Best Times & Seasons to Fish in New Zealand (Complete Guide)
New Zealand has some of the best fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Understanding the best times to fish in these rich waters around this country can make a huge difference in your fishing success.
The best time to fish in New Zealand is from December through March though really good fishing can be found from October through April.
New Zealand provides anglers with rich fishing opportunities. Here, anglers can experience both freshwater and saltwater fishing. There are many saltwater and freshwater fishing spots in the region. New Zealand is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. There are also many lakes, mountain rivers and streams on the territory of the country.
Click here to see a seasonal guide to fishing in Australia. For a complete breakdown of the best seasons to fish in Cairns, check out this Sydney fishing time guide.
Best Time to Fish New Zealand
There are many various species to target in New Zealand. There’s always something to target in the region. The fishing season in New Zealand starts in October and ends in April. Fishing in the country is the most productive between December and March.
Anglers should select the best time of the year to fish in New Zealand with their favorite fish species in mind. Go fishing when your targeted species are the most active.
Summertime comes to an end in New Zealand in the spring. However, fishing in the country is still excellent during the spring months.
Spring is a good time to fish for such species as kingfish, snapper, striped marlin, swordfish, and yellowfin tuna. The late spring is the perfect time of the year to visit New Zealand if you are a trout fishing enthusiast.
Winter comes to New Zealand between June and August. Fishing is good during these months. Among the fish species that anglers can target are kingfish, swordfish, salmon, snapper as well as brown and rainbow trout.
Spring begins in New Zealand in September. Anglers can target such fish species as kingfish, silver trevally, hapuka, tarakihi, pink snapper, and trout between September and November.
Recommended Fishing Charters in New Zealand
These New Zealand-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Fish Taupo Fishing Charter | Taupo, NZ |
| White Striker Charters Troutcatcher | Taupo, NZ |
| Taupo Lake Adventures Ltd | Taupo, NZ |
| Days Out Fishing Charters BOI NZ | Paihia, NZ |
| Rotorua Trout Charters | Rotorua, NZ |
| SpotX Fishing Charters – Screaming Reels | Russell, NZ |
| Pinnacle Fishing Charters | Taupo, NZ |
| Grand Cru Fishing Charters | Opua, NZ |
| Taupo Boating & Fishing Charters | Taupo, NZ |
| Riko Boat Charters – Riko Riko | Auckland, NZ |
| SpotX Fishing Charters – Wairere | Russell, NZ |
| Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura | Kaikoura, NZ |
| Blue Ocean Charters – Te Kuia | Tauranga, NZ |
| Big Fish Bay Of Islands | Paihia, NZ |
New Zealand Species Breakdown: Best Times
Blue marlin
Fishing for blue marlin in New Zealand is best between January and May. Oftentimes, fishermen get bites of blue marlin near the North Island.
Striped marlin
The season to catch striped marlin in New Zealand starts in January and finishes in April. The chance to catch a big striped marlin is high near the North Island.
John Dory
John Dory bites well all year-round. John Dory is active in the early morning or late afternoon. Go fishing in Tauranga if you would like to catch John Dory during your fishing adventures.
Kahawai
Kahawai fishing season starts in November and finishes in April. The best months to catch Kahawai are January and February. Kahawai bites well at dawn or at dusk. Kahawai can be found near Paihia.
Pink snapper
It’s possible to fish for pink snapper year-round. Pink snapper is the most active during the warm months in New Zealand.
The season to fish for pink snapper starts in October and finishes in May. Pink snapper bites actively in the early morning. Tauranga is the right place to target pink snapper.
Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout bites well throughout the year. The best time of the year to target rainbow trout in New Zealand is May. Rainbow trout feeds actively during the morning hours. Trout lovers should visit Lake Wanaka.
Brown trout
Brown trout is active all year long. Fishing for brown trout is the most productive in May. Lake Waikaremoana is the ideal place to fish for brown trout in the country. It’s recommended to fish for brown trout in the morning.
Hapuka
Fishing for hapuka in New Zealand is good between the early spring and the late fall. However, fishing is the most productive between the early summer and the early fall. Tauranga is one of the top Hapuka fishing destinations.
Yellowtail Amberjack
Anglers can target yellowtail amberjack in New Zealand year-round. The best months to catch yellowtail amberjack are January, April – June, and October – November. Tauranga is one of the best places to target yellowtail amberjack in the region.
Gurnard
Gurnard is active in New Zealand between the early summer and the late fall. The best months to target gurnard are July and August. Auckland is the right place to fish for gurnard.
New Zealand Regions: Best Fishing Times
North Island
A fishing season in North Island starts in October and ends in April.
Auckland
Fishing in Auckland is the most productive between November and March.
Hauraki Gulf
Fishing in Hauraki Gulf is best in spring and in early summer.
Bay Of Islands
The best months to experience fishing in the Bay of Islands are December to June.
Bay of Plenty
The best season to fish in the Bay of Plenty is from November to May.
South Island
South Island fishing season starts in December and ends in March.
Coromandel
Fishing in Coromandel is excellent from January to February.
Best Time of Day to Fish New Zealand
The best time of day to fish in New Zealand depends on various factors. When planning New Zealand fishing adventures, anglers should take into account their target species as well as the season of the year.
It depends a lot on the fish species that you are targeting. It’s necessary to study the bite times of your favorite species ahead of time. Go fishing when your target fish species feed actively.
The time of the year also affects the angler’s decision. Anglers should go fishing during the morning hours between November and March. Fishing in the afternoon is good between April and October.
New Zealand Fishing & Tidal Impacts
New Zealand fishing is affected by tides. That’s why anglers should study tide times in the region when planning their fishing trips. Fishermen should know when the ocean tides around New Zealand are high and low.
