The beautiful waters off the Hawaiian coast beckon visitors to enjoy them in multiple ways. While some people prefer surfing and swimming, others want to go fishing. Luckey Strike Charters in Lahaina provides fishers with uniquely Hawaiian sports fishing experiences.
Captain Tad Luckey started Luckey Strike Charters in 1978 and continues the family-owned operation to this day. Over the decades of sportfishing in Hawaii, he learned about how traditional and modern methods blend together to improve fishing success. For instance, early in his career, people told him that downrigging wouldn’t work in Hawaii, but he found that using GPS to get a precise location could be a successful fishing method. Today, Captain Tad has 50 fishing spots within 10 miles of the coast that he chooses based on the time of year for the best chance of getting a catch.
Whether you have never fished before or love sports fishing, the crew at Luckey Strike Charters will make you feel welcome. Captains and crew educate those on the charter about what to expect during the trip, what happens when a fish catches the bait, and how the equipment works.
Additionally, Luckey Strike Charters takes care of getting a fishing license for you. The crew also provides you with ice, a cooler, bait, and equipment on board. You only need to bring your choice of food and drinks, but you cannot have glass containers on board either charter vessel.
Sports fishing in Hawaii may not look like it does in other parts of the world because Hawaii has several species of fish not found anywhere else, such as Mahi Mahi, spearfish, striped marlin, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, and Bonita tuna. These fish range from 30 to over 1000 pounds and can swim at 30 miles an hour or faster. To catch such challenging sports fish, you need exceptional methods. Luckey Strike Charters uses several ways to help participants catch fish while aboard.
One of the most common methods used to catch these large, speedy fish is trolling with lures, during which the boat continues to move while fishing lures dangle over the waves.
Alternatively, to catch other fish such as gray snapper, rainbow runner, or barracuda, the boat captains may travel to a sea mount and drop a downrigger to get bait deep under the surface. Private charters also include bottom fishing using light tackle.
To get the most out of the trip, prepare yourself by wearing sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses. These items will protect you from hours under the bright tropical sun. Reapply the sunscreen every two hours to avoid sunburn, which can ruin your fishing trip or the rest of your vacation.
When booking, talk to the team about conditions to determine whether to go on a four, six, or eight-hour charter. Longer trips have greater chances of success, but because fishing always has more factors at play than even the most expert captains can account for, you do not have a guarantee of catching a fish.
If you do catch a fish, the crew will fillet it for you. Any fish that you don’t want to take, the crew will either market or eat to reduce waste.
Know the type of trip you want to book. The shared charters do not use light tackle and almost always use lures for trolling. Private charters allow for both lure fishing and bottom fishing with live bait or light tackle. Both lure trolling and bottom fishing are very different experiences. Choose whether to book a shared or private charter based on the type of fishing you want to do.
The following are the boats owned and operated by Luckey Strike Charters and the types of charters they embark on:
Reel Luckey
The Reel Luckey is the company’s private charter vessel for groups of up to six people. This 38-foot yacht has all the equipment needed for bottom fishing with live bait. Captained by Tad Luckey, this vessel allows for the greatest variety of fishing methods to help you get a catch.
Luckey Strike II
The Luckey Strike II is a 50-foot sports fishing vessel, which can accommodate up to 20 people. It also is Lahaina harbor’s only Coast Guard-certified fishing vessel. Several guests have booked wedding parties or bachelor parties on this vessel as large private charters. Such large groups may rotate who operates the rods or choose six people to fish. More frequently, the boat has use for shared charters of up to six fishers who want to enjoy a day out while lure trolling. This boat does not do bottom fishing.
With Luckey Strike Charters, you can enjoy bottom fishing or lure trolling aboard one of its two vessels. Whether you choose a private or shared charter, you’ll have a professional crew and captain helping to make your experience a memorable one.