Kona Hawaii Fishing/Snorkel Large Group Private Charter on OE II

Big fish are never scheduled. This private Kona charter gives your group a real shot at blue marlin, tuna, spearfish, and other prized catch along the Big Island’s west coast. I like the private boat for up to 10 people, since your group does not share the day with strangers. I also like the freedom to bring your own lunch and drinks, with a cooler and ice ready onboard. The catch is simple: fishing is never guaranteed, and four hours may feel short if the fish are biting.

You check in at Bite Me Sportfishing 15 minutes before departure, then return to the same spot at the end. I appreciate the flexible four-to-eight-hour format, but you need to bring food, drinks, sunscreen, and a fishing license. Snorkel gear is available only if you request it at least 24 hours ahead.

What makes this Kona charter worth considering

• Private OE II charter: Your party alone uses the boat, with room for up to 10 people.
• Big-game targets: The crew fishes for bigeye tuna, spearfish, marlin, and other Kona Coast species.
• Four to eight hours: Choose a shorter outing or give yourself a full day for better fishing time.
• Food and drinks are your choice: Bring lunch and beverages, including adult drinks, but no glass bottles.
• Experienced crew support: Captains and deckhands coach first-timers through the fight and handle the equipment.
• Snorkeling can be added: Request snorkel equipment from the office at least 24 hours before departure.

Fishing the Kona Coast from OE II

Kona is one of Hawaii’s best-known sportfishing bases, and this trip puts your group on the water from the Kailua-Kona area. The goal is not a simple sightseeing cruise. You are heading out with rods, tackle, and a crew looking for powerful open-water fish.

The boat is set up for a private group of up to 10. That matters when your party includes mixed ages or several people who want a turn at the rod. You can keep the mood relaxed, let children watch the action, or make the day a serious family fishing contest without sharing the boat with strangers.

The exact fishing route depends on conditions and what the captain sees on the water. One outing may focus on larger game fish, while another may target ono or tuna closer to shore. A captain’s ability to adjust matters a great deal. On one outing, Captain Nate and deckhand Lee shifted tactics toward ono when the larger fish were not cooperating. The change produced a fish that supplied two dinners.

That is a useful lesson for you: a successful charter is not only about hooking a giant marlin. It is also about having a crew that reads the conditions and changes plans when needed.

Check-in at Bite Me Sportfishing

Your day begins at Bite Me Sportfishing, located at 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, number 1, in Kailua-Kona. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before departure. This is the office and logo shop, so it is also the place to get oriented before boarding.

The end point is the same meeting location. That makes your transport planning easier, especially if you are fitting the charter around a hotel stay or another Kona activity. The experience uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided when you book.

The office also handles other water outings, including reef snorkeling, midday snorkeling, and the nightly manta ray snorkel. Those are separate activities, not automatic parts of this fishing charter. If your group wants to add snorkeling equipment to the OE II trip, contact the office at least 24 hours before departure.

Choosing four hours or a full eight

The duration is listed as approximately four to eight hours. This range gives you a useful choice, but the right length depends on your group.

A four-hour trip can work well if you want a taste of Kona fishing without giving up most of your day. It may suit families with young children, people who are unsure about spending a long time offshore, or groups that want to combine fishing with another activity.

The longer option makes more sense if catching a substantial fish is the main reason you are booking. You need time to reach productive water, set the lines, wait for a strike, and fight the fish. A marlin battle can last far longer than a casual visitor expects. One account describes a 2.5-hour fight with a marlin weighing 437 pounds. That is an extreme example, not a promise, but it shows why extra hours can matter.

A full day also gives the captain more room to change tactics. You might troll for larger fish, switch to another species, or pause for wildlife sightings if conditions allow. The tradeoff is obvious: more time on the boat costs more energy, and not everyone enjoys a long stretch of waiting between bites.

What the crew adds to the day

All fishing equipment is included, so you do not need to assemble rods, reels, or tackle before arrival. The captain and crew handle the setup and coach you through the process once a fish takes the line.

That instruction is especially important if you have never fought a large fish. Deckhands have helped first-timers manage blue marlin, explained how to work from the fighting chair, and offered steady encouragement during long battles. Captain Brian Harnden and mate Darin Castoro received praise for keeping the mood positive while still working with care and purpose.

Other crews have made the same impression. Captain Taylor has been praised for balancing fishing with dolphin and whale sightings, while Captain Curtis and deckhand Anthony guided a group through a double marlin hookup. The names of the crew can vary, so you should not assume a particular captain will be aboard OE II on your date.

The crew’s practical help continues after the catch. Fish may be cleaned and portioned, with some meat shared among the people on the boat and the crew. That can turn the day into dinner as well as a story. It is not clear that every catch will be kept, since some marlin are released after tagging, but you can ask the office about current handling practices before departure.

The fish you may chase

The advertised targets include bigeye tuna and spearfish, along with other species found along the Kona Coast. The operator’s outings have also produced blue marlin, striped marlin, mahi mahi, ono, and yellowtail.

Blue marlin receive much of the attention, and for good reason. Families have landed fish around 80 to 160 pounds, while one trip produced a blue marlin of about 250 pounds. A far larger fish, weighing 437 pounds, required a long fight and careful work from the crew.

