North Island

Welcome to the projectlocal North Island spearfishing target species page.This is for anyone who is new to spearfishing or just wants to find the species pages related to spearfishing in the North Island.

Blue Mao Mao
A smallish blue fish found in large schools around points and pinnacles. Great to eat fried or smoked.

 

 

Butterfish
A great eating fish. The best method to hunt butterfish is to sit still on the bottom of the kelp and wait for the fish to rise.

 

Boarfish (giant)
A fish found on weed lines that’s best approached directly from above. Very good eating.

 

 

Golden Snapper
A fish often found in deep caves and overhangs. Considered good eating.

 

 

Gurnard
Often found on sand can be brought in with burley. Very good eating.

 

 

John Dory
Found in weed and on weed lines. Easy to approach. Exceptional eating.

 

 

Kahawai
Found in large schools often around points and pinnacles. Great to eat smoked.

 

 

Kingfish
Targeted during the warmer months by diving points and pinnacles, A great fighter kingfish are a main target during the summer.

 

 

Koheru
Found on points and pinnacles. Very nice to eat raw (sashimi)

 

 

Pink Mao Mao
A deep fish found on points and pinnacles. Once you've shot one fish the school tend to drift deeper and deeper.

Porae
A fish found on weed lines. Sometimes mistaken for snapper easily approached.

 

Snapper
The main target species year round. Snapper are either taken by snooping or by burleying. They tend to spook easily.

Tarakihi
Found on weed lines the best method is to sit and let the fish drift in.

 

 

Trevally
Found in large schools,small groups on the weed-line and in the shallows.A great eating fish.

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