Haleiwa (North Shore) spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras

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◈Haleiwa (North Shore) · United States
2.5
wave 2.1 m
visibility~1m

Dayisover

Today — sit it out — wave, wind and surge pounding.

Sources: NWS · NDBC · Open-Meteo · Copernicus — high confidence · data 11:28

Sources & confidence

Sources
NWS · NDBC · Open-Meteo · Copernicus
Method
spearo sea-state engine: consensus of up to 6 models + satellite clarity (ZSD) + buoy-bias checks
Freshness
Re-read every hour, per coast

Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine · How it works →

The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.

How we score the water

Our own model

Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.

01
Swell & wave memory
Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
02
Wind & gusts
Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
03
Tide phase
Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
04
Water temperature
Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
05
Currents & outflow
Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
06
Rain runoff & air clarity
Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
07
Coast shape & exposure
How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.

Safety gates

  • Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
  • An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
  • Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
  • Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
  • Night hours — where night spearfishing is banned by law the window is forced red; where it is legal (Australia outside NSW, New Zealand, South Africa) it is capped at yellow, never green.

It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.

A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.

Entry pointsNo-take zonesLive cams

Where to get in, where to hunt

Entry points with coordinates
Seabed relief — promising ground

This verdict — in your pocket. Open the app for the week's window.

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spearo.app · a private marine instrument · Haleiwa (North Shore) · a planner, not a safety guaranteePrivacy
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0 m

Surface

Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.

spearo.app
NWS no dataupdated 11:28
Offshore marks — solo, off the rocks
Day is over
spearfishing is banned at night · wave 2.1 m (occasionally up to ~4.1 m)
wave 2.1 mwind 13, gusts 29 km/hsurge pounding the rocksvisibility ~1 m
today, best window 18:00–21:00
fish · Visibility 1 m · Water 26.7°C
confidence low · verdict for the selected day
Best window · next 3 days

Next 3 days — not divable: wave up to 2.1 m

↑ high tide 12:30 · slack water ~11:45–13:15 bite times: 10:00–12:00 · 16:32–17:32

Tell me when it's on

Just your email — nothing else needed.

Before entering, check the camera and the surge
Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.
›
Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.
Selected day

Windows, hours
and the day's trends.

The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.

Saturday · today2026-10-24
06:31–18:00 · full moon
▲ 01:00▼ 07:00▲ 13:00▼ 19:00 · 0.6 m
Hours (06→20)
06
09
12
15
18
Day's trends
Tide0.67 m
Wave2.16 m
Wind12 km/h
Water27 °C
fish activity: moonset 05:06 · moderate · moon underfoot 11:00 · high · moonrise 17:02 · moderate · moon overhead 23:30 · high
Conditions window18:00–21:00
spearfishing is banned at night fish
Hs 2.06 m · roughperiod 10.8 swind 13→29surge 24.2viz 1 m
2.06 mrough · up to ~4.12 · 338° at an angle
10.8 sswell building
13→29gusts 29 km/h
24.2pounding the rocks
0.17m/s
1 mrecent swell
26.7°C5 mm + hood
▲02:00tide turn near
Atmosphere6 kmprecip 0.6 mm
lowoff the lunar peaks
  • wave 2.1 m (occasionally up to ~4.1 m)
  • steep wind-wave — choppy surface, careful on entry
  • first hours of the flood — fish moving in
confidence lownight
Open the seafloor map with entry points →

Your best window — with you. Forecast in your pocket.

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point your camera
−10 m

The water column

Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.

What it is

A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.

spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.

Now live: 3016 spots across 406 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.

See all spots →
−20 m

The seabed

Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.

On the rock

The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.

The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.

Entry points

Where to get in
off the rocks.

Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.

Open the seafloor map →
Devil's RockNearshore marks
dangerous
⚠️ This point is inside the restricted zone “Waialua Bay (Hale'iwa Harbor) statutory fishing area”: fishing there is regulated (season, gear, permit), not banned outright. Read the zone's rules before you go.
in the headland's lee today — swell from the quarter/behind
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≈0.4–3.9 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

You can walk into the water at Devil's Rock; the town of Haleiwa (North Shore) is 0.5 km away. The deepest water here is close to 6 m. Bottom type: rock. The entry lies within Waialua Bay (Hale'iwa Harbor) statutory fishing area, an area with restrictions; know its limits before you shoot.

