Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in Hawaii
Legal with restrictionsInformational only — this is not legal advice
Fishing regulations change, sometimes with little notice, and can vary further by county, water body, or season within a state. This page is a starting point for research, not a substitute for the law. Always verify current rules directly with your state's fish & wildlife agency or TakeMeFishing.org before you fish. BasicGear is not responsible for citations, fines, or gear seizures resulting from reliance on this page.
Last verified: 2026-07-08 — regulations are re-checked periodically; see the date above before assuming this is current.
Summary
Throw nets are legal statewide for residents without a license, but Hawaii sets a minimum mesh size — nets with mesh smaller than the minimum are unlawful, the opposite direction most mainland mesh rules run.
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- Not specified — no net-size cap; only mesh is regulated
- Mesh
- Minimum 2 in stretched mesh — smaller mesh is illegal
- Water type
- Saltwater only
- License
- No license required for Hawaii residents
Recommended BasicGear net
No recommendation — No current BasicGear cast net is spec'd with 2-inch-or-larger stretched mesh, so we can't point you to one that clears Hawaii's minimum. Check the mesh measurement carefully (stretched mesh runs roughly double the square-measure size printed on most specs) or confirm compliant mesh with DLNR before fishing in Hawaii.
Official source
Last verified: 2026-07-08
See all 50 states, or shop the cast net lineup for Hawaii.