Today's Best Fishing & Tide Times for
Tauranga, New Zealand ðŸ‡³ðŸ‡¿

Solunar
Tides
Weather
7-Day
Spots

How to use the Kiwi fishing calendar

Planning your next fishing trip in Tauranga, New Zealand ? Today is a average day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular bite times and moon phases, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, nearby tide timetable, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...

  • Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise bite times and moon phases and the best moon phases.
  • Use the Tide Clock section to sync bite times with high and low tide timetable.
  • Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
  • Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.

Tauranga fishing in the Bay of Plenty delivers reliable inshore and offshore action year-round, from snapper and kingfish in summer to tuna and hapuku on deeper structure. This Tauranga, NZ fishing guide highlights seasonal patterns, habitat hotspots, and practical tactics for anglers targeting the region's most sought‑after species. read more...

Some of the best fishing spots near Tauranga include: Tauranga Harbour, Mount Maunganui Beach, Pilot Bay, Moturiki Island, Papamoa Beach, Matakana Island, Bowentown Heads, Mayor Island, Kaituna River, Waimapu River, etc. see full list

Tide Station:

Sun and Moon Times

The sun will be at it's highest point at . Today we have 9:48 hours of daylight. For shallow water fishing the twilight periods are often the most productive fishing times, especially on days when a major or minor time will coincide with twilight. In low light conditions predators have better cover for their ambush and often hunt in shallow water.
  • Nautical Twilight begins:
    Sunrise:
  • Sunset:
    Nautical Twilight ends:
  • Moonrise:
  • Moonset:
  • Moon over:
  • Moon under:
  • Visibility:
    3%
  • New Moon - 3% illuminated New Moon
Next New Moon in ~2 days on 14th July
New Moon is generally a very productive time for fishing. Dark nights mean that many predators feed more actively during daylight hours. The combined gravity of sun and moon during New Moon days has a stronger effect on all water bodies, leads to increased food availabilty and hence better fishing.
  • Distance to earth:
    363,488 km
    Proximity:
    99.1 %
We can compare the current moon distance to it's minimum and maximum distance from earth and express that as proximity. A high proximity means the moon is closer to earth. At 50% it would be at it's mean distance. A high proximity causes big tides, currents and has a direct effect on increased bite times. A proximity greater than 90% indicates a super moon.
Moon Phases for Tauranga
New Moon
Tue, 14 Jul
Full Moon
Thu, 30 Jul

Solunar Bite Times

Settings
Display Settings:
  • average Day
12 1 2 3 4 5 AM 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Pro Tip: Save locations, get reminders & see fewer ads.
Sign Up Free
Best fishing times:
  • minor Time:
    05:18 am - 07:18 am
  • major Time:
    09:53 am - 11:53 am
  • minor Time:
    02:28 pm - 04:28 pm
  • major Time:
    10:23 pm - 12:23 am
All times are displayed in the Pacific/Auckland timezone and are automatically adjusted to daylight savings. The current timezone offset is +12 hours. Green and yellow areas indicate the best fishing times (major and minor). Blue areas indicate high and low tides. The center shows the current moon phase which is a New Moon at 3% lumination. According to the Solunar Theory, today is a average day for fishing, but you need to cross check this with the current weather forecast for a final decision. Currently we have a minor fishing time. The next best fishing time ( ) starts in -5 hour and -14 minute. The gray time indicator displays the current local time.
Pacific/Auckland • Mon, 13 Jul 05:38 • -37.686, 176.167

Tides Times for Fishing: Mon, 13 Jul

The Tideclock displays the tide status and the hours until the next tide. Currently the tide is falling and the next low tide is in 6 hours and 7 minutes.
Tide Graph
05:31 am 11:46 am 06:20 pm AM PM 6.14 ft 0.79 ft height hour: 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12
Times
Tide Time Height
high 05:31 am 5.84 ft
low 11:46 am 0.79 ft
high 06:20 pm 6.14 ft
Tide Coefficient at 05:31 am is 98
Tide Coefficient at 06:20 pm is 107
For fishing, stronger tides are often favourable as they cause stronger currents and more motion on the sea bed. The above tidal coefficients give us an indication of how strong the tides are compared to their average. A value over 90 indicates very strong tides, known as spring tides. A low value indicates weak tides, known as neap tides. The tidal coefficient can range from 20 to 120 with a mean value of 70. A higher number usually indicates better fishing.
You can support us by subscribing to our Youtube Channel and sharing Fishingreminder on Facebook.