Google Maps
Hale'iwa Ali'i BeachNearshore marks
dangerous
213 m from the boundary of Waialua Bay (Hale'iwa Harbor) statutory fishing area (restricted zone)

One morning glance — and you know.

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≈

Surfacing

Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.

Live cameras, map & reference
Cameras · live

Look at the water
right now.

Check the cam BEFORE you leave. Foam, brown/green murk, or waves washing the entry rocks = No-go. At night/in fog the cam is useless — treat it as «unknown», NOT «green».

connecting to the stream…
● LIVE↗
Banzai Pipeline Surf Cam (Explore.org)YouTube live — Banzai Pipeline Surf Cam (Explore.org). Embedded live stream; if the ID rotates it opens the source page. Read the water before you go.camera: youtube ↗
Open the seafloor map →
Reference

What's in season,
what the law says.

In season now
  • uhu (parrotfish)
    Scaridae · 2–20 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    The 2 uhu/day bag is STATEWIDE, not Maui-only (HAR 13-95-16(c), amended 22 Feb 2024). Min 10″ (25 cm), and 14″ (36 cm) for 'ele'ele, uliuli, palukaluka and 'ahu'ula. On Maui (HAR 13-95.1) blue terminal-phase 'ele'ele and uliuli may not be taken at all. Kahekili Herbivore FMA: uhu banned year-round. Miloli'i CBSFA: no spearing uhu at night by any gear.
  • ulua (giant trevally)
    Caranx spp. / Carangoides spp. · 2–30 m · legal
    'Ulua and papio' is a LEGAL GROUP, not one species: Caranx ignobilis, C. lugubris, C. melampygus ('omilu), C. sexfasciatus, Carangoides equula, C. ferdau and C. orthogrammus. Min 10″ (25 cm) to take or possess, 16″ (41 cm) to sell. Bag 20 ulua over 10″ per person per day, non-commercial (HAR 13-95-22).
  • kumu (goatfish)
    Parupeneus porphyreus · 2–25 m · legal
    This is specifically Parupeneus porphyreus, not the whole Mullidae family. Year-round. Min 10″ (25 cm) statewide (HAR 13-95-7), 12″ (30 cm) on Maui island. No statewide bag limit, but 1 kumu per person per day on Maui (HAR 13-95.1-20(c)).
  • roi (peacock grouper)
    Cephalopholis argus · 3–30 m · invasive — target
    Invasive: DLNR AIS lists it as introduced — deliberately stocked as a sportfish in 1956, now a dominant reef predator on Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Maui and Hawai'i island. No season, size or bag limit. On ciguatera: no Hawai'i state page asserting it could be found — treat it as a local caution, not a rule.
  • Trinidad
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  • Soquel
  • Menlo Park
  • Marina
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  • Crescent City
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    • Oregon

    • Brookings
    • Port Orford

    All 367 spots → · Region: Hawaii · spearo.app — All countries

    transparency ~31 m · satellite, 2 days agosatellite estimate · may differ right at the shore

    buoy Waimea Bay, HI: 26.2° · wave 1.9 m/13 s · 42 min ago

    in the headland's lee today — swell from the quarter/behind
    window
    —
    Seabed depth of the selected area
    ≈0.4–6.6 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

    Entry from the beach at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach, 0.2 km out of Haleiwa (North Shore). Marker position: 21.593° N, 158.110° W. Depths reach about 7 m. Waialua Bay (Hale'iwa Harbor) statutory fishing area, a restricted area, lies about 210 m away; check its rules and boundary.

    Google Maps
    Laniākea ReefNearshore marks
    dangerous
    in the headland's lee today — swell from the quarter/behind
    window
    —
    Seabed depth of the selected area
    ≈23–28 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

    Flat-topped reef and scattered coral heads outside the Laniākea shoreline, 4–18 m, dropping into sand at the seaward edge. Oʻahu spear shops fish it for mu schooling around structure in the 12–18 m band; summer only — the north shore is unswimmable once the winter swells arrive.

    Google Maps
    Mokule'ia reef flatNearshore marks
    dangerous
    in the headland's lee today — swell from the quarter/behind
    window
    —
    Seabed depth of the selected area
    ≈0.6–2.8 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

    A long reef with channels west of Hale'iwa, 2–10 m: papio and goatfish over the shelf. Summer is the window: in winter northwest swell makes this whole coast unworkable and dangerous.

