HELP! PORT WAIKATO
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Landbased & Surfcasting
Forum Description: From rocks or beaches, here's the place for the landbased fishos to share information
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31117
Printed Date: 10 Jun 2026 at 2:48pm
Topic: HELP! PORT WAIKATO
Posted By: clownfish
Subject: HELP! PORT WAIKATO
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2008 at 8:38pm
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Hi Guys,
I'm new to this forum & this would be my first post! Been doing a lot of reading & browsing around in the different posts & have sure learnt a lot of things. Just want to say thank you to those of you who generously share your knowledge.
I'm kinda new to fishing, been fishing around as a kid but havnt really got the zest for it until recently.
Ive been told Port Waikato yields good fish from a variety of people but they dont really seem to know the spots. Hence I was hoping some one could pin point me on where to go as it would be my first time there. I live in Hamilton so its sort of the ideal place for me other than Raglan where I usually cast my lines. Looking to try my luck on the weekend, if the weather permits & if the misses gives the green light
 . Any advice would be much appreciated! Cheers
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Replies:
Posted By: finch
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2008 at 10:10pm
| hey mate, im also new to fishing, infact ive only been 4 times but all to Port Waikato, i just fished in the river mouth, cant really miss it coming into the port, you can see people fishing along there, i caught 2 kawahi so far and many sprats but i also hear its a good fishing place, prob alot better in summer. |
Posted By: Wefaknis
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2008 at 10:13pm
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Hi mate...fish the incomming tide other wise weed will be you friend.... a grapple sinker will help lots a current down there... just go to the car park down by the sand dunes and fish from the dunes...others will be there ( your fishing the river side not the ocean side ).... was down there fishing for trevs the other week but we could only catch Kahawai.... heaps of munted kahawai down there lots a sharks smashing them... good luck
Cheers Wefaknis
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Posted By: toasta
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2008 at 11:05pm
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Hi Clownfish. I haven't fished port waikato for a few years now but use to go quite often. Like Wefaknis I mainly fished inside the river mouth along the sand dunes with lots of success on the kahawai and trevs. Best success was 2 hours before high tide until an hour or so after and especially if it coincided with dawn or dusk. Grapnel sinkers are a must as the tide snots it through there. Try climbing to the tops of the sand dunes to find the deeper gutters to cast into and also found that when you get tuatuas attaching themselves to your line or grapnels of your sinker when winding in you've found a shelfish bed and you're on the spot. Best bait was tuatua or half pillies on a ledger rig. Good luck mate and let us know how you get on.
cheers,
Gary
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Posted By: jerry69
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2008 at 9:15am
| Hi guys, I used to fish the River Bar quite a bit and get a lot of KY and trevs. Also try off the beach I used to have great success but that was on the Kariotahi side of the river. Have never fished of the Port beach. The river bar gets hammered in summer but there are that much fish it doesnt really matter. Clownfish if I was you I would explore Raglan and find some sopts its closer and I'm sure there will be some nice ledges down there. There is also Limestone downs that has some really good sopts but are all through private land, mate of mine has caught a nice 60lb kingi and a 32lb snapper from there. |
Posted By: Rhino12
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2008 at 11:26am
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hey Mate
