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Waimea Bay Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

Oahu’s North Shore bay: Waimea gives up ulua, papio and reef fish when the surf lies down.

3/5
Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.
Next tide
High 10:40 PM
Air / High
81 / 84 F
Wind
ENE 14 mph

Sources: NOAA tides 1612340, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

3/5Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Waimea Bay sits in the sweet spot of the season: active fish and workable weather. Today brings clear skies, wind ENE around 14 mph, steady pressure near 1014 hPa and a high of 84. Tides: high 10:57 AM and 10:40 PM, low 2:23 AM and 7:29 PM: the moving water either side of each change is when this place feeds. Water sits around 80 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Giant trevally (ulua)Excellent

Work current-swept points and channel mouths on the moving tide: GTs patrol where reef meets flow. Heavy tackle is respect, not caution: the first run decides everything.

Mahi-mahi (dorado)Good

Troll rigged ballyhoo and small lures along color changes and temperature breaks: schools ride the edges. Birds working low usually mean mahi pushing bait.

Tomorrow: Similar at 84 F with likely rain: fish ahead of the front. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings.

Tides

NOAA station 1612340 (Honolulu). Fish the moving water either side of each change.

Fri
LOW2:23 AM0.2 ft
HIGH10:57 AM2.1 ft
LOW7:29 PM0.5 ft
HIGH10:40 PM0.6 ft
Sat
LOW3:48 AM0.2 ft
HIGH12:04 PM2.2 ft
LOW7:59 PM0.4 ft

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp81 F
High / Low84 / 74 F
WindENE 14-32 mph
Pressure1013.5 hPa, steady
Sky / Rain23% cloud, 82%
Sunrise / Sunset06:16 / 18:45
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~80 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Showers, 84/74 F, wind 14 mph, rain 82%

Slow. High rain chance; fish the front edge before it arrives.

Species guide

The species that matter on Waimea Bay: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Giant trevally (ulua) illustration

Giant trevally (ulua)

Best: summer moons, big tides

The reef's apex bully: Hawaii's ulua, a hundred pounds of shoulder that eats poppers like personal insults. Work current-swept points and channel mouths on the moving tide: GTs patrol where reef meets flow. Heavy tackle is respect, not caution: the first run decides everything.

Mahi-mahi (dorado) illustration

Mahi-mahi (dorado)

Best: summer weedline runs

The ocean's fastest-growing gamefish: neon gold-and-green acrobats stacked under anything that floats. Troll rigged ballyhoo and small lures along color changes and temperature breaks: schools ride the edges. Birds working low usually mean mahi pushing bait.

When to come: the Waimea Bay calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Giant trevally (ulua)
Mahi-mahi (dorado)
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 80 F (estimated, not a reading).

7080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~80 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Waimea Bay today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Giant trevally (ulua) led the card at excellent. High of 82 F, wind to 15 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Giant trevally (ulua) led the card at excellent. High of 85 F, wind to 14 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Giant trevally (ulua) led the card at excellent. High of 84 F, wind to 15 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
Only used to send you this water's report each week. No spam, ever.

Before you go

License

Hawaii requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

No license required for recreational shore fishing in Hawaii, but size and season rules apply to many species, and some areas restrict take: check current DAR regulations.

Access

Waimea Bay Beach Park on Kamehameha Highway; rocky points on both sides of the bay.

About this water

A North Shore bay on Oahu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, at the mouth of Waimea Valley.

Fishing Waimea Bay: the full guide

A bay of two seasons

Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore is famous for giant winter surf, and that surf defines the fishing year. From roughly October through March the bay is dangerous and often unfishable; from spring through early fall it lies flat and clear, and shore anglers work the rocky points, the river mouth and the sandy bay for ulua, papio, goatfish and reef species.

Shore casting the points

The rocky points on either side of the bay are the productive ground: heavy tackle and slide-bait rigs for ulua, lighter gear with whipping lures for papio, and bottom rigs for goatfish and other reef fish. Night fishing from the rocks is traditional and productive. Read the ocean constantly and never turn your back on it.

Safety first, honestly

Waimea kills people. Winter surf can reach heights that sweep the rocks and the beach, and even in summer a sudden set can wash an angler off a ledge. Check the surf forecast, fish with a partner, wear footwear with grip, and if the ocean looks wrong, leave. No fish here is worth a rescue.

North Shore logistics

Waimea Bay Beach Park provides parking, restrooms and access, on the Kamehameha Highway between Haleiwa and Sunset Beach. Parking fills early in summer. Haleiwa has tackle shops and food. Respect the site: Waimea Valley behind the bay is a place of deep cultural importance.

Common questions

When can I fish it?

Spring through early fall, when the bay lies flat. Winter surf makes it dangerous and often unfishable.

What can I catch?

Ulua and papio from the points, plus goatfish and reef species on bottom rigs.

Is it dangerous?

Yes. Surf sweeps the rocks even outside winter. Check forecasts, fish with a partner, and leave if it looks wrong.

Is fishing good at Waimea Bay right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Nearby waters

Wahiawa Reservoir10 miWaianae Coast16 miKaneohe Bay21 miKailua Bay27 miHanalei Bay100 miMaalaea Bay116 mi
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