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A successful early morning kayak fishing trip in Wellington produces a solid blue cod using a refined technique.

With a brief calm in the weather, a kayak fishing trip off Makara yielded a solid haul of snapper and blue cod.

This Wellington / Kaipiti reports a promising fishing scene with bluefin tuna, snapper, sizeable gurnard, and schools of kahawai, alongside notable kingfish sightings near Kapiti Island, setting the stage for an exciting weekend ahead.

While some kayaks look like mini battleships, getting set up after the initial purchase doesn’t have to be a complex affair. A few important basics can get you into the fish and home again safely. When looking at some of the kayak fishing rigs of the hard-core kayak anglers, they seem to have all the bells and whistles.

Deep sea slow pitch jigging session leads to trumpeter in Wellington waters

More of a simple epic day out in the kayak near Kapiti Island. And that is a seriously good blue moki.

Part one of a great session on the kayak near Kapiti Island. Plenty of snapper on the chew.

Night time kayak fishing can be a bit unnerving for the novice however with careful planning and arranging to fish in a group can open up a whole new world of adventure and success. Kayak fishing is normally thought of as a method reserved for daytime activity only and for the beginner kayak angler it’s a good rule while they learn about their kayak.

A successful day of fishing in Wellington, with notable catches including decent snapper and small puka, using a variety of techniques including electric reels and jigging.

The first day of kayak fishing I spent off the Kapiti coast during June, with plenty of surprises on a windless winter morning. The method was dropping sliding kabura lures into deep water where lots of different species lurk, even through winter..

An awesome weekend kayak fishing from Taemaro Bay, just south of Doubtless Bay on the North Island of New Zealand.

Fishing report for Wellington / Kapiti supplied by Jason Grimmet on Friday the 12th of April 2024

The Espresso Report: 11th February. What’s all this buzz about Kayak Fishing? You’ve seen pictures of the mighty fish caught, of all types, some are astounding - and all from a kayak?! Maybe you’re one of the smart or lucky ones who already enjoy the kayaking fishing adventures. Either way – what a way to play, and catch fish for the entire family. Changing times, improving methods, materials and new ideas, kayaking is one of the fastest growing sport and recreational pastimes in New Zealand and overseas, no wonder…read on!

Fishing off Waikanae Beach delivered some solid snapper and gurnard despite challenging weather and fluctuating water temperatures.

An early start for a successful kayak day. Includes speeds comparo between pedal and arm-powered yaks.

Set out from Mana Twin Bridges for a fruitful day of fishing, targeting kingfish, snapper, and more, culminating in a surprising catch of a huge John Dory.

Despite unpredictable weather Wellington fishos are enjoying rewarding fishing trips, and catching a variety of species.

The Espresso Report November 3 2022 Slow pitch strikes on camera, coaching seminars, kayak fishing extra, hot bite and when it’s not – what to do and more, this week’s Espresso Report via video definitely worth a good look!

Big winter blue cod - The Storm Petrel turns on a dynamic day of crayfish and blue cod.

Abundant anchovies attracting a variety of fish close to shore, offering prime opportunities for anglers with lightweight gear to enjoy successful catches in the summer weather.

As the bluefin season continues, Striker Charters delivers unforgettable fishing adventures, from trolling and jigging to landing unexpected catches like swordfish.

An early start on a new spot led to a rewarding day on the water, culminating in a couple of notable snapper catches.

Sunday 'funday' misson off Makara beach.

Amid fluctuating weather conditions, fishing in the Hauraki Gulf promises good catches as the water temp approaches the magic 18 degrees C

Encounter with a large thresher shark and good kahawai fishing near Kapiti Island.

A semi local’s guide to kayak fishing the Coromandel’s Matarangi to Matapoua Bay coastline. Planning a fishing trip in December, the one thing that can be guaranteed is that there are no guarantees. Bite times and weather windows are notoriously unpredictable and good ones usually coincide nicely with the busiest time of year, preparing for the silly season.

An early start on the east coast led to a successful day of fishing, with plenty of blue cod, gurnard, kahawai, and even pāua in ideal conditions.

