Captain Dons Sport Fishing

My husband and I spent my birthday fishing with Captain Don and deckhand Matt and we had an amazing time. Caught some skip jack tuna, good weather and funny bad jokes galore. Definitely recommend fishing with Don if you’re ever in Kauai. He’s very knowledgeable, friendly and makes sure everyone has a good time in board.

Even though I spent most of the time seasick, I still had a great time because Captain Don and Matt were so fun! They totally distracted me in between my vomiting!
My husband and sister/​brother in law caught enough tuna for sashimi, fish tacos, and fish filet for the next few days.
And Captain Don resembles a very handsome young version of William Devane.
Highly recommended!

We had a great time and caught lots of fish. Don and Matt were very friendly and fun! We caught six tuna and three mahi mahi. I took home about five lbs. of fish, and it was delicious!

What an epic day of fishing with Captain Don. I had one of the best and most memorable times of my life out on his boat. Right away we hooked a big one, and total excitement, thrilling suspense, and magic ensued. After the big catch, we fished some more and they were biting like crazy so we pulled in a couple keepers. Like I said, the trip out with Capt. Don and his deckhand Asher, was one of the best experiences of my life. It could be yours too. If you know what’s good for you! I cannot wait to do it again.

Don was great, as was his deckhand Asher. We went out while the hurricanes were passing by up north, so it scared all the tuna and marlin and big fish off, but Don was great despite the crappy fishing. We still did some good bottom fishing and came away with a great snapper that made for some awesome fish tacos. For pure good attitude and spirit — which you need when fishing doesn’t turn into catching — go with Capt. Don. Highly recommended.

We had a group of 6 in our group both kids and adults. Everyone ended up having a great time. The crew was very helpful and you could tell they love what they do. It was also obvious that they know allot about island of Kauai and gave us great insights for our stay as a whole.
If you are looking for a great experience you cannot go wrong with Captain Don!

Fishing with Captain Don and his crew is a must for your Kauai vacation. When you’re on board Don’s boat you’re treated like family. If you’re looking for a professional and fun sport fishing adventure then look no further, captain Don is your guy!

Great trip. Lots of fish and whale watching to boot. Good people. If you want to go fishing on Kauai this is the place to call.

Captain Donny and First Mate Lance provided an outstanding fishing adventure for our family of two teenagers and mom and dad aboard their fine vessel on Dec 5, 2014. We caught seven tuna, plenty to keep at over 15 lbs each, and we were the hit of our hotel that night as we served poke and grilled yellowfin to our fellow Westin Villas guests.
Donny, Lance, thanks for a first rate, entertaining voyage we’ll always remember.
When you’re in the SF Bay Area be sure to look us up at Piccolo Napoli — we’ll treat you to our version of unforgettable thin-​crust pizza! Happy fishing, happy life! Ciao.

Just returned from a half day fishing excursion and can’t stop smiling, we were catching 3 fish at a time! Captain Don and crew know how to fish and were very patient with our party. A few seconds into meeting him feels like you just reunited with a best friend. This is now a must do when we come back to kauai. Skip the over crowded corporate charters and stick with a local that has been doing it and will treat you like family.

Next time I’m in kauai, I’ll be back for sure. Captain Don does his best to find the fish and get you bites. He has a good attitude and fun to carry on a conversation. Would be comfortable with a group of guys to bringing my wife and small children along with him. Thankyou for the adventure!!!

Had a great time with Calvin and Capt’n Don. Both were extremely helpful, fun and straight to the point. Capt’n Don said to be at the docks at 530, we were there by 535 and both Capt’n Don and Calvin were there prepping the boat for our voyage.
We set off around 545 AM on a beautiful day. We tried a few different types of fishing and caught plenty of fish. Had a few Lunkas’ on the line but were unable to get them back to the boat. I don’t think I impressed Capt’N Don with my skills since he kept asking my girlfriend to take over and show me how its done.
Shared a bunch of laughs with them both and overall had a blast. Would absolutely without a doubt, recommend Capt’N Don to anyone. He will impress you with his wisdom and wide knowledge of B grade jokes that anyone will thoroughly enjoy!
Cheers and Mahalo!

My 10 year old son and I booked a 4 hr trip with Captain Don. My son caught a 30lb yellow fin tuna/​Captain Don and Calvin were very helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend anyone booking a trip with him.

Very happy with our ¾ day charter with Captain Don.
I am hardly a fisherman, and my son had never fished from a boat. I succeeded in finding someone who was good with both seasoned anglers and amateurs like us.
The day was beautiful and we were also very successful catching fish. We caught mahi-​mahi and at least 10 tuna (I lost track, we sometimes had 3 on the line at once). None of the fish were smaller than 15 – 20 lbs and we brought back plenty.
Don was a good guy and made sure both myself and my son had a great time. My arms are tired and my son is proud of himself.
Would highly recommend.

Captain Don was helpful straight to the point and professional. Can’t tell you how much fun I had. Catching plenty of fish was a bonus.

I made a reservation with Don for a ½ day trip. We were not able to make it after all and he was very understanding. I am looking forward to fishing with him on our next trip to Kauai! He didn’t have to refund our money and it was great to have his understanding.

