The Fishing
Sea & Coastal Fishing
New Zealand is an island nation, surrounded by sea. It is blessed with abundant fish life that is well protected through a nationally managed commercial quota system, so there are many opportunities for outstanding saltwater fishing around the country.
The east coasts of both main islands are sheltered from the prevailing westerly weather systems and are generally nicer (and safer) places to be out on the water. The North Island offers excellent kingfish, snapper, hapuka (northern name), marlin, tuna and terakihi fishing, while the South Island is more about kahawai, blue cod, tuna and grouper (southern name).
There are beautiful luxury lodges (and charter boats) within easy reach of all these fishing areas listed below; email us to find out our recommendations. We can update you with pricing and availability.
The North Island:
The Far North, around the Bay of Islands, Doubtless Bay, the Three Kings Islands and off places like Tutukaka are prime spots for good sea fishing. Here the weather and the sea temperatures are warmer.
Whitianga and the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula are also popular, with great fishing around the Mercury Islands and further out towards Great Barrier Island.
Heading south a bit, the Bay of Plenty lives up to its name with bountiful fishing in the area, with the actively volcanic Whakaaro/White Island providing a showpiece in the centre of the bay
Hawkes Bay, towards the lower end of the North Island has some great fishing on what is quite an exposed coastline. It’s certainly worth a visit if you want to see something a bit different.
The South Island:
The Marlborough Sounds forms the jagged north-eastern coastline of the South Island and is a magical place of deep sounds and densely-forested hillsides that drop sharply to the sea. The outer Sounds and Cook Strait areas are top fishing spots
Try saltwater fly-fishing for kingfish on the tidal sandflats in Golden Bay. A local guide will get you to the best spots for a day full of exciting fishing
The West Coast provides a small but exciting tuna fishery that is heavily dependent on good weather as the coastline is open to the Tasman Sea. If tuna is your thing then it’s well worth a visit
Fiordland is one of the most remote spots in the country with much of it taken up in national park. But the fishing can be remarkable at times and this is an ideal place to do a week-long liveaboard fishing trip as the fiords can generally provide a sheltered anchorage in even the worst weather. This is a great option for a group of fishing mates.
We can book you with the best guides and skippers in these areas and most of the lodges also have their own preferred fishing guides, so there are plenty of options to get you out on the water.