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Blue cod in Auckland? Newbie question

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote rtl18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Blue cod in Auckland? Newbie question
    Posted: 18 Oct 2025 at 3:55pm
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Hi all!

Been out fishing recently, and have been super lucky to come home with some great blue cod (four)! I didn't really go far out and stayed within inner Waitemata Harbour.

Is this common? I always thought Auckland was just too warm for blue cod so this was surprising to me, especially since this wasn't anywhere flash.  Has anyone come home with such a haul on the regular or was this just pure luck?

Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2025 at 11:14am
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I 've caught them from time to time usually too small but have caught a couple over one kg. I'm sure there must be areas that hold them in order to sustain a population because they aren't the kind of fish I expect to be just passing through.
Best gurnard fisherman in my street
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Pcj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2025 at 11:27am
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Have caught them back of Rakino,usually around 300mm tasty.Not big in numbers though
"Times up"
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote rtl18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Oct 2025 at 10:25pm
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Thanks for sharing guys! Glad to hear others have caught them too and it’s not unusual. Hoping for more on the next trip out!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2025 at 1:37pm
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there is a size limit so be careful
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2025 at 6:54pm
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Originally posted by focus focus wrote:

there is a size limit so be careful

There certainly is and for Auckland it is 30cm. A tad small IMO but legal is legal. One thing and it may be just me but I don't think the blue cod up this way are as tasty as the SI ones. Any thoughts?

Best gurnard fisherman in my street
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Phantom Menace Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2025 at 10:24am
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I've seen them from time to time while spearfishing but they've all been borderline legal so I've left them alone.

Gut hooked one on a fishhook one day and it was just legal so we ate it - and yes, the SI ones taste better.

IMO SI Butterfish / Greenbone also tastebetter than those around the upper North Island and they also get bigger the further south you go.  (I do like NI Butterfish but the SI ones are a bit nicer)
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2025 at 11:44am
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get quite a few further north biggest so far is 45cm. i still prefer snapper but friends think it is the best fish to eat
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Alan L Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2025 at 7:32pm
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It makes a nice change, but I do prefer gurnard to cod.
But I have one friend (don't have too many) who totally rates them. Nothing wrong with them at all. We get quite a few on our reefy areas sth of Napier. 33cm is the legal for us. They can get quite big and fight well. Have done well on them on small plastics - but they scoff anything.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Kandrew Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2025 at 8:03pm
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Caught this on the south side of the Whangaparaoa peninsula a few years back, tasted great too me.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote beachouse Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct 2025 at 7:52am
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We have caught some good sized blue cod in same area and around the same time of year. I was surprised at the time. I think there is a small window where they aren't in competition with snapper for bait.

It's not too warm for them as I've caught lots on reefs in Northland. They just don't get as big imo.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote rtl18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Nov 2025 at 8:27pm
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Awesome, thanks for sharing your findings team! I would personally love to see more blue cod around, its such a tasty fish. We prefer them a little smaller to be honest as it fits the steamer a lot better.

This was last weekend, probably the biggest of the lot so far! As for the previous trips out where we got a bunch, the average size was 35cm.

I should also add, nothing too special with the rigs, just a good old ledger and pilchards for bait. I keep the bottom hook quite low to the ground so maybe it helps?

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote beachouse Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Nov 2025 at 6:43am
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That's a nice fish. I think the low bottom hook definitely helps. We often run one off near the sinker with a smaller hook. It's usually that one that picks up blue cod and gurnard. Again I think it's a competition thing. Also makes sense with where those fish approach the ledger rig.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Mc Tool Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Nov 2025 at 10:09am
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yeah , thats about right for  round here .....(.Im assuming that is a 2L bottle  ) Smile

 Seriously tho  , I dont think there is much point in taking blue cod at 30cm , even at 33 there is significantly more meat . Being as we give a fair bit away  if there is extra  Im not to hung up on body count  and tend to hang out for something  37-8 + cm.
I wish I was young again .... Id be heaps smarter than this time
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