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23-acre reservoir near Kīlauea. The lake tops out around 30 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Traced from the shoreline, Kalihiwai Reservoir runs 23 acres with 0.9 miles of edge. Nearly circular (index 1.3), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 32% of this chart, as modeled. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.3 mi with a 0.2-mi widest point. You'll find it in Kauai County. For a second option, Puu Ka Ele Reservoir lies 2 mi east.
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. Fall largemouth bass concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 8 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (14 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Break off the point (14 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
In spring, peacock bass (tucunaré) run shallow here, mostly 2 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 22 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring peacock bass (tucunaré). Time it for midday and early morning. You won't need more than a topwater (walking bait) or a jerkbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Topwater prop bait, Jerkbait (fire tiger) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Topwater (walking bait), Jerkbait |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait, Swimbait |
| Winter | 6 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (14 ft) | Slow jerkbait, Jig |
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 25 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. Winter channel catfish concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 26 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (26 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (26 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (26 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluegill in 1 to 6 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 15 ft before dropping to 10 to 25 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 26 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (14 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (26 ft) | Tiny spoon |
Spring puts tilapia in skinny water — 1 to 6 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 2 to 10 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 18 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for winter tilapia. Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. A micro-jig near weed edges covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Tiny jig + bread-ball tip, Small worm under float |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Micro-jig near weed edges |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Break off the point (14 ft) | Small jig tipped with worm |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (14 ft) | Slow micro-jig, warm outflows |
Structure-wise the chart holds 3 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 26 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Hawaii waters are set by the Hawaii DLNR — and special regulations can apply to Kalihiwai Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Hawaii fishing regulations →
Kalihiwai Reservoir is about 30 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target largemouth bass, peacock bass (tucunaré), channel catfish, bluegill, tilapia on Kalihiwai Reservoir.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Kalihiwai Reservoir is regulated by the Hawaii DLNR. Check the official Hawaii regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Puu Ka Ele Reservoir 2 mi · Waiakalua Reservoir 4 mi · Wailua Reservoir 8 mi · Kapaia Reservoir 12 mi · Halenanahu Reservoir 15 mi · Alexander Reservoir 17 mi · Mauka Reservoir 17 mi · Puʻu Lua Reservoir (Kōkeʻe) 17 mi · Waita Reservoir 19 mi · Aepo Reservoir 19 mi · Ipuolono Reservoir 19 mi · Aepoeha Reservoir 20 mi
See how Kalihiwai Reservoir stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Hawaii · best peacock bass (tucunaré) lakes in Hawaii · best tilapia lakes in Hawaii · best bluegill lakes in Hawaii
More water nearby: Kauai County fishing maps (13 charts). Browse all Hawaii fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.