The Best Fishing Spots in Wellington Region
The Wellington Region offers varied recreational fishing from beaches, estuaries and rocky shorelines to boat trips in Cook Strait and the harbour; common saltwater targets include snapper, kahawai, kingfish, tarakihi, trevally and gurnard, while in some areas anglers also catch blue cod; freshwater rivers and lakes hold brown trout and rainbow trout, making the region good for surfcasting, rock and boat fishing.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Alicetown
(2 km to coast)
Arakura
(6 km to coast)
Aro Valley
(3 km to coast)
Ascot Park
(2 km to coast)
Avalon
(5 km to coast)
Belmont
(6 km to coast)
Boulcott
(5 km to coast)
Brooklyn
(3 km to coast)
Cannons Creek
(4 km to coast)
Churton Park
(3 km to coast)
Days Bay
(2 km to coast)
Eastbourne
(2 km to coast)
Epuni
(6 km to coast)
Glendale
(5 km to coast)
Grenada North
(5 km to coast)
Hataitai
(3 km to coast)
Heretaunga
(19 km to coast)
Heretaunga
(18 km to coast)
Homedale
(6 km to coast)
Island Bay
(1 km to coast)
Johnsonville
(2 km to coast)
Karori
(3 km to coast)
Kelburn
(1 km to coast)
Kelson
(8 km to coast)
Khandallah
(0 km to coast)
Lower Hutt
(3 km to coast)
Lyall Bay
(1 km to coast)
Maungaraki
(2 km to coast)
Mornington
(2 km to coast)
Mount Cook
(3 km to coast)
Mount Victoria
(2 km to coast)
Naenae
(7 km to coast)
Newlands
(0 km to coast)
Newtown
(2 km to coast)
Ngaio
(1 km to coast)
Normandale
(3 km to coast)
Northland
(2 km to coast)
Otaki
(6 km to coast)
Papakowhai
(1 km to coast)
Paparangi
(2 km to coast)
Paraparaumu
(6 km to coast)
Paremata
(1 km to coast)
Parkway
(2 km to coast)
Petone
(1 km to coast)
Plimmerton
(0 km to coast)
Porirua
(3 km to coast)
Raumati Beach
(3 km to coast)
Seatoun
(1 km to coast)
Silverstream
(16 km to coast)
Stokes Valley
(12 km to coast)
Strathmore Park
(0 km to coast)
Taita
(10 km to coast)
Tawa
(8 km to coast)
Te Aro
(2 km to coast)
Titahi Bay
(1 km to coast)
Waikanae
(8 km to coast)
Wainuiomata
(6 km to coast)
Waitangirua
(3 km to coast)
Waiwhetu
(2 km to coast)
Waterloo
(4 km to coast)
Wellington
(5 km to coast)
Wellington Central
(1 km to coast)
Whitby
(3 km to coast)
Wilton
(2 km to coast)
River Fishing
Lake Fishing
Lake Wairarapa
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Titahi Bay
Clean sand and reef edges attract summer kingfish and snapper, with kahawai and gurnard common; spin metals from the northern rocks or slow-troll livebaits from small boats and kayaks along the headlands towards Rangituhi/Colonial Knob .
Pukerua Bay
Accessible ledges with deep water close offer moki, tarakihi, and summer kingfish; spin lures along current lines on light northerlies, or strayline baits into wash zones around the southern point facing towards Plimmerton .
Porirua Harbour
Shallow flats and channels in the Onepoto and Pauatahanui Inlet arms yield kahawai, summer snapper, gurnard, and trevally; small boats and kayaks drift the channels on the turn of tide while shore anglers fish the edges and bridges with pilchard cubes and softbaits.
Paraparaumu Beach
A broad west coast surf beach opposite Kapiti Island where long casts reach kahawai workups, spring gurnard, and summer snapper; small craft and surfcasters target the outer bars on a building tide and calmer seas.