Im from hams as well, started my fishing around rags ruapuke etc but found that the trip to coro was worth it, take the back roads to thames dfrom hamiltron and youll only travel an extra half hour or less to some spots you are sure to get a good feed. If you are keen on west coast try ruapuke- papanui point turnoff at bridal veil falls road (post on here if you want exact directions and Ill flick them back to you) there you will find a great point and almost be assured of catching at least a few ky trevs and some snapper, great place for gurnard in the winter as well. only go there in a swell of 2m or less to dangerous otherwise, and get there early ( as in before dawn) as spots go quickly esp on the weekend. ------------- Fishing Rocks! |
Posted By: Hairy Little Dwarf
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2008 at 12:28pm
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Park at bridge GR643 145 (260 sheet R13) and follow the stream for about 1700m to the beach. (Occasionally cavers will park in this area too, so don't be too concerned if you see a stack of cars, and we never had any probs with security...20 years ago) This is paper road and if you respect it, no problems. (Good possie on the beach to find fossil shark teefs too) ------------- The Dreaded Shark-Eating Man! |
Posted By: rocko
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2008 at 7:04pm
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Wellcom to the site mate. If you want tot fish the river,park at the reserve to the right as you enter into the village, walk along the riverbank along the sand dunes towards the mouth.you will see 2 seperate curves along the bank anywhere along there ( and from there to the mouth ) (bar) will yeild you some good size kahawai and trevelly. bewary of the current in the river as it drops away quickly,allso a good spot for small bronzies.... i havnt spent much time on the beach on that side i fish the waiuku side of the beach near the bar.. |
Posted By: clownfish
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2008 at 12:17am
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Hey guys thanks so much for the feedback! It sure gives me a good headstart. When I do get the chance to head out, I'll let you all know how it went on. Would the Maori fishing calendar help? I mean is it appropriate to follow it? Once again thanks for the tips! |
Posted By: Skoti
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2008 at 3:08am
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I've only fished the Northern side , drive through the Waiuku forest to get there . Great spot for kahawai though I admit it's been a while since I've fished there . I used whole pillies on a 3 gang hook setup with a running grapple sinker on a 1 1/2 mtr trace . Fish the incoming to avoid the weed and you'll have a ball out there despite what the Maori calender says . The whitebait will be running soon so they'll be in there feeding . ------------- COVID is no joke ! One former patient was so brain damaged after , he thought he won an election he lost by 7 million votes . |
Posted By: SeaI
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2008 at 5:04pm
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I used to surf a lot out there and would try the headland to the left of sunset, all along there but especially right around the point should hold moochers. Careful of the surf. Don't drown cause of my suggestion - take a mate and PFD. (Great low tide left had reef break there when the swell is not too big * shush * ) ------------- Kei uta ngā ika |
Posted By: Unty
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2008 at 7:25pm
id be interested to know how recently this was?
also Hairy little Dwarf ive thaught about walking down that stream before to carters beach? (correct me if im wrong) and was wondering if it is worth it, or at least if it was 20 years ago. is there access to rocks or is it surf casting only?
cheers.
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jerry69 wrote:Posted By: Steg
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2008 at 9:17pm
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^ I was there today, but not for fishing. I can't imagine that the fishing there is very good. It can't be thrashed but it's got to be awkward and pretty dangerous fishing. It's shallow for a long way out. Even the big limestone rock at the north end of the beach which sits out in the surf a bit doesn't give access to much deeper water.
A couple of years ago, I was returning, walking back, to the car park, Waikawau Stream, and a saw a rough old Toyota Surf parked near to my car. My car was being investigated. Another, similar 4wd was approaching the car park as well. The first Surf became aware of me, saw me, and left suddenly. The other followed its lead. Really suspect. However, I've been there, parked there, lots of times and nothing's actually happened.
