Frequently Asked Questions

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The best way to book your ideal charter on Automatic is to contact us directly. Call or text (808)758-3038 or email us at automaticsportfishing@gmail.com. Charter fishing is a personal business that works best when we know what you want out of a charter.

To reserve a day, Automatic Sport Fishing requires a credit card on file. You will not be charged until the day of your trip. At that time you may pay with a credit card or cash. We have a 72 hour cancellation policy. Cancellations within 72 hours of a scheduled charter may result in a $500 penalty if we are not able to find another party to take your place.

The boat is located in Slip 35, Lahaina Harbor. The street address is 675 Wharf Street, Lahaina, HI, 96761.

Automatic is a 37 foot Bertram. The boat has a flybridge and enclosed cabin, providing plenty of comfortable seating for everyone. We even have sleeping bunks if you'd like to get some rest on the way out for our early departure trip. Automatic is equipped with a clean and functional marine toilet.

Some fish you might catch on our offshore trips are:

• Blue marlin
• Striped marlin
• Shortbill spearfish
• Ahi (Yellowfin tuna)
• Mahimahi
• Ono (Wahoo)
• Aku (Skipjack tuna)

Some fish you might catch on our inshore trips are:

• Snapper - various species ranging from smaller blue-line snapper (ta'ape) to larger grey snapper (uku)
• Trevally - numerous species including ulua, omilu, kagami, gold-spot papio
• Rainbow Runner/Hawaiian Salmon
• Amberjack
• Barracuda

Please see our photo gallery in the Recent Catch section of the website.

We try to keep our customers as comfortable as possible but the weather is out of our control. To our standards, the water usually isn't "rough". The ocean affects people differently, however, and motion sickness sometimes happens. If you're unsure whether you may be susceptible to seasickness, it's best to err on the side of caution and take medication such as Dramamine or Bonine.

Clients need to bring food and beverages of their choice, sunwear, and most importantly a positive attitude. Please refrain from bringing glass bottles and spray-on sunscreen. We will have extra water and sunscreen on the boat. Automatic is already outfitted with all of the quality fishing gear and bait that we will need.

The short answer to this question is yes, but there are stipulations. We are happy to cut a a portion of the day's catch (50 pounds whole weight max) for our clients to enjoy while they are on Maui. However, we do not want any fish to be wasted. Healthy fish populations are invaluable and, as there are no limits in Hawaii, we take it upon ourselves to respect the resource. We like to see our customers to enjoy the fresh fish that they caught. Any excess catch will go to the local markets and restaurants. If you insist on freezing fish, we will cut and process the catch for $5.00 per pound if you have a viable plan for taking care of it. (Fish is calculated by whole weight not filleted) Typically 50 pounds of whole weight yields 20-30 pounds of filleted weight. This depends on the size and species of fish.

Unfortunately, catching fish is not an absolute certainty. Generally, longer charters have better odds of catching quality fish. The only guarantee we can make is that we will try our very best to put you on the fish.

Automatic is licensed for a maximum of 6 customers, no exceptions.

There are multiple paid parking lots within walking distance of Lahaina Harbor. The best thing to do is call us on the morning of your trip and we will point you in the right direction.

No, a fishing license is not required.