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.
Destination review: Makara
November 2019Gary Kemsley revisits Makara, a special fishing spot from his youth.... Read More >
Wellington fishing shots
July 2019Often 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 2019In 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 2019Enthusiastic 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 2019Within 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 2018Wellington’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 2018Many 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 2018The 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 2018Wellington 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 spots at Palliser bay
October 2015It's not too much of a stretch to describe Palliser Bay as the spiritual home of surfcasting in the lower North Island.... Read More >
Major Bites
Minor Bites
Major Bites
Minor Bites
Latest Articles
Catch Black Label Livies Review
October 2021Deputy Editor Ethan Neville headed to the Far North with Catch Fishing owner John Donald to check out the brand new Black Label Livies soft-baits, and... Read More >
How to Dry Age Fish
October 2021Bea Bagnall shares her method for dry aging fish & a delicious recipe for Creamy Lemon Snapper Fettuccine... Read More >
Hooks for Whole Fish and Strip Baits
October 2021Mark Kitteridge discusses some hook options when using bait to target table fish, and also walks us through how to rig up basic dropper/ledger rigs.... Read More >
Why you need to check and clean your boat and gear
October 2021From berthage to engine maintenance. Safety equipment to navigation. Food, water, and everything in between. If you’ve got a boat, there is a lot to think... Read More >
A Tribute to Trevally
October 2021Trevally, in the opinion of Hayden Speed, are one of the hardest fighting fish pound for pound in the ocean. Hayden loves to target trevally and as... Read More >