Current Fishing Weather

Updating Weather Infos...

7 Day Fishing Weather

The weather plays an important role in fishing. Wind strenght and direction often determine where you can fish and where fish might be holding. Although high pressure is usually good for fishing, steep pressure changes often trigger feeding frenzies and are great times for fishing. Of course temperature has also a strong effect on fishing and comfort on the water. So make sure to cross check the weather forecast with the solunar fishing times to determine the best times to go fishing. The graph below shows you the 3 hourly weather progression over the next 7 days. Scroll the graph left or right to see more.
Selected Weather Station: Tauranga, NZ
Temperature
Wave Height
Swell Height
Wind
Pressure
Humidity
Cloudcover
Rain Precipitation
UV Index
Retrieving Weather...

7 Day Fishing Forecast Calendar
Date Major Bite Times Minor Bite Times Sun Moon Moonphase Tide Times
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waning Crescent moon phase
Waning Crescent
high: , 5.68 ft , Coeff: 93
low: , 0.95 ft
high: , 5.81 ft , Coeff: 97
low: , 1.31 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		New Moon moon phase
New Moon
high: , 5.84 ft , Coeff: 98
low: , 0.79 ft
high: , 6.14 ft , Coeff: 107
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		New Moon moon phase
New Moon
low: , 1.18 ft
high: , 6 ft , Coeff: 103
low: , 0.56 ft
high: , 6.46 ft , Coeff: 117
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		New Moon moon phase
New Moon
low: , 1.05 ft
high: , 6.07 ft , Coeff: 105
low: , 0.39 ft
high: , 6.66 ft , Coeff: 123
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		New Moon moon phase
New Moon
low: , 0.92 ft
high: , 6.1 ft , Coeff: 106
low: , 0.3 ft
high: , 6.69 ft , Coeff: 124
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waxing Crescent moon phase
Waxing Crescent
low: , 0.79 ft
high: , 6.07 ft , Coeff: 105
low: , 0.36 ft
high: , 6.56 ft , Coeff: 120
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waxing Crescent moon phase
Waxing Crescent
low: , 0.66 ft
high: , 5.97 ft , Coeff: 102
low: , 0.46 ft
high: , 6.3 ft , Coeff: 112
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waxing Crescent moon phase
Waxing Crescent
low: , 0.59 ft
high: , 5.81 ft , Coeff: 97
low: , 0.66 ft
high: , 6.04 ft , Coeff: 104
*bold times indicate best fishing times around sunrise or sunset

Fishing Overview Tauranga

The Bay of Plenty around Tauranga offers a mix of harbour flats, rocky reef, kelp beds and nearby deepwater canyons, producing varied fishing year-round. Spring warms the shallows and brings bait schools into Tauranga Harbour and around Motuhoa/Matakana islands, which feeds up snapper, kahawai and trevally. Summer is peak for kingfish and surface tuna and marlin offshore; autumn concentrates feeds around reefs and drop-offs making snapper and tarakihi consistent; winter favours deepwater species such as hapuku and school sharks on the canyon edges.

Habitat types are clear and each holds its own targets. The Tauranga Harbour flats, creek mouths and sandflats are prime for flounder and small snapper early and late in the tide; rocky headlands and kelp edges (both inside and outside the harbour) hold kingfish, trevally and gurnard. Offshore reefs and BOM (breakwater) structures concentrate snapper, tarakihi and john dory, while the steep continental shelf and canyon edges out to White Island and further east produce hapuku, tuna and the occasional marlin.

Common techniques vary by target and season. For snapper, drift-baiting with fresh whole pilchards, squid strips or thin fillets on a running sinker rig works extremely well around reef edges and foul ground—use a mix of soft plastics on lighter gear when fish are keyed on smaller baits. Kingfish respond to livebaits (small kahawai, yellowtail) and fast-paced stickbaits/poppers around kelp edges, weedlines and current gutters—vertical jigging with heavy metal jigs on a braid/leader combo is deadly on both kingfish and hapuku when hooked deep near structure. For kahawai and surface feeders, metal slugs, poppers and small diving plugs around schools at dawn and dusk produce action.

