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Best tilapia lakes in Hawaii

16 Hawaii waters hold tilapia. 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. Abundant warm-water cichlid. Shallow flats and weed edges; spawning colonies pock the shallows in warm weather.

1. Lake Wilson (Wahiawā Reservoir) — 88 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass
2. Waita Reservoir — 50 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
3. Kapaia Reservoir — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
4. Alexander Reservoir — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
5. Wailua Reservoir — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass
6. Upper Helemano Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
7. Halenanahu Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
8. Aepoeha Reservoir — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
9. Puu Ka Ele Reservoir — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
10. Waiale Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
11. Aepo Reservoir — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
12. Kalihiwai Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
13. Mauka Reservoir — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill
14. Crater Reservoir — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Bluegill
15. Ipuolono Reservoir — 22 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Bluegill
16. Waiakalua Reservoir — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Peacock Bass (Tucunaré), Tilapia, Bluegill

When to fish tilapia in Hawaii

• Spring 1–6 ft — Nest colonies crater shallow flats and coves — sight-fish the bed clusters.
• Summer 2–10 ft — Shallow weed flats and shoreline; sight-fish cruising schools with small baits.
• Fall 3–12 ft — Fish tighten on remaining green weed and flats near the first drops.
• Winter 5–18 ft — Cooler water pushes fish to the warmest deeper water; slow presentations, midday only.

Also in Hawaii: best largemouth bass lakes · best peacock bass (tucunaré) lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes

Tilapia elsewhere: Arizona