This Wellington report covers a successful day out with Blackpearl Fishing Charters catching kingfish and snapper plus a teaser for a beast of a trumpeter.

The Espresso Report October 20 2022 Whales full-on feeding are having a great time both in the Hauraki gulf and the outer regions, feeding on baitfish too which is great news for us! Spring can be an intense time out there, workups are hammering in out in 50m, small to medium, and there’s been some big snapper (over 20lb) caught out by the gates, the channels of Jellicoe, Craddock and Colville are fishing well and not necessarily where the surface action is.

Well, it may have been a pretty crook summer, and autumn to boot, but one thing that seems to be the shining light is some damn good snapper fishing. In fact, it’s some of the best snapper fishing I can recall for this time of year in quite a while.

Tuna time! Yes, the Bluefin tuna run up the north-eastern coast is well underway with some stunning fish being caught recreationally – just a few hour’s drive from most North Island cities. And why is right now most excellent for tuna taming? That full moon, well known for the best tuna bite in town when’s it’s around. Half a chance, this could be your chance. As for what gear, that’s a good question and answers are as many as there are anglers. Multiple strikes and hook ups can make for the ultimate in hectic adrenaline fuelled panic and excitement so trolling with good gear is essential yet the only thing the tuna is interested in is your lure and there’s lots to choose from. A couple of good straight running lures, small to medium size on the riggers (like the 200gm Squidwings is ideal, a demo with trolling setup is in link below). It’s handy to have a no fuss no hassle lure out that’ll run well in all sorts of conditions from smooth to gnarly choppy water, which can be expected all in the same day right. Whatever weapons and ammunition you choose, make sure it’s in tip top order – this is big fish hunting and they can test everything to the limit. Enjoy the entire adventure if you do.

Kayak fishing is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing water sports with more and more people taking it up every day, and more and more offerings in the market. There are many factors to consider when setting out to buy your first fishing kayak. Here’s a few of the key ones to get you started.

We all know that fishing is about the catch, but before the catch happens you have to find the fish – so how do you do that? Jason Walker goes through fishfinders for kayaks. There is a wealth of information floating around to help you find the general area where there are fish: fishing magazines such as this one, fishing clubs, mates (the ones you can trust that is), books giving you GPS spots to paddle to, and of course a huge wealth of information on the Internet.

Kingfish are a challenge to catch in and of themselves, add a kayak to the equation and the fun doubles.

The use of artificial ‘softbait’ lures and current braid line technology, has certainly changed the face of New Zealand sport fishing, and with good reason.

Using soft baits from a small inflatable, kayak, or dinghy can be incredibly productive

From Farewell Spit in the west to Stephens Island in the east, Tasman Bay at the top of the South Island of New Zealand has it all for the avid fisherman and holiday makers. This is the ultimate family holiday and fishing area in NZ. You can fish one day and if the weather is not so good the next you can go to one of a hundred of local attractions that litter the area; wine tasting, go-karting, markets and wearable arts - Nelson has it all. Let’s take a fishing holiday around the bay starting in the Northwest corner of Golden Bay.

Editor note: Pete Lamb operates Pete Lamb Fishing Charters, and runs a bait and tackle shop out of Wellington. He’s fished the Wellington region for most of his life and knows just about every place that holds fish in the region like the back of his hand. Pete is a land based and surf casting specialist, but also runs a charter operation that targets the main coastal areas on the south and west coast. He’s learned a hell of a lot over the years, and like all good fishermen is still learning every day. He is most always happy to share information to help you get a better fishing experience if you rock up to his shop in Rongotai. Here’s Pete’s top tips for targeting arguably NZ’s favourite fish, the good old snapper.

Here's how to install an anchor running rig.

Soft baits and kayaks go hand in hand. The stealth of the kayak and its ability to get in close where fish are feeding makes it a perfect match for soft bait fishing techniques. Catch Fishing and Stephen Tapp from Viking Kayaks presents a bit about targeting fish from a kayak, and how it's done right. Stephen is one of, if not the, best kayak fisherman in NZ, and you can learn a lot just watching the master in action.

