Fishing at Hopeaia Fishpond, Hawaii County, Hawaii

• Overview

  The Hawaii County entry here is Hopeaia Fishpond, in Hawaii. Salt water lies 0.7 miles off. This is a tiny water, and one quiet approach covers all of it. The nearest place of any size is Waikoloa, 5.2 miles away. The big place round here is Honolulu, 160 miles distant. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Hopeaia Fishpond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include mozambique tilapia, flathead grey mullet and blackchin tilapia. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. Work Hopeaia Fishpond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 73°F in February and 79°F in August. There is no cold season worth the name. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan any trip to Hopeaia Fishpond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. There are toilets half a mile off. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Manoku Fishpond, 0.2 miles out. Check the position on Hopeaia Fishpond before loading the car.