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48-acre reservoir near Wailua. The lake tops out around 40 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Wailua Reservoir runs 48 acres with 1.7 miles of edge. Index 1.7 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 49% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.5 mi with a 0.4-mi widest point. The water lies in Kauai County. For a second option, Kapaia Reservoir lies 3 mi south.
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring largemouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (18 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 12 to 40 ft. Fall smallmouth bass concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 10 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Break off the point (18 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
In spring, peacock bass (tucunaré) run shallow here, mostly 2 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 15 ft before dropping to 6 to 22 ft for winter. Spring peacock bass (tucunaré) concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 10 ft. Fish it in midday and early morning and you'll meet the bite. 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 (10 ft) | Topwater prop bait, Jerkbait (fire tiger) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Topwater (walking bait), Jerkbait |
| Fall | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Jerkbait, Swimbait |
| Winter | 6 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (18 ft) | Slow jerkbait, Jig |
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 40 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 34 ft, rated prime for winter channel catfish. Time it for after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (34 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluegill in 1 to 6 ft. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 15 ft, wintering in 10 to 25 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 5 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Break off the point (18 ft) | Tiny spoon |
Spring puts tilapia in skinny water — 1 to 6 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 2 to 10 ft, wintering in 5 to 18 ft. Spring tilapia concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 5 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around midday and early morning. 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 | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Tiny jig + bread-ball tip, Small worm under float |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Micro-jig near weed edges |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Small jig tipped with worm |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (18 ft) | Slow micro-jig, warm outflows |
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 34 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 Wailua Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Hawaii fishing regulations →
Wailua Reservoir is about 40 ft (12 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, smallmouth bass, peacock bass (tucunaré), channel catfish, bluegill, tilapia on Wailua Reservoir.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Wailua 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.
Kapaia Reservoir 3 mi · Halenanahu Reservoir 7 mi · Puu Ka Ele Reservoir 8 mi · Kalihiwai Reservoir 8 mi · Mauka Reservoir 9 mi · Waiakalua Reservoir 9 mi · Alexander Reservoir 11 mi · Waita Reservoir 11 mi · Aepo Reservoir 12 mi · Aepoeha Reservoir 13 mi · Ipuolono Reservoir 13 mi · Puʻu Lua Reservoir (Kōkeʻe) 18 mi
See how Wailua 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.