John Dory fishing in New Plymouth
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Fishing Buddies
Forum Description: Contact details for people looking for a fishing buddy
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=138962
Printed Date: 28 Jan 2026 at 10:32am
Topic: John Dory fishing in New Plymouth
Posted By: Roland56
Subject: John Dory fishing in New Plymouth
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2024 at 2:44pm
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Hello to all keen John Dory fishermen in New Plymouth After having fished Alaska for salmon in July and then Switzerland for perch until October 2024 I am now in NZ and would like to catch some John Dory. It is our most loved fish in NZ. I there anybody around these days that would have time to take me for a John Dory trip, would be great. I caught a few last year from the wharf in the harbour with life bait. But it's pretty hard. I was really happy to have the chance to get some local knowledge on John Dory fishing. I got all the gear, but no burley and no life bait.... and no boat! Maybe there is a chance to get them on softbait as well.  Thanks for any help, would be highly appreciated. We got quite some perch from lake Rotomanu, the freshwater snapper as some Kiwis that like perch and know how nice they taste call them. But the John Dory is still on the bucket list. My nr: 021 168 24 99. Cheers Roland from Switzerland touring NZ mainly for fishing ------------- Fishing is not a matter of life and death, it is much more important. |
Replies:
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2024 at 4:12pm
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Hi, I have no knowledge of hat area, but John dory love a bit of structure and can be found in very close. Small livebaits with the top of the tail clipped off have worked well for me in the past ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Mc Tool
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2024 at 7:38am
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All the Jonnies I have caught have been right next to something they can hide amongst ( jettys , rocks and stuff and mussel farms) . One thing I did notice is that I caught more where I could dangle my line straight down as opposed to casting some distance , not a very scientific conclusion . Also .... they tend to take the bait and hold on to it without actually being hooked........so ease them up to the surface and resist the temptation to swing it into the boat as they will often release the bait and swim off , use your net  John Dory would have to be one of the best eaters , def in the top 5 . Agree with you about the Perch , way better eater than most peeps realise , ha ha I figured if the cats were fighting over one I chopped up for them maybe I should give it a taste....... I mean not that one
 but the next one I caught ------------- I wish I was young again .... Id be heaps smarter than this time |
Posted By: Roland56
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2024 at 9:04am
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Good morning, thanks for the message, Very kind! I ' ll have a try. Where did you get the perch here around? ------------- Fishing is not a matter of life and death, it is much more important. |
Posted By: Mc Tool
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2024 at 12:39pm
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Im at the bottom of the South Island ( which is undeniably the best one ) and I have caught perch in Lake Hayes and both the lower Oreti and Makarewa rivers .There are lots of other places down here where you can catch perch too .
Apparently there are some costal lakes a bit south of New Plymouth which hold Perch ( I googled "Perch fishing in NZ " ) ------------- I wish I was young again .... Id be heaps smarter than this time |