Tactical tips to up your catch rate: use the sounder to mark pinnacles, breaks and bait schools—snapper often sit on the down-slope of rocky rises. Fish tide changes: incoming and outgoing tides concentrate bait and activate predators; early morning and late evening light improves topwater bites for kahawai and trevally. When targeting bottom species like gurnard and tarakihi, use light-to-medium rods with a simple running sinker and a 3/0–4/0 circle hook dressed with natural baits (prawns, mussel, squid). For deepwater hapuku and tuna, switch to heavy braid, a stout leader and staggered vertical jigs or trolled livebaits; mark depth and current lines where fish stack.

Boat positioning matters: drift smartly over reefs to present baits naturally, or anchor off the edge and drop vertical offerings when fish are holding deep. Keep leaders light and stealthy for wary snapper on shallow grounds, and go shorter leaders with stronger wire or fluorocarbon for toothy species offshore. Finally, keep an eye on sea temperature and colour—warmer, cleaner water in summer brings pelagics in close, while spring plankton blooms will concentrate snapper inshore. With local knowledge of harbor mouths, headlands and the shelf edges, Tauranga offers dependable, diverse fishing for shore, small‑boat and offshore anglers.

The Best Fishing Spots around Tauranga

Tauranga Harbour

A vast tidal system with deep channels, sand flats and structure, Tauranga Harbour consistently produces snapper, kahawai, trevally and summer kingfish. Work current lines and markers on a rising tide, drift the channels with soft-baits in winter for pannie snapper and trevally, and slow-troll livebaits for kings around harbour markers; sheltered waters suit small boats and kayaks, with easy shore access from multiple reserves around Mount Maunganui and Tauranga.

Mount Maunganui Beach

Running along the ocean side of Mount Maunganui, this sweeping surf beach is a go-to for surfcasters targeting kahawai and evening snapper, with gutters and rips shifting after swells. Summer brings shoals of baitfish close, drawing in kingfish and trevally for lure casters at dawn, while small boats and kayaks just outside the breakers pick up snapper and tarakihi on the inshore foul.

Pilot Bay

Sheltered inside the Mount at the harbour entrance, Pilot Bay offers easy shore access for families and consistent action on kahawai, trevally and small snapper. Work the drop-offs and mooring edges with bait or soft-baits on the turn of the tide; summer evenings see baitfish pushing in tight, while small boats and kayaks quietly prospect the channel edges for larger snapper.

Moturiki Island

Also known as Leisure Island, this rocky outcrop at the end of Mount Maunganui Beach is a classic rock-fishing spot where swells wash over kelpy ledges that hold snapper, with roaming kahawai and summer kingfish. Early mornings with a light northerly are ideal for casting lures or stray-lining baits into wash zones, and the adjacent channels funnel bait during the warmer months.

Papamoa Beach

Stretching southeast of Mount Maunganui, Papamoa Beach is a prolific surfcasting venue where evening and dawn tides see runs of kahawai and school snapper. Find the deeper gutters after a blow, use long-cast rigs to reach the outer bar on calm days, and in summer watch for work-ups just off the beach that bring trevally and the occasional kingfish within casting range.

Matakana Island

The ocean side of Matakana Island offers long, undeveloped surf beaches for kahawai and evening snapper, while the harbour side has channels and shell banks that hold trevally and gurnard. Boaties work the island’s points and nearby foul for snapper and tarakihi, and summer months can see kingfish shadowing bait along the bars and current lines.

Bowentown Heads

Guarding the northern entrance of Tauranga Harbour near Waihi Beach, Bowentown Heads features powerful currents, rocky points and adjacent surf beaches that attract kahawai, snapper and summer kingfish. Fish the change of light around tidal turns, cast lures into bait bust-ups along the headland, and for boats, drift the entrance channels and nearby reefs for snapper and trevally.

Mayor Island

Offshore from Tauranga, Mayor Island (Tuhua) is a renowned game and deep-water fishery, with summer shots at yellowfin/skipjack tuna and marlin in the blue water, plus inshore foul holding snapper, kingfish and tarakihi. Jig the pins for kingfish, stray-line the shallows for big snapper at dusk, and fish deeper drops for hapuku/bluenose in settled weather.

