Wellington and Central North Island

Fishing in Wellington and the Central North Island

Common species to catch in the central North Island are Snapper kingfish, kahawai, tarakihi, bluecod, trevally, gurnard and elephantfish with snapper and kingfish being more prevalent in the summer months. Most rivers hold trout. Along the West coast places like Mokau and New Plymouth are top fishing destinations for some large snapper when the conditions allow.

Island Bay Wellington - Fishing History
September 2023

Anna Macrae shares the fishing history of the Shetland Islands... Read More >

Destination review: Makara
November 2019

Gary Kemsley revisits Makara, a special fishing spot from his youth.... Read More >

Wellington fishing shots
July 2019

Often described as a fishery where you must earn your catch, the Wellington region can at times boast a fishery that is as good as it... Read More >

A guide to Wellingtons fishing
July 2019

In the second part of this Wellington recreational feature, Jim O’Brien focusses on the booming boat fishing scene and outlines the exciting freshwater fishing options available.... Read More >

Fishing in Fitzroy Bay
July 2019

Enthusiastic shore-based angler Andy Macleod has a lot of love for the fishing our capital city has to offer. He shares some of his favourite haunts... Read More >

Kapiti Coast
July 2019

Within an hour’s drive of Wellington, the Kapiti Coast offers a diverse range of productive fishing opportunities, writes Peter Langlands.... Read More >

Slide baiting for kingfish
June 2018

Wellington’s land-based anglers have found that kingfish heaven is as close as a couple of kilometres from the city’s CBD and Houses of Parliament. Jim O’Brien... Read More >

Kayak fishing in Wellington Harbour
May 2018

Many of his surfcasting friends are horrified, but Andy Macleod finds plenty of good reasons to go to the dark side and fish from a kayak…... Read More >

Autumn freshwater fishing in the Central North Island
April 2018

The fishing can be excellent as we move into the cooler months. Mike Davis gives a breakdown of what to expect in the central North Island.... Read More >

Fishing Wellington Bays
March 2018

Wellington can be a fickle place for the shorebased fisher, mostly for reasons related to the sea and weather conditions. But when various positive elements coincide,... Read More >

    Fishing bite times Fishing bite times

    Major Bites

    Minor Bites

    Major Bites

    Minor Bites

    Latest Articles

    Filleting Tips and Tricks
    September 2023

    Grant Dixon shares some simple tips that will ensure your fish is presented in pristine condition, free from any contaminating mess and moisture... Read More >

    Moki Mata Recipe
    September 2023

    Kaelah James shares her recipe for moki mata with seaweed chips... ... Read More >

    Edge Fishing Tackle Talk Q&A
    September 2023

    The team behind popular fishing brand EDGE, design and test heaps of new gear every year. As soon as the conditions are right, they’re out there... Read More >

    Blackwater Diving - Diel Vertical Migration
    September 2023

    Marine ecologist Irene Middleton portrays blackwater diving off New Zealand's coast... Read More >

    Demalza Primed for Blue Water Adventures
    September 2023

    Five years ago, Capt. Phil Barchet and his Whangaroa-based charter business Blue Water Adventures were happy catching plenty of fish from their custom-built White Pointer boat... Read More >