teens, landing five mahi mahi from six hookups.
Comfortable boat in rough water(3 of 9 reviews we read)
The air-conditioned cabin and the Cabo's handling in rough seas are mentioned, along with snacks and drinks.
— FishingBooker, 5★, May 2026: the boat handled rough seas well on a full day that produced eight mahi mahi and a yellowfin.
Fish cleaned and bagged at no charge(2 of 9 reviews we read)
Reviewers appreciate free filleting of their share of the catch at the dock.
— FishingBooker, 5★, January 2026: four skipjack and a striped marlin after a slow start, with free filleting.
What Reviewers Complain About
Slow or empty half days(3 of 9 reviews we read)
Three 5-star reviewers still note no fish or a long wait: one June 2026 half day caught nothing, a May 2026 full day hooked its only mahi mahi in the final hour, and a February 2026 trip lost a marlin. One advises booking the full day for a better chance.
— FishingBooker, 5★, June 2026: no fish despite many attempts, though the crew's effort was praised.
Operator response: The operator replies to reviews on FishingBooker, typically thanking guests and passing feedback to the crew.
Crew keeps most of the catch(listing terms · operator issue · most recent: October 2026 (listing text))
The listing states the crew keeps the catch and guests receive a portion of fish under 30 lb. No reviewer we read complained, but anglers expecting to keep a marlin or large ahi should know this in advance.
Nine lower-rated reviews not visible(9 of 196 FishingBooker ratings · operator issue · unknown)
FishingBooker shows 6 three-star, 2 two-star and 1 one-star ratings whose text did not display, so we cannot say what went wrong on those trips.
About the Operator in General
Go Hawaii Watersports lists six captains and mates on FishingBooker and has 21 posted fishing reports; the same company runs parasailing and a snorkel catamaran from Kewalo Basin.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At $2,000 for 5 hours this is the most expensive private fishing charter in our Oahu list, and the extra money buys a 47 ft boat with air conditioning, a galley and radar rather than a better strike rate. The 9 reviews we read are consistent on crew quality and comfort, but 3 of them describe slow fishing and the operator's own stats put fish caught at 79%. Book it for a comfortable group day; book the full day if the catch matters more than the cost.
Book This Tour If…
You are a group of 4–6 who want air conditioning, a head and a galley rather than an open boat
You are bringing young children; the minimum age is 3 and child life jackets are aboard
You can commit 7 days ahead, since cancellations after that forfeit the full fare
You want lunch handled; the 9-hour trip includes a choice of two
Skip This Tour If…
Your budget is under $400 per person; a shared or smaller private boat costs less
You want to keep large fish; the crew retains the catch beyond a share under 30 lb
Your dates are uncertain; the 7-day cancellation window is stricter than most Oahu charters
You will be disappointed by an empty half day, which 1 of 9 reviewers experienced
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Buy the $20 Hawaii one-day fishing license online before the trip for each angler.
Book the 9-hour full day if catching fish is the priority; 1 of 9 reviewers recommends it after a slow 5-hour trip.
Take the 6:00 am departure for the most fishing time before afternoon winds.
Bring your own beer or wine if you want alcohol; only non-alcoholic drinks are provided.
Ask the crew how the under-30 lb share works before lines go in so there is no surprise at the dock.
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a private deep sea fishing charter from Waikiki with Go Hawaii Watersports?
A private deep sea fishing charter from Waikiki with Go Hawaii Watersports costs $2,000 for a 5-hour half day or $3,000 for a 9-hour full day on FishingBooker as of October 2026, for up to 6 anglers. Lunch is included on full days; a $20 fishing license per angler and a 15–20% tip are extra.
What boat is used for the Waikiki fishing charter?
The Waikiki fishing charter uses a 47 ft Cabo Express built in 2000 and restored in 2020, powered by twin 660 hp Caterpillar engines. It carries up to 6 passengers and has an enclosed head, air conditioning, a full galley with fridge, a cabin berth, fighting chair, tuna tower, outriggers, live bait well, radar and fishfinder.
What fish do you catch off Waikiki?
Off Waikiki this charter trolls for mahi mahi, blue and striped marlin, bigeye and yellowfin tuna, wahoo and swordfish. Reviewers from January to July 2026 report mahi mahi up to 50 lb, skipjack and yellowfin tuna and a striped marlin, while FishingBooker's statistics show 79% of reviewers caught fish.
Can I keep the fish I catch on this Honolulu charter?
On this Honolulu charter the crew keeps the catch and gives guests a portion of fish under 30 lb, cleaned and filleted free at the dock, according to the FishingBooker listing. Reviewers from January 2026 mention taking fillets home, but large fish such as marlin or big tuna stay with the boat.
What is the cancellation policy for the Go Hawaii Watersports fishing charter?
The cancellation policy for the Go Hawaii Watersports fishing charter allows free cancellation up to 7 days before the trip, after which cancellations, changes and no-shows forfeit 100% of the payment, according to FishingBooker in October 2026. That window is longer than the 24–72 hours typical of other Oahu charters.
Is the Waikiki deep sea fishing charter suitable for children?
The Waikiki deep sea fishing charter accepts children from age 3 and carries child-size life jackets, and 3 of the 9 reviews we read describe crews coaching kids and teens. One family of eight in November 2025 praised the crew for giving a child a starter fishing kit, though the boat is limited to 6 passengers per trip.
Contact
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