    Google Maps
    Mole HeavenNearshore marks
    dangerous
    104 m from the boundary of Waialua Bay (Hale'iwa Harbor) statutory fishing area (restricted zone)
    in the headland's lee today — swell from the quarter/behind
    window
    —
    Seabed depth of the selected area
    ≈0.6–3.4 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

    Shore access point Mole Heaven, roughly 1.0 km from Haleiwa (North Shore). Expect no more than about 3 m of water. The tidal range is small. Waialua Bay (Hale'iwa Harbor) statutory fishing area, a restricted area, lies about 100 m away; check its rules and boundary.

    Google Maps
    Police BeachNearshore marks
    dangerous
    in the headland's lee today — swell from the quarter/behind
    window
    —
    Seabed depth of the selected area
    ≈1.1–6.5 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

    Police Beach: you go in from the shore, some 2.4 km from Haleiwa (North Shore). The pin sits at 21.610 N / 158.097 W on the chart. Maximum depth is around 6 m. Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District, where all taking is banned, starts some 3.9 km from here.

    Google Maps
    Puaena PointNearshore marks
    dangerous
    75 m from the boundary of Waialua Bay (Hale'iwa Harbor) statutory fishing area (restricted zone)
    in the headland's lee today — swell from the quarter/behind
    window
    —
    Seabed depth of the selected area
    ≈1.7–8.8 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

    A reef point just north of Hale'iwa harbour, 3–12 m: uku, mu and goatfish, calm in summer. WARNING: the regulated Waialua Bay area covers 90 m around the breakwater and the groin — stay out of that band.

    Google Maps
    Turtle HeavenNearshore marks
    dangerous
    in the headland's lee today — swell from the quarter/behind
    window
    —
    Seabed depth of the selected area
    ≈0.4–2.0 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

    Entry from the beach at Turtle Heaven, 1.3 km out of Haleiwa (North Shore). Coordinates of the entry: 21.584 N, 158.119 W. Maximum depth is around 2.0 m. The nearest protected area on our map, Waialua Bay (Hale'iwa Harbor) statutory fishing area, is about 1.5 km away.

    Google Maps
    Pupukea MLCD (Shark's Cove)Offshore marks
    dangerous
    ⛔ Banned here
    swell on the quarter today
    window
    —
    Seabed depth of the selected area
    ≈6.0–18 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

    WARNING: the Pūpūkea conservation district (Shark's Cove and Three Tables) prohibits removal of marine life, with only a minimal hand-harvest exception for limu. For a hunter it is effectively no-take — do not enter with a gun.

    Google Maps

    SOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.

