Auckland, Northland and Bay of Plenty fishing rules
Size and daily limits for Northland, Auckland, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty and the Kermadec Islands.
Checked against MPI on 28 October 2026 (MPI last reviewed 10 September 2026). Rules change, and some harbours and reserves have their own rules or are closed. Always check the official app before you keep a fish.
Popular fish
Snapper
tāmure
- Snapper (Auckland East, SNA1)7 a dayMin 30 cmNorth Cape to Cape Runaway, out to 200 nautical miles. Includes the Hauraki Gulf, Bay of Islands and Bay of Plenty.
- Snapper (Auckland West)10 a dayMin 27 cmNorth Cape to Tirua Point, out to 200 nautical miles. Includes the Kaipara and Manukau harbours and Raglan.
- Snapper (Kermadecs)15 a dayMin 27 cm
New Zealand's most popular saltwater fish. Pinkish-red with bright blue spots. Found over reefs, channels, mussel farms and soft bottom from the shore out to around 100 m. Ledger rigs with fresh bait, softbaits and slow jigs all work, best around the change of light and the tide.
Spring snapper: how to rig up- Snapper (Auckland East, SNA1)
Kingfish
haku
- 3 a dayMin 75 cm
Big, fast and strong, with a yellow tail and a bronze stripe down the side. Hunts around pinnacles, points, reefs and wharves. Live bait, jigs and stickbaits on heavy gear. Many anglers release the big breeders.
How to catch kingfish
Kahawai
- Within the 20No minimum
Silver, hard-fighting and found in schools right around the coast, often busting up bait on the surface. Takes small lures, softbaits, flies and bait. Bleed it straight away and keep it cold for the best eating.
How to catch kahawai
Blue cod
rāwaru
- Within the 20Min 30 cmLand whole or gutted only.
The classic southern reef fish, found right around the country but most common from Cook Strait south. A curious fish that comes to bait readily. Limits vary a lot from place to place, and it must be landed whole or gutted in most areas so it can be measured.
Gurnard
kumukumu
- Within the 20Min 25 cm
Red gurnard live on sand and mud bottoms and walk along on the front rays of their fins, which have bright blue edges. They grunt when landed. Small baits on flasher rigs drifted over sand work well.
How to catch gurnard
Trevally
araara
- Within the 20Min 25 cm
Schooling fish with a soft mouth, so play them gently. Found in harbours, around reefs and along surf beaches. Small baits and berley bring them in.
Tarakihi
- Within the 20Min 25 cm
Silver with a black band behind the head. Lives over sand and gravel near reefs, usually in deeper water. Small hooks with bait.
Hāpuku
- 2 a dayNo minimumNo more than 3 per person when taken over more than one day (Auckland East and West).
Hāpuku and bass are big groper from deep reefs, often 100 m or more. Heavy gear and big baits. Limits are low, so take only what you need.
Flounder
pātiki
- Flatfish (except sand flounder)Within the 20Min 25 cm
- Sand flounderWithin the 20Min 23 cm
Flatfish of harbours, estuaries and sandy shallows. Small baits on light gear, or set nets and spears where allowed. Sand flounder often has a smaller minimum than other flatfish.
- Flatfish (except sand flounder)
Blue moki
- Within the 20Min 40 cm
Grey-blue reef fish often found over sand next to rocks. Takes shellfish and crab baits.
Red cod
- Within the 20Min 25 cm
Soft-fleshed fish of sandy and muddy bottoms, more common in the south. Best eaten fresh.
Elephant fish
- Within the 20No minimum
A shark relative with a trunk-like snout that feeds over sand, mostly on the east coast of the South Island in spring and summer. Takes shellfish and crab baits.
Tuna
- 1 a dayNo minimum
Southern bluefin tuna turn up offshore in winter. Big fish on heavy game gear.
