Fishing/Commercial Fishing/Rules & Regulations
Marine Regulated Species
Learn which species are protected and how to fish responsibly.
Marine Regulated Species
Learn which marine species are regulated for commercial fishing in Hawaiʻi—from reef fish to deep-sea species.
‘lao
Fishing Restrictions: Commercial fishing for ‘iao is prohibited except for bait with a license issued under section 13-74-22.
O‘opu and Hinana
‘Ula‘ula (ehu)
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Gindai
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Kalekale
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Lehi
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Ula (Spiny Lobster)
Minimum Size: Cannot take, kill, possess, or sell if less than 3.25 inches in carapace length.
Closed Season: May, June, July, and August. Commercial marine dealers may sell ula lawfully caught during the open season by procuring a license pursuant to section 13-74-41.
Egg-Bearing Lobsters: Cannot take, kill, or sell lobsters with eggs.
Spearing: Cannot take, kill, or sell speared lobsters.
Mutilation: Cannot possess or sell lobsters with separated carapace and tail.
Female Lobsters: Cannot take or kill female lobsters.
‘Ōpakapaka
Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 1 pound in weight (§13-95-14).
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
‘Ula‘ula koa‘e (Onaga)
Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 1 pound in weight (§13-95-14).
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Hāpu‘u
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Moi
Minimum Size: Cannot take, possess, or sell moi less than 11 inches in length.
Daily Limit: Commercial marine dealers may possess and sell more than 15 moi during September through May with receipts issued for the purchase pursuant to section 189-11, HRS.
Closed Season: Commercial sale of moi is prohibited during June, July, and August.
Pāpa‘i Kualoa (Kona Crab)
Minimum Size: Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 4 inches in carapace length.
Closed Season: May through September. Commercial marine dealers may sell pāpa‘i kualoa lawfully caught during the open season by procuring a license pursuant to section 13-74-41.
Egg-Bearing Crabs: Cannot take, possess, or sell crabs with eggs.
Spearing: Cannot take, kill, or sell speared crabs.
Ula Pāpapa (Slipper Lobster)
Minimum Size: Cannot take, kill, possess, or sell if less than 2.75 inches in tail width.
Closed Season: May, June, July, and August. Commercial marine dealers may sell ula pāpapa lawfully caught during the open season by procuring a license pursuant to section 13-74-41.
Egg-Bearing Lobsters: Cannot take, kill, or sell lobsters with eggs.
Spearing: Cannot take, kill, or sell speared lobsters.
Mutilation: Cannot possess or sell lobsters with separated carapace and tail.
‘Ōpelu
Fishing Restrictions: Commercial fishing for ‘ōpelu in South Kona waters is prohibited with fish or animal bait (“chop-chop”) except with hook-and-line.
Akule
Minimum Size: Cannot take with a net if less than 8.5 inches in length during July, August, September, and October.
Daily Limit: Marine seafood dealers may possess or sell more than 200 pounds of akule measuring less than 8.5 inches in length per day during July, August, September, and October.
Kala
Minimum Size: Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 14 inches in length.
Daily Limit: Commercial kala fishing permittees may take and possess more than 4 kala per day during the open season.
Permit Requirement: A valid commercial kala fishing permit ($100 fee) and a valid commercial marine license are required for commercial kala fishing.
Dealer Regulations: Commercial marine dealers must register with the department as commercial kala dealers to purchase, sell, or possess kala.
Annual Catch Limit (ACL): 15,000 pounds. When the ACL is reached, the commercial kala fishing season will close.
Nehu
Fishing Restrictions: Commercial fishing for nehu is prohibited except for bait with a license issued under section 13-74-22.
Uhu (Parrotfish)
Minimum Size:
- Uhu ‘ele‘ele, uhu uliuli, uhu pālukaluka, or uhu ‘ahu‘ula: Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 14 inches in length.
- Other uhu species: Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 10 inches in length.
Daily Limit: Commercial uhu fishing permittees may take and possess more than 2 uhu per day during the open season, but only uhu pālukaluka and uhu ‘ele‘ele may be taken or possessed.
Permit Requirement: A valid commercial uhu fishing permit ($100 fee) and a valid commercial marine license are required for commercial uhu fishing.
Dealer Regulations: Commercial marine dealers must register with the department as commercial uhu dealers to purchase, sell, or possess uhu.
Annual Catch Limit (ACL): 30,000 pounds. When the ACL is reached, the commercial uhu fishing season will close.
Ulua
Minimum Size: Cannot sell ulua less than 16 inches in length.
Daily Limit: Commercial marine licensees may take, possess, and sell more than 20 ulua measuring more than 10 inches in length per day.
Dealer Regulations: Commercial marine dealers may possess and sell more than 20 ulua with receipts issued for the purchase pursuant to section 189-11, HRS.
Moi
Minimum Size: Cannot take, possess, or sell moi less than 11 inches in length.
