Hawaii is well-known for its saltwater fishing, but there are also freshwater fishing opportunities on some of the Hawaiian islands. One of the islands even has an area cold enough to support trout. Trout fishing can be found in Hawaii for anyone willing to go that extra mile.
Trout fishing can be done in only one place in Hawaii, and that is the Kokee area of Kauai island. Kokee is a rural, rugged area just north of Waimea Canyon. There are streams, ditches and reservoirs in the area that support trout after being stocked annually with trout by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Trout fishing is open on Kauai from June to September. Allowable hours are from sunrise to sunset. Each year, the Department of Land and Natural Resources declare exactly which dates trout season will start and end.
The type of trout available in Hawaii's fresh waters is rainbow trout. Each year, the Department of Land and Natural Resources stocks more than 15,000 rainbow trout in the area of the Pu‘u Lua Reservoir in Kokee.
According to Trout Unlimited Hawaii, Koaie Stream has the biggest trout, some as long as 20 inches. In 2009, 3,210 trout were caught by 2,691 anglers. The fish that were caught averaged 11.8 inches long and 13.2 oz.
Permits are needed for freshwater fishing in Hawaii. Angels need to obtain a permit from the local Division of Aquatic Resources. This can be done online. Regular permits are good for one year, and seven-day and 30-day tourist licenses are also available.
According to the Department of Aquatic Resources, anglers can fish with one pole and line with one baited hook. Treble hooks are not allowed. Anglers can take up to seven trout each day, and they must report to the check-in stations.
Trout Unlimited Hawaii recommends a "sparsely tied dark woolly bugger fished deep and retrieved slowly." During spawning, flashy streamers can be effective because the fish are more aggressive. Catch-and-release is the preferred technique because the conditions in Hawaii are not the most favorable to successful natural reproduction of the trout.