Fishing in New Zealand is best during the rising tides. During incoming tides, oxygen-rich waters are brought to the area. So, fish feel comfortable and begin to search for food actively. As a result, anglers find it easy to catch it.
Is Winter Fishing Bad in New Zealand?
Summertime in New Zealand is between December and February. The weather is warm and that’s why many fish species get active during these months. So, winter fishing in New Zealand is very productive.
Fishing for brown trout, rainbow trout, kahawai, blue marlin, striped marlin, salmon, snapper, yellowfin amberjack, yellowfin tuna, and other species is very productive in New Zealand during the winter months.
Top Fishing Spots in New Zealand
Tauranga
Tauranga is a popular fishing destination and a tourist gem. The fishing spot impresses anglers with its productive waters. The area offers different fishing opportunities.
Species that you can target in Tauranga include bass, hapuka, snapper, trevally, snappers, yellowtail amberjack, and others. It’s one of the most spectacular locations to see in the country. The area offers amazing fishing and great views.
Auckland
Auckland is another good fishing place in the country. The town is located between two bays. Here, anglers can fish from piers or book a local fishing charter.
The chance to catch a trophy is always high in Auckland. Among the species that fishermen can target in Auckland are billfish, gurnard, kingfish, tuna, snapper, trevally, and others.
Paihia
Many anglers prefer to visit Paihia during their fishing adventures in New Zealand. It’s a good place to relax and experience fishing. Fishing in Paihia is excellent and fun.
During fishing trips, anglers can target such species as billfish, mahi-mahi, marlin, snapper, swordfish, yellowfin tuna, and others.
Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is a good spot that anglers should visit if they want to enjoy freshwater fishing in New Zealand. This large lake is full of trout.
While fishing on the lake, anglers can enjoy its natural beauty. Fishing in the lake is best near the river and stream mouths. The main targets here are brown trout as well as rainbow trout. Anglers often catch trophy-sized fish in the lake.
Lake Waikaremoana
Lake Waikaremoana is also worth visiting. The lake has beautiful nature and amazing wildlife. Lake Waikaremoana is well-known for its cold and deep waters.
This fishing spot has gained huge popularity among fly anglers. Lake Waikaremoana is the perfect place to target brown trout as well as rainbow trout.
Lake Wanaka
Lake Wanaka is a very beautiful lake on South Island. It’s a good place to enjoy activities like cycling, swimming and, of course, fishing.
While fishing in the lake, anglers can get an unforgettable fishing experience and enjoy awesome picturesque views of the mountains. During fishing adventures, anglers can target salmon as well as brown trout and rainbow trout.
Buller River
Buller River is located in the western part of South Island. The river offers amazing natural views and provides anglers with fantastic fishing opportunities. It is one of the best places to target trout in New Zealand.
Booking Guides & Charters in New Zealand
– Best season to go
Fishing in New Zealand is good year-round. So, anglers can visit the country every day of the year. A fishing season in New Zealand starts in the fall and ends in the spring.
The period of time between December and March offers the best angling opportunities. However, you should book a charter ahead of time if you want to fish in New Zealand at this time of the year.
On the other hand, November – March is the peak travel season in the country. So, the demand for fishing is high and fishing charters are busy during these months.
If you don’t like to fish in New Zealand during the busiest season, visit the country in September, October, March, and April. These months are overlooked times of the year.
The demand for fishing is lower, but anglers can still get good results during these months. It’s the cheapest time to fish in New Zealand. So, fishing during these months provides the best value.
– Morning vs. afternoon
Anglers can go on charter early in the morning. Fishing during the morning hours is very productive between November and March. The weather is hot, but the water cools down in the morning.
As a result, fish begin to feed actively. Morning fishing is comfortable because anglers can avoid the summer heat. If you go fishing in the morning, you’ll manage to spend a day on the water.
On the other hand, it’s necessary to wake up early if you would like to enjoy morning fishing. That means that fishing in the morning is a good option only for early risers. Also, morning fishing is less productive during the colder months.
It would be better to go fishing in New Zealand during afternoon hours between March and November. The weather is cold during these months.
Waters heat up in the morning and the activity of fish increases. Anglers don’t need to wake up early in order to go fishing in the afternoon.
However, your fishing time will be limited if you go fishing in the afternoon. You can’t spend a full day on the water if you choose to go fishing during the afternoon hours. Also, days are short during colder months.
It’s not a good idea to fish in New Zealand between December and February. It’s too hot in the afternoon during these months. So, it’s not comfortable to fish during the summer heat.
– 1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
Half-day trips are available for anglers, who fish in inshore waters. You can also book a 1/2 day fishing trip if you are a beginner or just want to test your skills. Or you can also book a 1/2 day fishing trip if you don’t have too much time for fishing. Another big advantage of half-day fishing trips is that they are cheap.
However, 1/2 day fishing trips don’t give anglers enough time to get to remote fishing spots. Obviously, professional anglers need more time to experience great fishing.
Full-day trips are worth considering for more experienced anglers. Such trips allow anglers to visit more locations, catch more fish and increase their chance to catch an exciting trophy fish.
On the other hand, full-day fishing trips are more expensive compared to 1/2 day ones. So, such trips are not suitable for anglers on a budget.
Avid anglers can also consider multi-day charters. Multi-day charters are a good choice if you are interested in targeting marlin during your New Zealand fishing trip.
Multi-day charters last several days. Such trips provide anglers with fantastic fishing and increase their chance to catch trophy fish. If you book a multi-day charter in New Zealand, you don’t need to worry about food and drinks. Anglers are provided with meals and beverages during multi-day fishing trips.
Multi-day charters are the most expensive fishing option. So, either 1/2 day or full-day trips are worth considering if your budget doesn’t allow you to book a multi-day fishing trip in New Zealand.