Daily Limit: Commercial marine dealers may possess and sell more than 15 moi during September through May with receipts issued for the purchase pursuant to section 189-11, HRS.
Closed Season: Commercial sale of moi is prohibited during June, July, and August.
Uhu (Parrotfish)
Minimum Size:
- Uhu ‘ele‘ele, uhu uliuli, uhu pālukaluka, or uhu ‘ahu‘ula: Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 14 inches in length.
- Other uhu species: Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 10 inches in length.
Daily Limit: Commercial uhu fishing permittees may take and possess more than 2 uhu per day during the open season, but only uhu pālukaluka and uhu ‘ele‘ele may be taken or possessed.
Permit Requirement: A valid commercial uhu fishing permit ($100 fee) and a valid commercial marine license are required for commercial uhu fishing.
Dealer Regulations: Commercial marine dealers must register with the department as commercial uhu dealers to purchase, sell, or possess uhu.
Annual Catch Limit (ACL): 30,000 pounds. When the ACL is reached, the commercial uhu fishing season will close.
Ulua
Minimum Size: Cannot sell ulua less than 16 inches in length.
Daily Limit: Commercial marine licensees may take, possess, and sell more than 20 ulua measuring more than 10 inches in length per day.
Dealer Regulations: Commercial marine dealers may possess and sell more than 20 ulua with receipts issued for the purchase pursuant to section 189-11, HRS.
Kala
Minimum Size: Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 14 inches in length.
Daily Limit: Commercial kala fishing permittees may take and possess more than 4 kala per day during the open season.
Permit Requirement: A valid commercial kala fishing permit ($100 fee) and a valid commercial marine license are required for commercial kala fishing.
Dealer Regulations: Commercial marine dealers must register with the department as commercial kala dealers to purchase, sell, or possess kala.
Annual Catch Limit (ACL): 15,000 pounds. When the ACL is reached, the commercial kala fishing season will close.
‘Ōpelu
Fishing Restrictions: Commercial fishing for ‘ōpelu in South Kona waters is prohibited with fish or animal bait (“chop-chop”) except with hook-and-line.
Nehu
Fishing Restrictions: Commercial fishing for nehu is prohibited except for bait with a license issued under section 13-74-22.
Akule
Minimum Size: Cannot take with a net if less than 8.5 inches in length during July, August, September, and October.
Daily Limit: Marine seafood dealers may possess or sell more than 200 pounds of akule measuring less than 8.5 inches in length per day during July, August, September, and October.
‘lao
Fishing Restrictions: Commercial fishing for ‘iao is prohibited except for bait with a license issued under section 13-74-22.
Gindai
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Lehi
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
‘Ula‘ula koa‘e (Onaga)
Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 1 pound in weight (§13-95-14).
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Hāpu‘u
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
‘Ōpakapaka
Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 1 pound in weight (§13-95-14).
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Kalekale
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
‘Ula‘ula (ehu)
Trip report within 5 days.
Vessel registration & BF number required.
Pāpa‘i Kualoa (Kona Crab)
Minimum Size: Cannot take, possess, or sell if less than 4 inches in carapace length.
Closed Season: May through September. Commercial marine dealers may sell pāpa‘i kualoa lawfully caught during the open season by procuring a license pursuant to section 13-74-41.
Egg-Bearing Crabs: Cannot take, possess, or sell crabs with eggs.
Spearing: Cannot take, kill, or sell speared crabs.
Ula Pāpapa (Slipper Lobster)
Minimum Size: Cannot take, kill, possess, or sell if less than 2.75 inches in tail width.
Closed Season: May, June, July, and August. Commercial marine dealers may sell ula pāpapa lawfully caught during the open season by procuring a license pursuant to section 13-74-41.
Egg-Bearing Lobsters: Cannot take, kill, or sell lobsters with eggs.
Spearing: Cannot take, kill, or sell speared lobsters.
Mutilation: Cannot possess or sell lobsters with separated carapace and tail.
Ula (Spiny Lobster)
Minimum Size: Cannot take, kill, possess, or sell if less than 3.25 inches in carapace length.
Closed Season: May, June, July, and August. Commercial marine dealers may sell ula lawfully caught during the open season by procuring a license pursuant to section 13-74-41.
Egg-Bearing Lobsters: Cannot take, kill, or sell lobsters with eggs.
Spearing: Cannot take, kill, or sell speared lobsters.
Mutilation: Cannot possess or sell lobsters with separated carapace and tail.
Female Lobsters: Cannot take or kill female lobsters.
Commercial Fishers Licenses
Required for vessels catching Deep 7 bottomfish species.
Allows you to catch or sell bait species for fishing use.
Required to harvest and sell marine resources for commercial purposes in Hawaiʻi.
Authorizes the commercial take and sale of kala (unicornfish) under regulated limits.
Allows the use of lay nets under specific regulations to protect marine life and traditions.
Registers a vessel for commercial fishing activities in Hawaiʻi’s marine waters.
Permits the commercial capture and sale of uhu (parrotfish) according to state rules.