NZ Fishing Bite Times
Major and minor bite times for 23 October 2026 at 20 fishing spots around New Zealand. Pick your spot for a 7-day forecast with tides, sun and moon times and the daytime wind.
Today is rated Good · Waxing Gibbous, 88% lit
Days either side of a new or full moon fish best. Times below are for today; open a spot for the week ahead.
North Island
- Bay of IslandsMajor 9:35am – 11:35am · 9:50pm – 11:50pmMinor 4:00am – 5:00am · 4:05pm – 5:05pm
- Whangarei / Marsden PointMajor 9:30am – 11:30am · 9:50pm – 11:50pmMinor 4:00am – 5:00am · 4:05pm – 5:05pm
- TutukakaMajor 9:30am – 11:30am · 9:50pm – 11:50pmMinor 4:00am – 5:00am · 4:05pm – 5:05pm
- Auckland / Hauraki GulfMajor 9:30am – 11:30am · 9:45pm – 11:45pmMinor 4:00am – 5:00am · 4:05pm – 5:05pm
- Coromandel / WhitiangaMajor 9:25am – 11:25am · 9:40pm – 11:40pmMinor 3:55am – 4:55am · 4:00pm – 5:00pm
- RaglanMajor 9:30am – 11:30am · 9:45pm – 11:45pmMinor 4:00am – 5:00am · 4:05pm – 5:05pm
- TaurangaMajor 9:25am – 11:25am · 9:40pm – 11:40pmMinor 3:55am – 4:55am · 3:55pm – 4:55pm
- Mount MaunganuiMajor 9:25am – 11:25am · 9:40pm – 11:40pmMinor 3:55am – 4:55am · 3:55pm – 4:55pm
- WhakataneMajor 9:20am – 11:20am · 9:35pm – 11:35pmMinor 3:50am – 4:50am · 3:55pm – 4:55pm
- GisborneMajor 9:20am – 11:20am · 9:30pm – 11:30pmMinor 3:50am – 4:50am · 3:50pm – 4:50pm
- NapierMajor 9:20am – 11:20am · 9:40pm – 11:40pmMinor 3:55am – 4:55am · 3:55pm – 4:55pm
- New PlymouthMajor 9:35am – 11:35am · 9:50pm – 11:50pmMinor 4:05am – 5:05am · 4:05pm – 5:05pm
- WellingtonMajor 9:30am – 11:30am · 9:45pm – 11:45pmMinor 4:05am – 5:05am · 4:00pm – 5:00pm
South Island
- Picton / Marlborough SoundsMajor 9:35am – 11:35am · 9:50pm – 11:50pmMinor 4:05am – 5:05am · 4:05pm – 5:05pm
- NelsonMajor 9:40am – 11:40am · 9:50pm – 11:50pmMinor 4:10am – 5:10am · 4:10pm – 5:10pm
- KaikouraMajor 9:35am – 11:35am · 9:50pm – 11:50pmMinor 4:10am – 5:10am · 4:05pm – 5:05pm
- Christchurch / LytteltonMajor 9:40am – 11:40am · 9:55pm – 11:55pmMinor 4:15am – 5:15am · 4:10pm – 5:10pm
- TimaruMajor 9:45am – 11:45am · 10:00pm – 12:00amMinor 4:20am – 5:20am · 4:15pm – 5:15pm
- DunedinMajor 9:50am – 11:50am · 10:00pm – 12:00amMinor 4:25am – 5:25am · 4:20pm – 5:20pm
- BluffMajor 10:00am – 12:00pm · 10:10pm – 12:10amMinor 4:35am – 5:35am · 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Pick your exact spot and date
Drop the anchor on your rock, reef or beach and choose a date to get bite times, sun and moon for that spot, with tides from the nearest standard port and the daytime wind.
Loads a map from OpenStreetMap.
Live wind map
Wind strength and direction often decide whether a session is comfortable or safe. Pan along the coast and play the forecast forward to plan around it.
Loads a map from Windy.com, which may set its own cookies.
How bite times work
Bite times follow the moon. Major periods are the two hours around the moon passing overhead or underfoot; minor periods are the hour around moonrise and moonset. Times shift by roughly 50 minutes each day and differ slightly from north to south, which is why each spot has its own page. Pair them with a moving tide and low light for the best chance of a fish.
Frequently asked questions
What are fishing bite times?
Bite times are the parts of the day when fish are expected to feed more actively. They are worked out from the position of the moon (solunar theory): fish tend to be more active when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot, and around moonrise and moonset.
What is the difference between major and minor bite times?
Major bite times are the two hours centred on the moon passing overhead or underfoot, and are usually the stronger periods. Minor bite times are the hour around moonrise and moonset. They are shorter, but still worth timing a session around.
Why are some days rated better than others?
The rating follows the moon phase. The days either side of a new or full moon bring the biggest tides and stronger tidal flow, and anglers have long found fish bite better then. Days near the quarter moons are rated average, but you can still catch plenty.
Should I fish the bite time or the tide?
Both matter. The best sessions are often when a major bite time lines up with dawn or dusk and a moving tide. If you can only pick one, most anglers favour a moving tide in low light over a bite time in the middle of a bright, slack day.
How accurate are these times?
Moon and sun times are calculated for each location and are accurate to within about five minutes. Tide times come from LINZ official predictions for the nearest standard port, and local tides can differ by a few minutes. Always check the marine forecast before heading out. This page is not for navigation.
Getting set up? Shop reels, graded used gear or read our fishing guides.
Bite times calculated from moon position (solunar). Tides: Toitū Te Whenua LINZ (CC BY 4.0). Wind: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation.