Pu'u'opae Reservoir Fishing in Kauai County, Hawaii

• Overview

  Pu'u'opae Reservoir is a Kauai County water, in Hawaii. Beyond the shoreline you have scrub and brush. It is high ground by Hawaii standards. Kekaha-Waimea sits 5.1 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Honolulu is 130 miles off. Round about: Mana Reservoir just 2.3 miles, Waiawa Reservoir after 3.5 miles, Lua Reservoir just 4.5 miles, Waikaia Reservoir after 7 miles and Kepani Reservoir just 7.3 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Pu'u'opae Reservoir

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists blackchin tilapia, mackerel scad, island jack and blue trevally. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. Pu'u'opae Reservoir gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 73°F and January about 64°F. 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. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. The season on Pu'u'opae Reservoir rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. The water borders Kekaha Game Management Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Mana Reservoir is 2.3 miles off. Confirm access to Pu'u'opae Reservoir locally before you travel.