Reviews

Kona Fishing Charter Reviews & Catch Photos | Playtime Sportfishing
🐟 Book Direct Advantage: Direct Trip Consultation with Owner Shawn! Call (808) 796-0611

Playtime Sportfishing Reviews & Catch Gallery

Rated 4.9/5 stars by families, first-time anglers, and big-game fishermen departing daily from Honokohau Harbor along the Kona & Kohala Coast.

4.9 β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
128+ Reviews on FishingBooker (4.8 β˜…)
23 Reviews on Google Business Profile (5.0 β˜…)
100% Friendly Captain & 92% Family-Friendly Score

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Cara
Family & Bottom Fishing
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β€’ Verified Charter βœ“ Google / Guides

“Amazing fishing trip! Shawn and Joe were fantastic. We brought our 8-year son along, and they were incredibly patient with him – even when he was going on and on about Pokemon, lol… We also did some bottom fishing, which was a lot of fun for our son. He got to reel in several interesting little fish and stayed engaged the whole time. Overall, it was a great experience with a friendly, knowledgeable crew. Highly recommend!”

🎣 Landed: 2 Ono (Wahoo) & Reef Fish (Grilled on the beach next day!)
Alec Cornejo
4-Hour Half Day Charter
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β€’ May 22, 2026 βœ“ FishingBooker

“Wow! Shawn and Joe are such a dynamic duo… Shawn the cool, calm and collected OG captain. Along with Joe, the talkative, informative and full of whimsy first mate! These two explained step by step what to do when a fish was ‘on’ and made us comfortable providing us with space to learn! My buddy and I both caught an Ono a piece and it was exciting and FUN coming from a first time fisherman! If you are in doubt, book it!”

⚑ Landed: 2 Ono (Wahoo) on high-speed ledge troll
Capt. Shawn: “We had a blast fishing with you guys! I’m glad that we were able to work the plan and land two of the three ono!”
Tim H.
Offshore Big Game
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β€’ “6 Stars!” βœ“ Direct Client

“The trip was excellent. The Captains did a fantastic job of getting multiple lines in the water to maximize our trolling efforts. They kept an eye out for birds feeding on bait fish as well as tuna feeding on the surface. When certain setups were not working they switched to try something else. Towards the end of the charter, BAM, Fish On! We landed an ~ 120lb ahi tuna. I don’t know who was more excited, us or the Captains! Great day and great experience on the water.”

🐟 Landed: ~120 lb Yellowfin Tuna (Ahi)
Cristian Laguillo
Half Day (4 Hours)
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β€’ May 13, 2026 βœ“ FishingBooker

“My fiancΓ© and I decided to go for a half day trip on short notice. The Captain Shawn and the first mate Joe, were very accommodating. On our way out, they were giving us information about the island, and the need of marine species, felt like a private tour. We tried different places to fish, saw dolphins, pilot whales, really awesome experience will come back again. Very professional, this charter is a great family owned charter.”

🐬 Wildlife: Pilot whales, spinner dolphins & island coastal tour
Jessica Joto
Full Day β€’ 1 Adult, 2 Kids
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β€’ June 27, 2026 βœ“ FishingBooker

“We had an awesome time on our 8-hour charter today! The captain worked hard all day to put us on fish, and we ended up catching 4 bonito and a bunch of akule. Even when the bite slowed down, he kept moving and trying different spots to give us the best chance of success. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the whole trip enjoyable. The boat was comfortable, and we learned a lot along the way. We had a great day on the water and came home with fresh fish for dinner!”

🍱 Landed: 4 Bonito / Skipjack & Akule (Bait harvesting action)
Brian Trujillo
Full Day Offshore
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β€’ April 29, 2026 βœ“ FishingBooker

“If you’re thinking about booking a charterβ€”just do it, and ask for Shawn… On top of that, we saw pilot whales AND black tip sharks just casually living their best lives out there. Basically felt like we were in a nature documentary, but with better snacks and a cooler captain. Shawn is the real dealβ€”super laid back, knows his stuff, and genuinely wants you to have the experience you came for. He even butchered our fish for us like a pro, which was above and beyond. 10/10 would trust this man with my fishing destiny again.”

🦈 Sightings: Pilot whales, blacktip sharks & filleted Skipjack
Family Angler
Family Sportfishing
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β€’ December 2025 βœ“ Google Business

“Even though we were sport fishing, and going after Mahi Mahi, they made sure that the kids were able to catch a few fish to keep them entertained, and in the end landed a great Mahi Mahi with their assistance.”

🐟 Landed: Bull Mahi Mahi & kids reef fish
Frank H.
Couple Private Charter
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β€’ Verified Guest βœ“ Direct Review

“My wife and I had a great trip fishing with Sean. These guys are professional, have a great boat and equipment and know how to use it. Both were very friendly and helpful. We caught fish when the boats around us were having little if any success. We caught a blue marlin (about 100#s) and a striped marlin (about 35#s).”

🎯 Landed: Blue Marlin (~100 lbs) & Striped Marlin (~35 lbs)

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our Kona & Kohala Coast private charters.

Can we keep the fish we catch on Playtime Sportfishing?

Yes, absolutely! Unlike some tournament charters that sell all pelagic fish, Captain Shawn and our crew clean and filet your catch dockside at Honokohau Harbor free of charge. You take home as much fresh Ono (Wahoo), Mahi Mahi, or Yellowfin Tuna (Ahi) as you can eat while on the Big Island to cook at your condo, villa, or grill on the beach.

Is Playtime Sportfishing kid-friendly and good for beginners?

Yes! We specialize in family charters and first-time ocean anglers. Our 26-foot Shamrock keel-drive boat offers a shaded deck, comfortable seating, and a clean private marine head (toilet). For children and novices, Captain Shawn and the crew provide patient, step-by-step guidance and can switch to interactive reef/bottom fishing to guarantee constant rod-bending action.

How far is Honokohau Harbor from Waikoloa and Kohala Coast resorts?

Honokohau Small Boat Harbor is located directly between Kailua-Kona and the airport, just a 20 to 25-minute drive south from Waikoloa Beach Resort, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and Four Seasons Hualalai along Highway 19 (Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy). Free parking is available directly adjacent to the boat slips.

Why book direct on our website instead of FishingBooker or Viator?

Booking directly with us at playtimesportfishing.com or calling (808) 796-0611 guarantees you the lowest charter rate by cutting out 15% to 20% third-party broker fees. It also connects you directly with Captain Shawn before departure to talk current ocean conditions, tailor start times, and dial in target species.

What vessel specifications and gear do you run?

We operate a customized 26-foot Shamrock single-engine inboard keel-drive sportfisher. The full-length keel gives the hull exceptional stability in Hawaiian waters. The boat is outfitted with outriggers, downriggers, a fighting chair, Garmin CHIRP sonar, heavy Penn trolling gear for Marlin and Ahi, and stand-up light tackle and jigging rigs.

Ready to Make Your Playtime Unforgettable?

Skip the third-party middleman fees. Speak directly with Captain Shawn, customize your target species (Ono, Ahi, Mahi, or Family Bottom Fishing), and lock in your private charter date.

Playtime Sportfishing β€’ Honokohau Harbor, 74 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Private 4-Hour, 6-Hour & 8-Hour Charters Serving Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa & Kohala Coast Guests.

Book Trip Now!