    ta'ape (bluestripe snapper)
    Lutjanus kasmira · 3–40 m · invasive — target
    Invasive, confirmed by DLNR AIS: first found in Hawai'i in 1955, deliberately stocked from French Polynesia, now established through the main islands on reefs, shallow lagoons and outer reef slopes. No season, size or bag limit. 'Removal encouraged' is community practice, not a published DAR position.
  • kole (goldring surgeonfish)
    Ctenochaetus strigosus · 2–25 m · legal
    One of the most-speared reef fish in Hawai'i. Year-round statewide. Min 5″ (13 cm) — a NEW rule: §13-95-25 was created by the 22 Feb 2024 amendment, so any older 'kole is unregulated' note is stale. No statewide bag. Miloli'i CBSFA: closed Mar–Jun, 20/person/day Jul–Feb.
  • moi (Pacific threadfin)
    Polydactylus sexfilis · 0–10 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    The only clean three-month statewide closure in the façade: Jun 1–Aug 31 it is unlawful to take, possess or sell any moi (HAR 13-95-23(c)). September through May: min 11″ (28 cm), 15 per person per day. A classic shorebreak and sand-channel target.
  • uku (grey / green jobfish)
    Aprion virescens · 10–60 m · legal
    The blue-water target of Hawaiian spearfishing. Year-round. The size rule is written specifically for spearfishers: 'unlawful to take with spear or possess any speared uku less than one pound' (0.45 kg) — HAR 13-95-15(b). No state bag limit; the federal stock is managed by an annual catch limit, not a recreational bag.
  • kala (bluespine unicornfish)
    Naso unicornis · 2–25 m · legal
    A staple reef meat fish. Year-round. Min 14″ (36 cm), HAR 13-95-11(a); kala 'opelu (Naso hexacanthus) 16″ (41 cm), §13-95-12. Bag 4 kala per person per day; a commercial kala permit ($100) is needed to exceed it. Kahekili Herbivore FMA on Maui: all surgeonfish including kala are prohibited.
  • 'omilu (bluefin trevally)
    Caranx melampygus · 2–30 m · legal
    The everyday reef-edge trevally — and legally it IS an ulua: regulated inside the 'ulua and papio' group (HAR 13-95-22), which most divers do not know. Min 10″ (25 cm), bag 20/day SHARED with all other ulua/papio, not a separate allowance.
  • manini (convict tang)
    Acanthurus triostegus sandvicensis · 0–15 m · legal
    Shallow-reef bread-and-butter for shore divers on every island. Year-round, min 6″ (15 cm), HAR 13-95-5. No statewide bag limit. Prohibited inside the Kahekili Herbivore FMA (north Ka'anapali, Maui).
  • mu (bigeye emperor)
    Monotaxis grandoculis · 3–40 m · legal
    A top Hawaiian spear target with NO state size or bag limit. The evidence is negative: mu appears nowhere on the DAR 'Marine Fishes and Other Vertebrates' regulated-species page (read in full 2026-09-03) nor in HAR 13-95. Hence conf 'partial' — this is an absence of rule, not a written allowance. Check local and county rules separately.
  • 'u'u / menpachi (soldierfish)
    Myripristis spp. · 3–30 m · legal
    The archetypal Hawaiian night-dive fish. Unregulated statewide — absent from the DAR regulated list, hence conf 'partial'. But genuinely regulated inside Miloli'i CBSFA: closed April–June, and no spearing 'u'u inside the Puakai'a Miloli'i sub-zone.
  • he'e (day octopus / tako)
    Octopus cyanea · 0–20 m · legal
    Do not confuse it with the crustacean ban: he'e is a mollusc, so the statewide ban on spearing crustaceans does NOT reach it — three-prong tako hunting is legal. Year-round, min 1 lb (0.45 kg), HAR 13-95-55. No state bag limit.
  • 'ama'ama (striped mullet)
    Mugil cephalus · 0–8 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
    The façade's second statewide closed season: December through March take is prohibited (HAR 13-95-8, HRS 188-44). April–November: min 11″ (28 cm). No statewide bag limit; in the Hilo Bay FMA it counts inside a combined 20/day cap. A shallow flats and harbour-mouth target.
  • 'o'io (bonefish)
    Albula glossodonta · 0–10 m · legal
    A sand-flat target adjacent to most of our HI city spots. Year-round, min 14″ (36 cm), HAR 13-95-10. No state bag limit.
    • Not a target — don't shoot
    • paku'iku'i (Achilles tang)🚫 no-take
