Kaua'ula Reservoir, Hawaii: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Kaua'ula Reservoir lies in Maui County, in Hawaii. Salt water lies 1.7 miles off. Head to Lahaina, 2.5 miles away, for anything you forgot. Kaanapali Landing is 5.2 miles and Kā‘anapali 5.3 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Makila Reservoir the better part of 0.7 miles, Kahoma Reservoir 2.4 miles, Crater Reservoir the better part of 2.4 miles, Wahikuli Reservoir 2.4 miles and Hanaka'o'o Reservoir the better part of 4.2 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Kaua'ula Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Public wildlife records from this area list almaco jack and mozambique tilapia. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. On Kaua'ula Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 73°F in August and bottom out at 66°F in February. Nothing shuts down for cold, so the question is when in the day to go. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. That is the shape of the year on Kaua'ula Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Makila Reservoir is 0.7 miles off. For Kaua'ula Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.