Your Captains

Head Captain Will Rishell

Captain Will was born and raised in Connecticut where he developed a love for the outdoors while catching trout in wilderness streams and spending summers fishing off Rhode Island beaches. His first experience deep sea fishing in Hawaii was at the age of 9, on a family vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii. On that trip, Will and his family caught two shortbill spearfish and he discovered the allure of fishing in Hawaii’s waters. After graduating college at the University of Connecticut and a brief period working in the financial industry, Captain Will left for Oahu to pursue his dream of sportfishing in Hawaii.

Captain Will and the other members of our team specialize in offshore trolling for pelagic species including Mahi Mahi, Yellowfin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Wahoo and more. They share a love for fishing, a deep respect for the ocean, and take great joy in sharing their passion with others. We look forward to welcoming you aboard to share our love for Hawaii’s waters and experience the beauty and excitement they can provide.

Captain Teoni Black

Captain Teoni Black fishing captainsCaptain Teoni Black was born and raised here on the Island of Oahu. As a kid he grew up fishing the channels between the Hawaiian Islands, catching Mahi Mahi, Tuna, and Ono aboard his parents’ sailboats. After high school, Teoni took a job on a commercial “aku boat” and learned the jack pole skipjack tuna fishery. One summer, he drifted off to Alaska and worked on a commercial salmon troller fishing for Silver and King Salmon. He also spent time longlining for Halibut and Black Cod and spent the next four years fishing all over Southeast Alaska. Following this experience, he returned to Hawaii and spent years deep sea fishing aboard multiple sportfishing vessels. Teoni fell in love with pelagic sportfishing and became the full-time Captain on Play N Hooky. Like all of our Captains, he loves the thrill of the catch and the opportunity to share that thrill with others.

Captain James

Capt James With Marlin fishing boatCaptain James was born and raised in Florida where he grew up catching bass from his canoe and fly fishing for trout in Vermont. As an adult, he pursued offshore fishing regularly fishing tournaments out of Port Canaveral, Sebastian Inlet, and Ft. Pierce. He moved to Hawaii in 1989 where he matriculated two Masters degrees.

He has over 25 years of experience fishing in Hawaiian waters and delivers sailing yachts across the state of Hawaii. His addiction to bill fishing is acute and shared by his five-year-old daughter.

Captain Joe O’neill

Captain Joe O'neill fishing boatCaptain Joe has been fishing ever since he can remember starting in the streams and ponds around the small farm where he was born in Southern New Jersey (South Jersey). Captain Joe’s family moved to Maryland and lived on the Patuxent River where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay during his junior high school years. He spent every spare moment catching Blue Claw Crabs and fishing for Stripped Bass.

Captain Joe spent his high school years in Meridian Mississippi where he did some fishing for Big Mouth Bass and Catfish but admits during those years, he was more interested in the young ladies and hot rod cars. Captain Joe arrived in Hawaii just a few months after graduating from high school. After a couple of years of surfing, he returned to his fishing. First from the shore then a small boat to just get out a little further in hopes of getting that bigger one. It didn’t take long, and he was into deep sea fishing for those monster Marlin and Tuna he had dreamed about catching since he was a young boy.

“I have always enjoyed fishing and meeting people. As a Charter Boat Captain, I’m able to meet new people plus show them a good time fishing. Living my dream!”

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Shared or Private

Whipsaw Sportfishing offers premium sportfishing charters in Oahu, Hawaii. For more information on fishing for deep-sea fish and other aquatic game, book a shared or private fishing charter with us today.