All finfish limits
Every species counts towards the 20 a day. Some also have their own lower limit.
| Species | Daily limit | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|
Snapper (Auckland East, SNA1)North Cape to Cape Runaway, out to 200 nautical miles. Includes the Hauraki Gulf, Bay of Islands and Bay of Plenty. | 7 | 30 cm |
Snapper (Auckland West)North Cape to Tirua Point, out to 200 nautical miles. Includes the Kaipara and Manukau harbours and Raglan. | 10 | 27 cm |
Snapper (Kermadecs) | 15 | 27 cm |
Kingfish | 3 | 75 cm |
Hāpuku / bassNo more than 3 per person when taken over more than one day (Auckland East and West). | 2 | — |
 Bluenose | 5 | — |
Southern bluefin tuna | 1 | — |
Hāpuku / bass and kingfish (Kermadecs)Combined limit of 5, with no more than 3 kingfish. Kingfish minimum 75 cm. | 5 | — |
Blue codLand whole or gutted only. | Within the 20 | 30 cm |
Blue moki | Within the 20 | 40 cm |
 Butterfish (greenbone) | Within the 20 | 35 cm |
Flatfish (except sand flounder) | Within the 20 | 25 cm |
Sand flounder | Within the 20 | 23 cm |
Red cod | Within the 20 | 25 cm |
Red gurnard | Within the 20 | 25 cm |
 Red moki | Within the 20 | 40 cm |
Tarakihi | Within the 20 | 25 cm |
Trevally | Within the 20 | 25 cm |
 Trumpeter | Within the 20 | 35 cm |
Kahawai | Within the 20 | — |
 Grey mullet | Within the 20 | — |
 Parore | Within the 20 | — |
 Rig | Within the 20 | — |
 School shark | Within the 20 | — |
Elephant fish | Within the 20 | — |
| All other finfish | Within the 20 | — |
Baitfish: 50 a day
Any mix of:
Anchovy, Jack, horse or Chilean mackerel, Koheru / scad, Pilchard, Piper / garfish, Slender or stout sprat, Yellow-eyed mullet.
Freshwater eels: 6 a day
On top of the 20 finfish and the baitfish.
Shellfish
The Auckland Coromandel area (most of the Hauraki Gulf and the Coromandel) has its own limits for some shellfish.
| Species | Daily limit | Auckland Coromandel | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cockle | 150 | 50 | — |
 Kina (sea eggs) | 50 | 150 | — |
 Green-lipped mussels | 50 | 25 | — |
 Dredge oystersLand in the shell. | 50 | 50 | 58 mm |
 Rock and Pacific oystersDon't open them while still attached to the rock. | 250 | 100 | — |
 Pāua (ordinary)Land in the shell. | 10 | 10 | 125 mm |
Pāua (yellow foot)Land in the shell. | 10 | 10 | 80 mm |
 Pipi | 150 | 50 | — |
 ScallopsSeason 1 September to 31 March. Land in the shell. | 20 | 20 | 100 mm |
 Toheroa | Prohibited | Prohibited | — |
 Tuatua | 150 | 50 | — |
All other shellfish (combined) | 50 | 50 | — |
Rock lobster (crayfish)
- Kaipara Harbour North Head to Te Ārai Point (CRA 1): 2 spiny (red) and 3 packhorse a day.
- Te Ārai Point to East Cape (CRA 2): 3 spiny (red) and 3 packhorse a day.
- West coast south of the Kaipara Harbour: 6 a day of spiny (red) and packhorse rock lobster combined, with no more than 3 packhorse.
- Spiny rock lobster is closed from Pārengarenga Harbour to Cape Rodney (from 1 April 2026) and from Cape Rodney to Port Jackson.
- Minimum tail width: spiny (red) rock lobster 54 mm for males and 60 mm for females; packhorse rock lobster 84 mm for males and 90 mm for females. If unsure of the sex, use the female size.
- Return any female carrying eggs, any soft-shelled rock lobster and any you can’t measure.
Good to know
- The 20 finfish limit is per person per day, for any mix of finfish. Species with their own limit (like 7 snapper) count towards the 20.
- Baitfish (up to 50) and freshwater eels (up to 6) are on top of the 20.
- Some harbours, reserves and closed areas have their own rules or are closed altogether. Check the MPI page or app for the exact spot.
- It is illegal to buy, sell or swap fish you catch recreationally.
Recent changes and closures
- 15 October 2026: two-year pāua closure at Tauroa Peninsula, Ahipara.
- 7 August 2026: two-year shellfish closure at Umupuia Beach, Te Mātā and Waipatukahu, and Waiheke Island.
- 29 June 2026: two-year shellfish closure at Marsden Bank and Mair Bank, Marsden Point.
- 1 April 2026: no spiny rock lobster from Pārengarenga Harbour to Cape Rodney (parts of CRA 1 and CRA 2).
- 12 March 2026: two-year closure at Ōmaha Bay, Kawau Bay and the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.
Other areas
Planning a trip? Check the bite times and tides for your spot.