Tarakihi
Tarakihi are silvery fish with a black band behind the head and a small, rubbery mouth. Younger, smaller fish live shallower than big ones (NIWA), so the shore catch is mostly modest-sized fish.
Where they live
- Widespread around New Zealand, from the Three Kings to south of the Snares (NIWA).
- Reefs and the sand around them, from 5 m to deep water; from the shore, where deep water meets rocks.
When
- All year.
- Calm days, when you can safely fish deeper water off rocks or a wharf end.
Size and daily limits for each area: MPI’s NZ Fishing Rules app
How
- Small hooks
- Their mouths are small: use small hooks and small baits (squid, shellfish, or a strip of fish).
- Feel for bites
- Bites are quick nibbles. Keep the line tight and lift as soon as you feel them.
Your first trip
- Fish a deep wharf end or a safe rock platform beside deep water, on a calm day.
- Rock fishing kills people every year: lifejacket, watch the sea first, never fish alone.
- Check MPI’s size and daily limits for the area.
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.