Fishing at Mana Reservoir, Kauai County, Hawaii

• Overview

  Mana Reservoir is one of the Kauai County waters in Hawaii. Land around it is open low country. It covers about 9 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. You are 5.4 miles from Kekaha. Honolulu sits 132 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Mana Reservoir

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Records collected within a few miles name mozambique tilapia, blackchin tilapia, peacock cichlid, bluefin trevally and kanda. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. Mana Reservoir responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 79°F for August and 71°F for February. Cold never shuts this water down; heat is the only limit. Season rules are a separate question. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mana Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Pu'u'opae Reservoir sits 2.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Mana Reservoir.