Sportfishing in Maui

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Marlin (as big as 1,200 lb.), tuna, ono, and mahimahi await the baited hook in Maui's coastal and channel waters. No license is required; just book a sport-fishing vessel out of Lahaina or Maalaea harbors. Most charter boats that troll for big-game fish carry a maximum of six passengers. You can walk the docks, inspecting boats and talking to captains and crews, or book through an activities desk or one of the outfitters recommended below.

Shop around: Prices vary widely according to the boat, the crowd, and the captain. A shared boat for a half day of fishing starts at $100; a shared full day of fishing starts at around $140. A half-day exclusive (you get the entire boat) is around $400 to $700; a full-day exclusive can range from $500 to $1,000. Also, many boat captains tag and release marlin or keep the fish for themselves (sorry, that's Hawaii style). If you want to eat your mahimahi for dinner or have your marlin mounted, tell the captain before you go.

The best way to book a sport-fishing charter is through the experts: The best booking desk in the state is Sportfish Hawaii (tel. 877/388-1376 or 808/396-2607; www.sportfishhawaii.com), which not only books boats on Maui but on all the islands. These fishing vessels have been inspected and must meet rigorous criteria. Prices range from $850 to $950 for a full-day exclusive charter for up to six people; it's $599 to $750 for a half-day exclusive.