Fishing Hints, Tips and 'How to' Articles
There's a lot to learn about fishing, and the more you know, the more you realise just how much you don't know. In this section you'll get hints, tips and fishing 'how-to's' from some of the most knowledgeable fishing writers in New Zealand.
Want to learn how to tie a specific rig? Click here. For our complete section on how to target individual species click here.
Spearfishing Tips & Tricks
September 2026The South Seas Spearo team provide some salient advice for spearfishers about how to get the most out of their time in the salt this season... Read More >
NZ Saltwater Fly Fishing Seasons
September 2026Sandflats and mudflats are beautiful fish-rich habitats that are particularly suited to fly fishing... Read More >
How to Catch Sea-run Trout
September 2026One area Greg Morton returns to time again to hunt sea-run and estuary brown trout is the coastal stretch from Christchurch to Southland... Read More >
How to Catch Snapper on Jigs
August 2026Metal lures have come a long way since the 80s. They now come in all sorts of shapes, colors and weights to suit all situations. Grant... Read More >
Choosing the Right Rod Holder for Your Boat
August 2026Rod holders are certainly important fishing accessories, particularly when correctly positioned and aligned... Read More >
South Island Squid (Egi) Fishing
July 2026Sam Boothroyd gets completely hooked on squid fishing in the South Island... ... Read More >
Rigging Livebaits
March 2026Different fishing situations and different baitfish species mean livebaits need to be hooked in various ways to get the best results... Read More >
Inshore Fishing in Autumn
March 2026Traditionally, autumn can provide some of the best inshore fishing of the year for popular species... Read More >
How to Strayline for Snapper
February 2026In a country full of fishos who grew up obsessed with chasing snapper, there’s nothing more iconic than a good old-fashioned strayline session... Read More >
Broadbill Swordfish - Tips from the Experts
February 2026Soon we had a nice broadbill on the deck, followed by the obligatory photo shoot and icing down.... Read More >
Latest News
02 October 2026
October 2026
The latest fishing reports from around New Zealand - brought to you by Mercury Marine...
Fishing Reports Visit Reports
Canterbury Fishing Report - 01/10/26
Freshwater season underway. Wow, it’s October already, and our freshwater season is underway, and the... Read More >
Top of the South Fishing Report - 01/10/26
Snapper about but not yet firing. It’s certainly nice to see daylight savings upon us... Read More >
Hauraki Gulf Fishing Report 01/10/26
Big reds in the shallows. The weather has made getting out on the water challenging... Read More >
Bay of Islands Fishing Report - 01/10/26
Snapper moving in. A few Pacific bluefin are still gracing the weigh stations with last... Read More >
Friday 2 October 2026
Major Bites
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Major Bites
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