Fishing in Whangarei

The Whangarei coast is renowned for its successful fishing, impressive world records are made here and every local who can afford a boat is regularly out on the deep blue water, either fishing or diving for Scallops or Crayfish. There are many tournaments when the catch of the day can win very big money. Fishing is an obsession here! We still prefer the diving, but the brainwash so far sounds more and more convincing...

Most fishing charters leave from Tutukaka Harbour, but there are also marinas in Parua Bay, the central town basin and Ruakaka/One Tree Point. You can hire a fishing rod in town and we'll send you to some promising rocks or jetties. And you can get a licence for Trout fishing in lakes and rivers.

3hr boat fishing trips start from under 100 NZD per person, then again you can easily spend over 2,000 NZD a day for the big boy stuff. It’s world class - it might be worth it!

Snapper, Tarakihi, Kahawai, Flounder and Gurnard can already be found in the Whangarei Harbour. Further along the coast and offshore rocks, or out at the Hen and Chicken islands are the realms of Kingfish, John Dory, Trevally, Groper/Hapuku, Striped, Blue and Black Marlin, Yellowfin, Bluefin, Albacore and Big Eye Tuna, Swordfish, Sharks and Crayfish.

• The Striped Marlin New Zealand and World records are held at Tutukaka: 224.1 kg.
• The Thresher Shark New Zealand and World records are held at Tutukaka: 363.8 kg.
• The Blue Marlin New Zealand is held at Tutukaka: 412 kg.
• Heaviest Black Marlin caught by the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club: 430 kg.
• Heaviest Mako Shark caught by the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club: 432.4 kg.
• Heaviest Bluefin Tuna caught by the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club: 300 kg.
• Heaviest Yellowfin Tuna caught off Tutukaka: 84.6 kg.
• Heaviest Hammerhead Shark caught off Tutukaka: 181 kg.
• Heaviest Yellowtail Kingfish caught off Tutukaka: 36.2 kg.
• Heaviest Swordfish caught by the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club: 242.8 kg.
• Heaviest Snapper caught by the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club in 2007: 15.06 kg.
• In 2007 three Whangarei fishermen came across a 140kg Black Boar out for a swim. They lassoed the feisty swimmer and pulled it on board before killing it.
• In 2007 'Hucky the Flounder Man' caught a record 1.4kg Flounder in the Portland Estuary. "It was the biggest I've ever caught or heard of in the Whangarei Harbour".

Try your luck the local way: it’s an ancient Maori custom to throw the first fish back - with a prayer for a really good catch!