The Catch Fishing pro team, including master kayak angler Stephen Tapp show us how it's done chasing big fish from kayaks

In this video Dave from Fergs kayaks Wellington NZ shows us a few tips on how to get back into your sit on top kayak in the case of a capsize...NOTE: this video is just a quick reference, it is highly recommended that you take a course to get the full understanding of how to self rescue quickly and safely.

Loading your Viking kayak does not have to be hard work nor is it essential to have expensive loading devices...in this short video Stephen Tapp shows how he loads his Profish Reload without fuss.

Here's how I set up my kayak for fishing for the best results, efficiency and safety.

In the 1st episode of #FieldTrips New Zealand, we're linking up with John Donald of Catch Fishing Tackle to target giant yellowtail kingfish, kahawai & Australasian snapper in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland. The fishing and wildlife encounters make for an incredible start to our 8-day trip. Next, we'll be living on a boat with 10 guys and 9 kayaks, fishing around remote islands 50 miles out in the Pacific for 8 days.

When it comes to the quiet approach in shallow bays, kayaks are hard to beat. Jason Walker looks at the techniques that can give the kayak angler the upper hand.

So close to being able to get back out in our boats again. In the meantime, landbased sessions, kayakers and kayaks are getting a LOT of attention online here and overseas, surging in interest with the current worldwide ‘stay local’ scenario. With the combination of either convenient fishing at the closest waterway, to “offshore adventures” via a Mothership and a bunch of mates - your pick of destination. ‘Local’ offshore locations like the Mokohinau islands, Gt Barrier and much more is readily accessible, inexpensive and the fishing can be spectacular! Bait free fishing with jigs and softbaits at it’s finest and the rewards can be exceptional, all from a kayak. The world is changing.

Located around an hour or 70km north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge is a large sheltered bay, which opens up many fishing spots for both kayaks and boats.

I was casting softbaits around for snapper, catching a few when the fishfinder lit up with a huge school of fish. The water around Great Barrier Island was crystal clear and there was at least 10 metres visibility.

NZ Boat Register's NFC Boat ID Tags provide a simple, secure way to identify lost or stolen watercraft without exposing personal details.

Land-based expert Scott Cushman shares some tips for hunting big snapper in the dark of night. The hot bright days of summer are eagerly anticipated after the cold dormancy of winter.

Located on the north side of the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, you will find a small sheltered sandy bay called Army Bay.

A very warm and welcoming Merry Christmas to you.

Explore innovative techniques for soft bait fishing and take advantage of quieter weather to refine your skills, as suggested by the latest updates and fishing conditions in the Hauraki Gulf.

This is a unique lure that has been developed in New Zealand by Catch, from a ground-up concept. It’s unusual in that it has been designed to be a jack-of-all lures. Catch explain it can be cast, trolled, jigged, and fished from boat or shore. Wellington angler Jason was presented with a range of Catch gear to trial, and here we will focus on his use of the Squidwings, as without doubt, how you fish it dictates how successful it will be.

Big gamers, medium gamers and small gamers – it is time to play the game, the fish are certainly keen to mix it up! And with big tides, that full moon a week away yet, tropical storm warnings and Auckland borders getting relaxed a bit, sounds like Mother Nature’s got a few of her own ideas - so how’s it shaping up for fishin’?

Scott MacDonnell proves you don't have to head far, or have a big boat, to head home with a full bag.

Snapper now start to move in close to feed and spawn and this can mean a bonanza for kayak fishos. Jason Walker shares his tactics to help you cash-in at this time of year but not before you get your gear in order. The change in seasons will bring a change in our fishing. Spring sees the shallower waters start to fill up with fish coming in to the shoreline to breed but before they do that they also want to feed themselves up.

A classic Saltwater Assassin aka Lee Kennedy kayak vid. Enjoy.

Full moon and big tides are well known already by the snapper feeding in the shallows around various Auckland harbours, incredible sights as their dorsal spines flare well out of the water as they feed in the ultra-shallows, along with cormorants and any number of seabirds from terns, gulls, shearwaters to gannets and more, all keen on the early winter feasting. While winter may provide fewer days to fish in terms of weather, when the planets align it can simply be the BEST of times to go fishing!