You should treat those stories as examples of what can happen, not as a forecast for your own day. Fishing success changes with weather, water conditions, season, and luck. One trip may produce several hookups, while another may involve hours of trolling with no major strike.

That uncertainty is part of the sport. If your only measure of value is bringing home a giant fish, this charter carries real risk. If you enjoy the process, the open water, the crew’s instruction, and the possibility of a memorable catch, the outing makes more sense.

Wildlife sightings and the snorkeling option

Fishing is the main activity, but the water can offer extra surprises. Past outings with this operator have included pilot whales, porpoises, sea turtles, dolphins, and a whale shark. A captain once took extra time to give a group a closer look at a whale shark, and another outing combined fishing with dolphin and whale watching.

These sightings are not guaranteed, and they should not replace the main purpose of the trip. Still, they add value for a group with mixed interests. One person can enjoy the fishing while another watches the water for marine life.

Snorkeling is possible only with advance planning. Snorkel equipment is not included automatically, but you can request it from the office at least 24 hours before the trip. The supplied information does not promise a particular reef stop or a fixed snorkeling schedule, so ask exactly how snorkeling fits into your chosen departure.

That point matters. The charter is not a standard reef snorkel tour with a set series of stops. It is primarily a fishing trip, with snorkeling available by request. If snorkeling is your top priority, one of the company’s dedicated reef or midday snorkel trips may be a better match.

Bringing lunch, drinks, and the right attitude

Food and drinks are not included. You should pack enough for the length of your trip, along with water and anything your group needs between bites. An onboard cooler with ice is provided, which makes it easy to keep lunch and beverages cold.

Adult drinks are allowed, but glass bottles are not. I would use sealed cans or plastic containers and bring food that is easy to eat on a moving boat. Sunscreen is also not supplied, so pack it before leaving the dock.

The practical packing list is short:

• Lunch and snacks
• Water and other drinks
• Adult beverages in non-glass containers, if wanted
• Sunscreen
• A fishing license
• Snorkel gear only if arranged ahead of time

The supplied details do not specify the fishing license process or fee. You should ask Bite Me Sportfishing how to obtain one before departure, rather than waiting until you arrive.

Is the $1,938.82 group price good value?

The listed price is $1,938.82 for the entire group, up to 10 people. That works out to about $193.88 per person if you fill every place. With five people, the effective cost rises to about $387.76 each.

The private format is the key to judging the price. You are not paying for a basic seat on a crowded boat. Your group gets the boat, captain, crew, equipment, cooler, and a more flexible day. For a large family or reunion group, the price can compare well with buying several individual seats on a shared charter.

For two or three people, the value is harder to defend unless privacy is important or you want the boat to yourselves. A smaller group may find a shared trip more economical. The four-to-eight-hour range also affects value. If you choose the shorter outing, you pay less in time but still face the same uncertainty about the catch.

I would view the price as payment for access, attention, and flexibility, not for a guaranteed fish. The best value comes when you bring enough people to spread the group cost and when everyone is happy to spend several hours on the water.

Who should book OE II?

This trip fits families, friend groups, and reunions that want one private activity everyone can share. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

It is especially appealing if your group includes both serious anglers and first-timers. A skilled crew can help beginners while more experienced fishers focus on the rods. The private setting also lets you set your own tone, from quiet family time to a lively day with music and drinks.

I would think twice if your group dislikes waiting, gets uncomfortable on boats, or needs a guaranteed snorkeling program. Fishing involves patience, and even a strong crew cannot control the bite. You should also confirm the boat’s arrangements if anyone in your group has specific mobility needs, since the supplied information only says most people can participate.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded.

The trip requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. That policy gives you some protection, but it is still wise to avoid placing a critical dinner reservation immediately after the charter.

Should you book this Kona fishing charter?

Book it if your group wants a private day built around the chance of a serious fish, with a crew that can coach beginners and adjust tactics when conditions change. The cooler, included equipment, and room for 10 make the day easy to organize, and the possibility of marlin, tuna, spearfish, dolphins, or whales gives it broad appeal.

I would choose the longer option if fishing is the main goal and your group can handle a full day. I would choose four hours for a first try or a family schedule with other plans. Before paying, confirm the departure length, fishing license details, crew availability, and whether snorkel equipment can be arranged for your date.

For a full group, the price is reasonable for a private Kona charter. For a small party, it is a splurge. Either way, book this for the experience of being on the water with a real chance at a powerful fish, not because anyone can promise what will bite.

FAQ

Where does the Kona fishing charter meet?

You meet at Bite Me Sportfishing, 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, number 1, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740. The trip ends back at the same meeting point.

How early should I arrive?

You should check in 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

How many people can join the private charter?

The price covers up to 10 people in your private group. No other group participates in the activity.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You should bring your own food and beverages. Adult drinks are allowed, but glass bottles are not. An onboard cooler with ice is provided.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Snorkel equipment is available upon request, but you must notify the office at least 24 hours before departure.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes the experience to be canceled, you can select a different date or receive a full refund.