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Posted By: Wefaknis
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2008 at 9:27pm
| yip shes a diffrent part of the world out there............. iv fished a couple of times from sucide point a few times when you cross through the farmers farm...that place is just plain dangerous... |
Posted By: rocko
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2008 at 9:20am
| Ive got limestones downs sussed out, when the weather comes right...( no ph reception or R T signal out there ) |
Posted By: Unty
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2008 at 10:27am
| but can it still turn over some good fish? |
Posted By: clownfish
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2008 at 6:28pm
| Hey guys, took the opportunity to head out to port waikato on friday. It was a nice sunny day with minimal wind. Fished the sand dunes on the incoming as I've been suggested & unfortunately had no luck whatsoever. Not even a bite! The chappies next to me was experiencing the same... maybe it was the wrong day or just the wrong person haha. Will give it another go on sometime & hoping its a change of luck. Thanking you all for your generous contribution! |
Posted By: rocko
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2008 at 7:03pm
| Thats fishing for ya dude, then you go back and wammo your smokers busy when you get home lol. what baits were you using,rigs etc..... a running rig works, also a basic ledger rig and 2 hook with running ball sinker will work allso. tho the 2 hook dropper , ledger rig seems to do the better, use a grapnel sinker ( 4-5 oz ) with a long top trace approx 200-300mm has worked for me because of the swift current |
Posted By: davethefisho
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2008 at 6:58pm
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Heya clownfish,
As a local to port waikato I fish there regularly. Everyone is right about the tide times and most of the places, however the set up that works best there is very specific. The basic rig that most fishos will use there is good but very sporadic at producing fish. Bait is also a big factor. The white bait start running through there shortly and the 1st week of september should see the river starting to fill up with good sized trevs and kahawai. If you want I dont mind meeting you out there on a weekend for a spot of fishing and showing the way ive picked up that produces 99% of the time. if your keen, let me know.
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Posted By: rocko
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2008 at 7:07pm
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Posted By: OnTheRocks
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2008 at 5:16pm
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Hi mate
Its a bit of a walk, maybe just over and hour but dam when it fires and 9 times out of 10 it does!!!
You have to go on a low/2-3 hours before low tide and walk around the rocks to the left of the beach, walk as far as you can go and you will come to a big sandy bay and you cant go any further.
You will see a point and you have to walk up the grass paddock to get to it, there is a VERY narrow 2m long section that runs right along the cliff edge, ive stopped walking along there now and i dont know how i use to but if heights arnt a prob you will be sweet.
I choose to got straight through the middle of the flax bushes now, there isnt a track as such through the flax but its only a couple of metres and your through and its safer.
Once you are through just walk down and go to the right and let the good times roll!!!!
If you go let me know how you got on!! ( :
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Posted By: rocko
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2008 at 9:11am
| hehe got a easyer way to get there, called 4X4 and be nice to the farmer lol |
Posted By: Unty
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2008 at 10:27pm
| yea mate been meaning to try that spot should definitaly soon now that i got my license. is it far enough south to be considered limestone downs? |
Posted By: rocko
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2008 at 8:26am
| theres a couple of spots out there im going to try..... through work i deal with limestone downs station..... theres 1 or 2 possies in there area on my to do list shortly.. when the weather settle,s the coast has been pretty ugly the last week or so |
Posted By: Unty
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2008 at 3:06pm
| aye what line of work are you in? |
Posted By: rocko
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2008 at 3:42pm
| drive stock truck..... i spend fair bit of time around the coast.. so i try and scout few places out when im out and about |
Posted By: hugh jarse 2001
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2008 at 2:11pm
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Hi, I was into fishing when I was a kid, but it was in the south island and was fly fishing sort of stuff. I am wanting to get my 6 year old into north island fishing and we are in papakura so port waikato iis handy for us. I am looking for a good samaratin to show me the basics to get fishing out there. I have inherited a surf caster from my father in law and we have a couple of smaller rods. I am hoping someone can meet up with me out there and show me the basic stuff like hooks, baits, sinkers etc. as i said did the basic stuff when i was a boy but need to learn how to do it up here. appreciate anyone who is prepared to help us.
regards
steve
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Posted By: cuspid
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2008 at 10:09pm
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Hello, I been reading this forum and other lately. Of all the new -ish members i found your post to be similar to what i am trying/learning to do. Am new to fishing and haunt raglan and environs most of the times as its nearest from hamilton. i also read about port waikato and will be headed there this weekend god, weather and wife permitted haha. Been trying my luck from papanui point along ruapuke reserve road without success though but a great place to be. Keen to go out with a fishing buddy over weekends. Please email [email protected]. Thanks |
Posted By: hugh jarse 2001
Date Posted: 12 Oct 2018 at 8:13pm
| Hi im new to fishing the port. Looking for any locals who could point me in the right direction to increase my chances a bit 😁 |