People travel from all over the world to experience the fresh and incredible variety of seafood on Hawaii’s islands. From lobster to tuna, Hawaiian waters make an ideal location for catching some of the world’s most sought-after species. Just like produce, fish has seasons that are best for freshness and sustainability, and these should be noted to get the best product and protect healthy populations of fish. To help you better understand when to order some popular seafood items, the experts from Tropic Fish Hawaii have offered their knowledge and expertise of peak fish seasons.

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin is a prized gamefish used in many dishes like sushi and poké. This rich and delicious fish can grow up to 400 lbs., but average closer to the 200 lbs. range off Hawaii’s coast. Yellowfin prefer to eat near the surface of the water where sunlight encourages plankton growth. That makes June, July, and August the best months for catching them, and when ordering it at a market or restaurant will produce the finest products.  

Lobster

Hawaiian spiny lobster, known as ula, is a delicacy sought after by locals and visitors alike. The window of opportunity for harvesting these bottom dwellers is not very long, making demand high. The season for spiny lobster starts May 1, when they begin to come out of hiding. The fishing season runs through August 31 and is off limits the rest of the year to allow the crustaceans to reproduce and maintain the species.

Marlin

Marlin fish are plentiful in Hawaiian waters. The two main types found, the Pacific Blue and Striped Marlin, both prefer warmer waters around the equator, making the islands climate ideal most of the year. Fresh marlin can be found year-round on the islands.