      MORATORIUM. In the West Hawai'i Regional FMA take or possession is prohibited before 18 December 2026 (HAR 13-60.4-4(a)(7), am. 2 Jan 2025) — that directly covers Kailua-Kona and Captain Cook. In Miloli'i CBSFA prohibited before 1 July 2027, then 5/day at a 5″ minimum. ⏳ Both dates need a diary re-check or this card goes stale.
    • ula (spiny lobster) and ula papapa (slipper lobster)🚫 no-take
      NEVER by spear: 'unlawful to spear any crustacean (except introduced freshwater prawn), turtle or aquatic mammal at any time' (HAR 13-75 / HRS 188-23). Hand-take only, whole and unmutilated. Closed season May–August statewide; min carapace 3¼″ (8.3 cm), ula papapa 2¾″ (7.0 cm) tail width. No taking female ula. Maunalua Bay FMA bans lobster take outright; Miloli'i CBSFA caps ula at 2/day.
    • mano (sharks) and hihimanu (rays)🚫 no-take
      HANDS OFF: it is unlawful to intentionally or knowingly capture or entangle ANY shark or ray, alive or dead, or to kill any shark or ray in state marine waters (HRS 188-39.5 sharks, HRS 188-40.8 rays). Possessing, selling or distributing shark fins is also prohibited. For a spearo this matters more than the turtle line.
    • honu (sea turtles) and Hawaiian monk seal🚫 no-take
      There is no open season. Sea turtles: closed, state and federal endangered-species law both apply (HRS 195D-4). Monk seal: unlawful to molest, kill, capture or possess at any time. Spearing any turtle or aquatic mammal is separately unlawful under HAR 13-75. Keep your distance and never pursue.
    Law
    • ✓No licence for residents; non-residents need the Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License ().
    • ✓MLCDs — no-take. West Hawai'i — scuba-spear banned. Uhu (Maui): ≤2/day, no blue males. Roi/ta'ape invasive — removal encouraged.
    • •It is unlawful to spear any crustacean (lobster, all crabs), turtle or aquatic mammal at any time; spearfishing is allowed for all fishes. Taking any fish, crustacean, mollusc, turtle or marine mammal with firearms is prohibited, except tuna or billfish already gaffed.
    • •A dive flag is mandatory: spearfishers and divers must mark their position and may not surface more than 100 ft (30 m) from it in ocean waters (50 ft in navigable streams) except in an emergency. Minimum 12×12 in, or 20×24 in with a blue-and-white alpha flag if vessel-mounted on a boat over 16 ft.
    • •Night spear-ban zones. Maunalua Bay , O'ahu (Kawaihoa Pt to the Diamond Head buoy — this covers Hawai'i Kai and east Honolulu, HAR 13-48.5): from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise it is unlawful to use or possess a spear while diving, or to hold dive gear and a spear together.
    • •The Kahekili Herbivore off north Ka'anapali, Maui (HAR 13-60.7) sits directly on the lahaina city: it is unlawful to injure, kill, possess or remove ANY parrotfish (uhu), rudderfish (nenue) or surgeonfish, or any sea urchin — everything else is fair game.
    • •Miloli'i CBSFA (HAR 13-60.10) runs from the shoreline to the 100-fathom contour on the SW Hawai'i island coast, south of the captain-cook city, with the tightest spear rules in the state: no spearing uhu at night by any gear; no uhu 'ele'ele or uhu uliuli at all; uhu 'ahu'ula/palukaluka closed March–May; ula capped at 2/day.
    • •West Hawai'i RFMA: it is unlawful merely to POSSESS SCUBA gear and a spear at the same time, or SCUBA gear plus any speared fish, anywhere in the region (HAR 13-60.4-4(a)(6)). The same subsection bans taking or possessing paku'iku'i before 18 Dec 2026.
    • •Licence: residents need none and no registration; non-residents aged 15+ need the — $20 for 1 day, $40 for 7 days, $70 for 1 year plus an online processing fee, sold ONLY at fishing.hawaii.gov. Statutory basis HRS 188-72 (Act 48, 2021).
    • ⛔ 🚫 Marine Life Conservation Districts (Hanauma/Molokini/Pupukea etc.) — no-take: spear nothing. West Hawai'i — scuba-spear banned.
    • ⛔ 🚫 Sea turtles, monk seal and cetaceans — protected, don't disturb. Uhu: blue terminal males (Maui) may not be taken.
    • ⛔ 🚫 Sharks and rays: capturing, entangling or killing ANY shark or ray in is unlawful (HRS 188-39.5, 188-40.8) — for a spearo this matters more than the turtle line. Shark fins may not be possessed, sold or distributed.

