Best channel catfish lakes in Hawaii
9 Hawaii waters hold channel catfish. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Scent-driven bottom feeder. Holes, channels and inflows — best after dark.
- Lake Wilson (Wahiawā Reservoir) — 88 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass
- Waita Reservoir — 50 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
- Kapaia Reservoir — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
- Alexander Reservoir — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
- Wailua Reservoir — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass
- Upper Helemano Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
- Halenanahu Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
- Waiale Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
- Kalihiwai Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
When to fish channel catfish in Hawaii
- Spring 3–12 ft — Warm inflows and shallow mud flats after rain.
- Summer 8–25 ft — Deep holes by day; cats roam shallow flats to feed at night.
- Fall 10–30 ft — Fish concentrate in river/creek channels and deeper holes.
- Winter 20–40 ft — Stacked in the deepest holes; slow natural baits.
Also in Hawaii: best largemouth bass lakes · best peacock bass (tucunaré) lakes · best tilapia lakes · best bluegill lakes
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