Kaituna River

Flowing to the coast east of Te Puke, the Kaituna offers freshwater reaches with rainbow trout and a tidal lower river where kahawai and trevally chase bait on incoming tides. Spin and fly anglers target trout in cooler months, while the estuarine mouth fishes well on tide changes with small soft-baits and metals for kahawai, especially when whitebait and sprats are present in spring and summer.

Waimapu River

An inner arm of Tauranga Harbour, the Waimapu’s winding channels, mudflats and mangroves hold snapper, trevally and kahawai, with occasional gurnard over the firm sand patches. Kayaks and small boats quietly drift soft-baits along edges on the last of the incoming, while land-based anglers fish channel bends and drop-offs at dawn and dusk for best results year-round.

Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Tauranga area

Wharf's or Jetties are good places to wet a line and meet other fishermen. They often produce a fresh feed of fish and are also great to catch bait fish. As they are often well lit, they also provide a good opportunity for night fishing. There are 2 wharf(s) in this area.

Mount Maunganui Wharfs - 4.76460970841km , Salisbury Wharf - 5.26208439403km

Beaches and Bays are ideal places for land-based fishing. If the beach is shallow and the water is clear then twilight times are usually the best times, especially when they coincide with a major or minor fishing time. Often the points on either side of a beach are the best spots. Or if the beach is large then look for irregularities in the breaking waves, indicating sandbanks and holes. We found 5 beaches and bays in this area.

Waipu Bay - 1.88054575735km , Rangataua Bay - 3.24921216874km , Welcome Bay - 4.24643955686km , Pilot Bay - 5.75094166225km , Duck Bay - 6.8851008685km

Harbours and Marinas can often times be productive fishing spots for land based fishing as their sheltered environment attracts a wide variety of bait fish. Similar to river mouths, harbour entrances are also great places to fish as lots of fish will move in and out with the rising and falling tides. There are 1 main harbours in this area.

Tauranga Marina - 2.77746605573km

We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Tauranga. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.

Waikareao Estuary - 0.94758569694km , Mission Point - 1.28654820665km , Motuopae Island (Peach Island) - 1.28754244314km , Maheka Point - 1.71499995048km , Waikareao - 1.80802941749km , Waipu Bay - 1.88054575735km , Kopurererua Stream - 2.24816137686km , Whareroa Point - 2.26059528518km , Te Ngaiopapapa Point - 2.49861883563km , Tauranga Marina - 2.77746605573km , Motuopuhi Island (Rat Island) - 2.81865402327km , Otumoetai Channel - 3.17910656393km , Rangataua Bay - 3.24921216874km , Waimapu Estuary - 3.65936382824km , Oruamatua Point - 3.84754739325km , Western Channel - 4.07484130505km , Welcome Bay - 4.24643955686km , Mount Maunganui Wharfs - 4.76460970841km , Tilby Point - 4.76736958101km , Karikari Point - 4.90970400461km , Waimapu River - 5.18659000178km , Salisbury Wharf - 5.26208439403km , Panepane Point - 5.67800310799km , Pilot Bay - 5.75094166225km , Stoney Point - 5.85805470448km , Wairoa River - 5.88886010067km , Moturiki Island - 6.36789127605km , Otapu Creek - 6.55523218863km , Motuotau Island - 6.57789061795km , Tauranga Entrance - 6.58840983756km , Kaitemako Stream - 6.65453544086km , Waitato Stream - 6.78693339217km , Duck Bay - 6.8851008685km , Oikimoke Point - 6.93993817948km , Hunters Creek - 7.20535284497km , Rangiwaea Island - 7.26849809032km , Opunui Point - 7.40262462316km , Pukekonui Stream - 7.49793127349km , Matakana Bank - 7.82420475463km , Waiorohi Stream - 8.8716574973km

Harbours and Marinas Beaches Bays Wharfs Points,Reefs,etc
We have many members from all over the world who love fishing and share their catches. Checkout some of the recent catches and show us what you got.

Latest Catches

Share your catch
At fishingreminder we don't hide behind our desk. We are crazy about fishing, just like you - so make sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel and see what we're up to. If we are not working on fishingreminder, we are out fishing. Btw. fishingreminder is totally homegrown and we use fishingreminder ourselves everytime we go fishing. We are eternally grateful for your feedback, participation and support.
Comments
Please login to add a comment