    US spearfishing law is state-by-state. License, spearable species, powerhead rules and distances vary; federal sanctuaries (Gray's Reef, the Keys, Flower Garden Banks) ban spearfishing. Always confirm with the state agency and local ordinances.

    Safety protocol
    • Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
    • Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
    • Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
    • Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
    • Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
    • Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
    • UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
    • Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.
    Local guide · Haleiwa (North Shore)

    Spearfishing in Haleiwa (North Shore): spots, seasons and rules

    Updated 2026-07-09 · By Oleksandr, spearfisher

    Spearfishing Haleiwa is legal only when you separate the North Shore's open reef from its protected showcase water. Puaena Point and Mokule'ia reef flat are the practical local dives, with ulua, uku, goatfish and invasive roi or ta'ape in the broader species picture. Pupukea MLCD at Shark's Cove and Three Tables is different: do not spear there, and do not enter the water with a taking device in the district. Conditions are seasonal. Summer flat spells can be clear and manageable; winter northwest swell turns the same coast dangerous. Nonresidents need Hawaii's Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License.

    TL;DR

    • Haleiwa spearfishing is a summer North Shore window. Winter surf can make the same reef line unsafe and unreadable.
    • Puaena Point and Mokule'ia reef flat are the usable local ideas; Pupukea MLCD is a protected no-take area and is not a hunting spot.
    • Use NOAA station 51201 and North Shore cams for swell. The bad sector is northwest through north, roughly 290 to 360 degrees.
    • Hawaii residents do not need a marine fishing license, but nonresidents need the NRMFL. Turtles, monk seals and cetaceans are protected.

    Legal spearfishing spots near Haleiwa

    This table leaves out Pupukea MLCD on purpose because it is a protected no-take area. The two listed entries are North Shore reef plans that still need a flat summer sea, clear exits and current DAR rule checks.

    SpotTypeDepthLevelAccessNotes
    Puaena PointReef point north of Haleiwa HarborShallow reef point and channelsIntermediate in summer, avoid winter surfShore entry near the harbor side after checking swellPuaena Point holds uku, mu and goatfish in summer-calm water. Boat traffic, surfers and changing current make a float and conservative entry plan essential.
    Mokule'ia reef flatLong reef flat with channelsShallow to moderate reef channelsIntermediate reef navigationShore approach west of HaleiwaThe reef can hold papio and goatfish. It is exposed to North Shore swell, so the best plan is a small summer swell, light wind and a clear exit line.

    When is Haleiwa water visibility best?

    Haleiwa water visibility follows the North Shore season. Summer is the calmer pattern, though surge can still appear. The bad swell sector is 290 to 360 degrees, with the worst energy near 335 degrees. A small reading at NOAA 51201 matters more here than a sunny beach forecast. If Waimea or Pipeline cams show winter energy, a speargun day should become a land-based conditions check.

    Why is Pupukea not in the spots table?

    Pupukea MLCD covers Shark's Cove, Three Tables and nearby offshore water. Pupukea MLCD is protected, and Hawaii DAR rules prohibit taking marine life there except for narrow listed activities that are not spearfishing. Possessing a device that may take marine life in the water is also prohibited. Fail closed: enjoy Pupukea for snorkeling or viewing, not for harvesting.

    Which fish are realistic around Haleiwa?

    The Haleiwa species mix is reef and island-current fishing: ulua, uku, kumu and other goatfish, papio, plus invasive roi and ta'ape where legal. Roi removal may be encouraged, but ciguatera remains a health caution. Uhu rules can be area-specific, including Maui restrictions on blue terminal males, so do not generalize from one island to another. Sea turtles, monk seals and cetaceans are protected and should not be disturbed.

    What Hawaii license rule applies?

    Hawaii residents do not need a recreational marine fishing license. Nonresidents need the Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License. That license does not open MLCDs, harbors or special regulated areas. Freediving Haleiwa also means checking access, surf and current, because many of the North Shore's easiest-looking entries become unsafe when swell wraps through the reef flats.

    FAQ

    Is spearfishing Haleiwa good in winter?

    Usually no. Winter northwest swell can make the North Shore dangerous and low visibility, even for experienced divers.

    Can you spear at Shark's Cove?

    No. Shark's Cove sits in Pupukea MLCD, where taking marine life and carrying taking devices in the water are prohibited.

    Do nonresidents need a Hawaii fishing license?

    Yes. Nonresidents need the Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License for marine fishing.

    What are good Haleiwa spearfishing targets?

    Legal reef targets include ulua, uku and goatfish. Invasive roi and ta'ape may be removed where legal, with ciguatera caution.

    Which buoy helps for Haleiwa water visibility?

    NOAA NDBC station 51201 is the listed nearby buoy, and it should be paired with North Shore surf cams.

    Sources

    • Hawaii DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, Fishing Regulations
    • Hawaii DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, Oahu Pupukea MLCD
    • NOAA NDBC, Station 51201

    Nearby towns

    • Dive spots near Honolulu
    • Lihue (Nawiliwili): forecast and spots
    • Dive spots near Poipu
    • Spearfishing in Lahaina
    • Dive spots near Kahului
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