The Best Fishing Spots in Auckland
In Auckland, recreational fishing is centred on the sheltered waters of the Hauraki Gulf, nearby estuaries and the rugged west coast, offering easy shore and boat opportunities as well as charter and kayak trips; the region is best known for abundant snapper, schooling kahawai, powerful kingfish and hard-fighting trevally inshore, while offshore trips target tuna and sport marlin; inland waters and small lakes also give good angling for brown trout and rainbow trout, and common methods include reef fishing, surfcasting, and jigging from boats.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Albany
(6 km to coast)
Auckland
(1 km to coast)
Avondale
(0 km to coast)
Balmoral
(4 km to coast)
Beach Haven
(2 km to coast)
Beachlands
(1 km to coast)
Birkdale
(2 km to coast)
Birkenhead
(1 km to coast)
Blockhouse Bay
(1 km to coast)
Browns Bay
(4 km to coast)
Bucklands Beach
(1 km to coast)
Ellerslie
(6 km to coast)
Epsom
(6 km to coast)
Favona
(1 km to coast)
Forrest Hill
(4 km to coast)
Glendene
(4 km to coast)
Glendowie
(1 km to coast)
Glen Innes
(2 km to coast)
Greenhithe
(1 km to coast)
Grey Lynn
(1 km to coast)
Half Moon Bay
(1 km to coast)
Henderson
(6 km to coast)
Hillcrest
(0 km to coast)
Hillsborough
(2 km to coast)
Homai
(3 km to coast)
Howick
(2 km to coast)
Kumeu
(7 km to coast)
Lincoln
(5 km to coast)
Lynfield
(1 km to coast)
Mangere
(1 km to coast)
Mangere East
(1 km to coast)
Manukau City
(5 km to coast)
Manurewa
(3 km to coast)
Massey
(5 km to coast)
Massey East
(3 km to coast)
Mount Eden
(5 km to coast)
New Lynn
(0 km to coast)
New Windsor
(0 km to coast)
North Shore
(2 km to coast)
Onehunga
(2 km to coast)
Orewa
(5 km to coast)
Otahuhu
(1 km to coast)
Otara
(1 km to coast)
Pakuranga
(0 km to coast)
Pakuranga Heights
(0 km to coast)
Papakura
(1 km to coast)
Papatoetoe
(2 km to coast)
Parnell
(3 km to coast)
Point Chevalier
(1 km to coast)
Pukekohe East
(12 km to coast)
Remuera
(4 km to coast)
Sandringham
(3 km to coast)
Sunnyvale
(5 km to coast)
Takanini
(3 km to coast)
Takapuna
(2 km to coast)
Te Atatu Peninsula
(1 km to coast)
Te Atatu South
(3 km to coast)
Titirangi
(2 km to coast)
Waiuku
(1 km to coast)
Warkworth
(6 km to coast)
Wattle Downs
(1 km to coast)
Western Heights
(7 km to coast)
West Harbour
(2 km to coast)
Wiri
(3 km to coast)
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Waitemata Harbour
This inner harbour offers accessible snapper, kahawai and occasional john dory; fish tidal edges and channel drop-offs from Harbour Bridge to Bean Rock , with straylined baits on the evening ebb and small soft-baits along structure producing well through spring and autumn.
Tamaki River
This winding estuary produces estuarine snapper, trevally and kahawai; work the channel bends and mudflats from Panmure to Half Moon Bay with lightly weighted baits on the outgoing tide, or twitch small soft-baits along current seams in spring and autumn.
Rangitoto Island
Volcanic shorelines and nearby reefs hold snapper, kingfish and john dory; cast soft-baits along the weed edges from shore or slow-troll livebaits around points like Islington Bay and the Rangitoto Channel , with dawn and dusk bite-times especially productive in summer.
Piha Beach
Iconic surf beach where deeper gutters near Lion Rock often hold kahawai, winter snapper, and summer rig; fish outgoing tides with long-cast rigs and fresh baits, and move to locate the most active channels.
Muriwai Beach
West coast surfcasting hotspot for autumn-winter snapper, strong-running kahawai, and summer rig and school shark; aim baits into the gutters and rips along the beach, with fresh mullet or tuatua producing in the evening change of light.
Manukau Harbour
Known for prolific autumn gurnard, spring snapper, and powerful kahawai, the Manukau rewards fishing channel edges and banks from Onehunga to Big Bay ; use running rigs with fresh baits on the turn of the tide, and target summer evenings for lively action.
Mahurangi Harbour
Scenic estuary-n-reef mix producing snapper, kahawai and kingfish; work current lines and points from Sullivans Bay out towards Motuketekete Island , with slow jigs and livebaits performing on strong tidal flows.
Kawakawa Bay
A favorite launching and shore-fishing area on the eastern fringe for snapper and spring-summer kingfish; work the foul ground and reef edges towards Orere Point with slow jigs or straylined baits, especially around dawn.
Hauraki Gulf
Auckland’s blue backyard, the Hauraki Gulf produces year-round snapper, summer kingfish around workups, and winter trevally and kahawai; drifting soft-baits or slow jigs over the worm beds between Rangitoto Island and Motuihe Island is a proven tactic, while micro-jigs and livies shine along current lines and pins towards Tiritiri Matangi .
Milford Beach
Sheltered North Shore stretch with nearby reef structure for snapper and kahawai; fish the channels around the creek mouth on the turn of tide, or work soft-baits along rocky edges towards Castor Bay at dawn.
Stanmore Bay
Family-friendly bay on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula where kayak and small-boat drifts pick up snapper and trevally; focus on kelp edges and sand patches, or cast soft-baits from the northern point towards Red Beach during summer.
Okahu Bay
Sheltered water close to the city with handy boat ramps and wharf access; drifting for snapper on the flats or bait fishing from the wharf picks up kahawai and trevally, especially when current runs towards Orakei Wharf and the Waitemata Harbour channels.
Orakei Wharf
Popular urban platform targeting snapper, kahawai and schooling trevally; berley draws fish from nearby reef edges towards Okahu Bay , with light straylines or float rigs working best around dusk and dawn in spring and early summer.
Takapuna Beach
Urban beach with access to reefy patches holding snapper and roaming kahawai; early morning soft-baiting along the rocks towards Brown’s Bay and the Rangitoto Channel is effective in spring and summer.
Army Bay
At the tip of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, Army Bay offers kayak and shore access to snapper, kingfish and trevally; cast soft-baits across the kelp lines or livebait around headlands towards Tiritiri Matangi on the incoming tide.
Half Moon Bay
Marina-adjacent waters and nearby channels deliver snapper, kahawai and john dory; drift soft-baits along the edges towards Motuihe Channel or fish lightly weighted baits from shore structure on evening tides.
Bucklands Beach
Productive shoreline into the Tamaki River and inner gulf where snapper, kahawai and trevally patrol; fish the drop-offs on the incoming tide with berley, and cast small soft-baits around the rocky points towards Musick Point .
Cornwallis Wharf
A landmark wharf on the Manukau with easy access to gurnard, kahawai and seasonal snapper; cast baits into the channel, use long traces for wary fish on clear days, and watch for workups pushing through from Huia on tide changes.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Lake Pupuke
A volcanic freshwater lake on the North Shore with accessible fishing for perch, rudd and tench; target drop-offs and weed beds from shore or kayak with small soft plastics, worms, or spinners, especially during warm, calm evenings around Takapuna .