Kahawai
Kahawai travel in schools, chase small baitfish near the surface and fight hard for their size. They take a lure readily, which makes them the best first fish for someone with a spinning rod.
Where they live
- Throughout New Zealand, from a few metres deep to 150 m (NIWA), and more common around the North Island.
- Harbour entrances, river mouths, surf beaches and wharves, wherever baitfish gather.
When
- All year, but most often close to shore in the warmer months.
- Watch for a “work-up”: diving seabirds and splashing water mean a school is feeding below.
Size and daily limits for each area: MPI’s NZ Fishing Rules app
How
- Spinning
- A small metal lure (a “ticer” or spoon) cast out and wound back quickly. If a school is nearby, this is usually all it takes.
- Bait
- A strip of fish on a small hook under a float, or on the bottom near a river mouth on the incoming tide.
Your first trip
- Try a river mouth or harbour entrance on the incoming tide, with a light rod and a small metal lure.
- Bleed a fish you keep straight away and keep it cool: kahawai are good eating only when handled well.
- Check MPI’s daily limit for the area before you go.
From rocks: wear a lifejacket, watch the sea for ten minutes before you go near the edge, never turn your back on it, and fish with someone. Rock fishing safety
Places to start
Each region page lists wharves, boat ramps and shore you can reach on a legal road or public land, with whether today’s swell reaches each one.
Sources: NIWA for Fisheries NZ: New Zealand fishes, a field guide to common species · MPI: recreational fishing rules by area.