Captain don is great he reminds me of the typical sea captain you see on tv with dirty jokes but knows his stuff. With in 30 minutes we were catching fish while enjoying the stories from capt don. Regarding the guy below if you read his email it tells you right there what he does and user hint. If your cool capt don is a pretty laid back guy. Thanks capt don for a memorable time. I will be back!

I’ve done a couple of chartered tours in Kauai and found the experience to be less than desirable. Most often, these tours feel like scripted conversations with a skipper or deckhand that’s deader than the fish clubbed 10 minutes ago. Not so with Captain Don whose command of the English language through dirty jokes is enviable. Within an hour we were bringing terror to the local marine life. We walked away looking as green as a 3-​day old lime, but we caught a cooler full of Wahoo and had a darn good time doing it.
Don cut us up a portion that was more than we could eat during our time on the island. I didn’t mind not being able to freeze the fish and ship it back to mainland as I’m not a big fan of frozen fish. I live not too far Pike Place market and know exactly what frozen fish tastes like.
I would charter with Captain Don again in a heartbeat and look forward to seeing him again in Kauai on my next visit.

I set up a ¾ day trip for my son and I the first week of April about four months in advance. We confirmed the day before and arrived that morning to find we would have no Captain Don joining us — but things happen. He had a person stand in for him and I believe his deckhand drove.
We were on the fish all morning — which was a good thing of course — as was every charter out that morning. That alone would have typically gotten Don’s outfit at least four stars.
However, when we got back to dock, that’s when things went sour. First of all, I’m used to charters in California — the competition is stiff and the crews can clean a fish pretty darn fast and efficient. Not on Kauai apparently, where the livin is easy, the speed limit changes every 100 yards on the freeway from slow to slower, and it takes 10 mins to skin a skipjack tuna.
The deckhand cleaned a couple of skipjack and one mahi for us (we were in a condo and had 6 adults with us, plenty of time to eat and cook most of the fish and ship some back) — and proceeds to tell me that frozen fish is not good — they are ‘mushy’. I guess I had the «I’m a typical tourist dipshit» tattoo on my forehead that day. 90% of people get their fish frozen in this country, and of course sushi is flash frozen more often than not… not to mention I’m going on a charter next month in San Diego where a fish processor makes their living meeting us at the dock after the trip to process and FREEZE our fish.
Then the truth in their bullshit came to light soon after the ‘mushy’ nonsense — they threw back the yellowfin tuna («Ahi») and two of the bull mahi mahi back in their ice chest. Dumbfounded, I said…“So you are going to keep the tuna, eh?” Don’s substitute deckhand/​captain proceeds to stammeringly tell me that, well, uh, they have to «cool from the inside out» first. Stupidest thing I’ve ever heard on a boat, and contradicted my conversations I had had with the captain when we booked the trip months earlier and I specifically asked about their policy on what fish I could keep, etc. Just be honest and up front with me, and things will end up better than making things up on the spot so you can keep the premium fish.
In other words, you pay them at least $ 600 plus tip for the boat, and they take the best fish, and either keep it or most likely sell it themselves. Ticky tack bullshit.
I have been playing phone tag with Captain Don to discuss our experience — and will revise this review if I hear anything that convinces me that my expectations are unreasonable … to want to keep fish you pay hundreds of dollars to catch!

This guy is awesome! He really does treat you as family. He was like a big brother with dirty jokes and beer!
Me and my now husband booked a fishing trip with him. His boat was all rigged for all kinds of fishing you can do off the coast. He brought his right hand man (for the life of me, I am bad with names. Thanks for the flyer Capt. Don!) and 2 other fellas from the mid west booked the same day. We had a blast talking about fish, women, bear, sports, you name it. No girly talk on that boat! but if your into that sort of talk, someone will entertain it.
They had beer and water on board. Bring snacks and any other drinks if you want and especially if you have treats for the captain to share.
It was a ruff day at sea for starters, the big 20 ft waves were coming in over the next day or two so the water was very choppy and it was hard to sit in one place to fish. Captain Don’s right hand man set us up for jig fishing (I’m trying to recall the method name) 2 at a time. Once someone caught a fish, it was the next persons turn. So beginners luck (and girl luck he says) I caught the biggest yellow fin out of the group. 3 tunas were caught total that day. I fed the fish by regurgitating breakfast and we all had a good time about it :) No Beer for me that day. My husband to be was feeling sea sick too and tried so hard to hide it, but we knew…
Did I tell you he has some good jokes?
We got back and I told Captain Don not to start cleaning the fish until I got back from peeing. I get back and he starts to show me how to clean the fish. Very easy and simple from what I thought. He then poked the eyes out of the fish carcases and throws them in the water. We made fun of him for doing that like he was insane or psychotic. He explains the carcases will fall faster to the bottom if you poke their eyes out.
Good times! He also does other types of boat excursions like snorkeling and sight seeing (non touristy trips) Give him a go. If you are into the tourist tours, go with one of the snorkel shop offered tours.
See you again Captain Don!