Palliser Bay
Vast, open coastline from Lake Ferry to Cape Palliser with surfcasting for kahawai and gurnard, boat access to reefy points for kingfish and snapper; look for bird life and color changes after settled northerly patterns.
Wellington Harbour
A deep, semi-sheltered basin offering year-round access to kahawai, kingfish, snapper (summer), gurnard, and tarakihi; boaties work drop-offs and shipping channel edges while shore anglers fish wharves and ledges around Oriental Bay , Point Jerningham , and Seatoun , with peak action during tidal changes and northerly winds flattening the swell.
Mana Island
Inshore reef systems and channels around the island produce snapper, gurnard, kingfish, and tarakihi; boats drift softbaits along the foul on the eastern side and slow-troll livebaits on the southern point towards Plimmerton .
Kapiti Island
The island’s surrounding reefs, edges, and current lines hold kingfish, snapper, trevally, and tarakihi; run-and-gun stickbaiting the points or jigging drop-offs along the western side is prime in summer, with calmer mornings often best.
Island Bay
Rocky reefs and kelp beds hold butterfish, moki, tarakihi, and occasional snapper in settled summer spells; strayline baits from the southern ledges or paddle a kayak to the island’s lee for calm pockets, with dawn and dusk producing the most consistent bites.
Breaker Bay
Steep shingle and rocky points on the Miramar Peninsula give access to moki, kahawai, and the odd snapper; fish crab and prawn baits into the gutters or cast surface lures at bait schools that drift in from Moaning Myrtle towards the entrance.
Lyall Bay
Popular surf beaches on the south coast produce kahawai workups, cruising kingfish in summer, and winter red cod; fish gutters along the airport end and reefy corners near Princess Bay , casting metal lures into bird activity or deploying baits when the swell eases.
Owhiro Bay
South coast swell funnels bait and brings kahawai, moki, and summer kingfish close; work lures along the road-end rocks and sandy patches or soak crab and mussel baits on evening tides, with calmer windows between southerly blows fishing best.
Petone Beach
A classic surfcasting stretch on the north side of the harbour for kahawai (often in visible schools), red cod in winter, and occasional snapper in warm months; long casts into the gutters near the wharf and river mouth provide reliable action on a flooding tide.
Makara Beach
Exposed west coast ledges and boulder beaches deliver moki, tarakihi, blue cod (from kayaks), and passing kingfish; fish the foul ground with shellfish baits or cast stickbaits on calm high-pressure days when the water clears, especially around the point towards Ohau .
Oriental Bay
Easy-access inner-harbour spot for kahawai schools, spotties for the kids, and surprise kingfish shadowing bait; cast metals and softbaits along the seawall, especially when bait is pushed tight by light northerlies, or bait fish the steps near Frederick Street after dark for gurnard.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Lake Wairarapa
A large shallow lake best tackled by kayak or small boat, with brown trout cruising edges, perch schooling around weedlines, and wind-lane action after warm afternoons; drift the eastern shorelines or target inflow mouths connected to the Ruamahanga River .
Waikanae River
A small, clear river offering accessible brown trout fishing with good summer terrestrial action; prospect pocket water above Jim Cooke Park and swing small streamers at first light near the mouth when baitfish are present off Waikanae Beach .
Ruamahanga River
Wairarapa’s flagship river offers sight-fishing for brown trout in the middle reaches and streamer action in the lower braids; target seams and willow lines from Gladstone to Te Whiti , with mayfly hatches lifting activity on overcast days.
Hutt River
An urban trout fishery with clear runs and riffles holding brown trout and seasonal sea-run browns; nymph the riffles above Moonshine or swing small streamers at dusk lower down near the Estuary when whitebait and smelt are present.
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Lake Onoke
Brackish coastal lagoon at the mouth of the Ruamahanga River producing kahawai near the outlet, sea-run trout in the channels, and perch around margins; work the bar when conditions allow or fish the lake edges on a flooding tide for best movement.