Fire Hatt Sportfishing is the big boat pick in Kona. It is a 43 foot Hatteras Convertible, the largest and one of the most comfortable hulls in the ranked fleet, repowered with new Caterpillar engines in 2021 and run by Captain Chuck, a retired California fire chief whose old job gave the boat its name. It fishes the year round Kona marlin and tuna run out of Honokohau Harbor, offers snorkel and fishing combos for a mixed group, and carries a deep, mostly glowing record across FishingBooker and TripAdvisor. For room and comfort on the water, nothing in the ranked field beats it.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.7 Fire Hatt is fourth in the Kona ranking, a strong choice and the most comfortable boat in the field, behind the co leaders Skillet and Hooked Up and the veteran Humdinger. It earns the placing on the boat itself, a big repowered Hatteras, plus the snorkel combos that make it flexible for a family, and a deep positive review record. What holds it here is value: at $1,100 to $1,150 for a half day it is the most expensive of the ranked boats, and while a few reviews are glowing, a handful report an off day, so the rating, strong as it is, is not quite spotless. For a lower day rate, Skillet and Humdinger cost less, and for a share boat seat, Bite Me, High Noon, and Camelot split the cost. See the Kona ranking for the field.
The boat
The Fire Hatt is a 43 foot Hatteras Convertible, built in 1993 and repowered in November 2021 with twin 509 horsepower Caterpillar diesels that cruise around 18 knots. That makes it the largest, most comfortable boat in the ranked fleet, with a real cabin, room to move, and the ride of a heavy sportfisher, which matters more for comfort than for the short run to the Kona grounds. It fishes up to six anglers, and the fresh engines give it dependability the older hulls in the port cannot all claim. If your group values space and a smooth ride as much as the fishing, this is the boat.
The fishing and what you target
Fire Hatt fishes the standard Kona spread across the year. Blue marlin are the prize, in the deep water off the coast every month and biggest from June into September, with ahi (yellowfin tuna) and ono (wahoo) through the summer, mahi mahi in the cooler months, and striped marlin and shortbill spearfish in winter. The captain posts regular Kona fishing forecasts, a sign of a crew that watches the bite closely. Like the rest of the fleet it releases blue marlin and keeps the edible fish within the size rules. The snorkel and fishing combo on the longer trips is a genuine point of difference, letting a mixed group fish in the morning and swim a Kona reef on the way in.
Trips and prices
Fire Hatt posts clear private rates on its FishingBooker listing, all for the whole boat for up to six: a 4 hour half day is $1,100 to $1,150, a 6 hour trip $1,300, and an 8 hour full day $1,500, as of June 2026, with the snorkel combos on the 6 and 8 hour trips at no extra charge. Shimano rods and reels from light tackle up to 130 class, water, and catch cleaning are included, and cancellation is free with three days notice. The honest mark against it is the price: these are the highest day rates among the ranked boats, which buys you the biggest hull, so the value depends on how much you weigh comfort. Our cost guide sets a Kona day against other ports, and the party boat versus private charter guide weighs a private boat against a share boat seat.
The crew
Captain Chuck brings a retired fire chief’s calm and organization to the boat, and the reviews reward it: a deep base across FishingBooker and TripAdvisor that is mostly very positive on the crew, the boat, and the fishing, with the snorkel option a recurring favorite for families. The record is strong rather than flawless. Among the hundreds of happy reviews are a few that describe an off day or a trip that did not click, which is honest to note, and it is why the rating sits a touch below the near perfect marks of the two co leaders. As with any billfish boat, the marlin are never guaranteed, so the crew, the boat, and the experience are what you are paying for.
Booking and what to know
Book through the FishingBooker listing or the operator’s site, early for the summer season. Bring sunscreen, a hat, a light jacket, food, and swim gear if you take a snorkel combo. The tackle, water, and cleaning are covered. Hawaii now requires nonresident visitors 15 and older to hold a state marine fishing license, in effect since 2024, so confirm with the boat how it handles that when you book.
How we scored it
Fire Hatt earns its 7.7 on the largest, most comfortable boat in the port, freshly repowered, the flexible snorkel combos, and a deep positive review record, held to the middle of the field by the highest day rates among the ranked boats and a record that is strong rather than spotless. Boat and equipment is its strongest factor. See how we scored this boat and the Kona ranking for the rest of the field.