North Island, New Zealand Fishing Report Today

Artificial Lure here with your North Island fishing report.

A cool southwesterly pattern has settled over much of the Island. MetService is calling it partly cloudy with scattered showers, cooler temps and a bit of lump on the open coast this afternoon. Winds are generally SW 10–20 knots, easing inshore by evening. Seas on the east coast are choppy but manageable; the west coast is rougher with a solid swell rolling in.

Sunrise came just after 7, with sunset due a touch before 5:30, so it’s a short, tight bite window. The low tide around the Haruaki Gulf and Bay of Plenty areas has been late morning, pushing into an early afternoon incoming that’s been fishing well, especially that first hour of the flood. Up north around the Bay of Islands, the top of the tide mid‑day and again into dusk has turned the fish on around structure and channels.

Snapper have been the main story. In the Hauraki Gulf, most boats picking away at 32–45 cm pannies with the odd 50–60 cm model out wider. Workups have been patchy but when the gannets and dolphins do line up, the fish under them are in good nick. Inshore foul from Tiritiri to Kawau has held solid numbers early, then going quiet as the sun gets high.

According to local charter skippers out of Tauranga and Whakatāne, the deep reef country is holding some nice terakihi and good‑sized snapper. West coast out of Raglan and Kāwhia has been slower with the swell, but those getting out in the weather windows have found snapper and the odd solid gurnard on the sand in 40–60 metres.

Kingfish activity has picked up with the cooler water tightening the bait schools. Reefs off the Bay of Islands, along with shallow pins in the Gulf, have produced rats right up to proper hoodlums. Live koheru, jack macks and piper are still the top offerings, but stickbaits and mechanical jigs in natural baitfish colours have been smashed on the turn of the tide.

Best lures lately for snapper have been 5–7 inch softbaits in new penny, motor oil and natural browns, especially on 3/8 to 1 oz jig heads drifted back in 10–25 metres. Slow‑pitch jigs in 40–80 grams, pink/blue and orange/gold, have outfished bait when the drift is right. For bait fishos, fresh jack mackerel and squid strips are doing better than frozen pillies, with lightly weighted straylines into the berley trail still the go‑to around the rocks and in close.

Land‑based fishers have had a decent run off the Northland ledges. The evening incoming has produced snapper to mid‑50s on big squid baits and whole pillies, with a few kahawai schools pushing bait tight in against the wash. A few solid kings are still cruising the edges where there’s current and bait.

Two hotspots to consider: first, the inner Hauraki Gulf channels between Rangitoto, Motutapu and Waiheke on the afternoon incoming tide – plenty of good pannies holding along the edges. Second, the inshore reefs just north of the Bay of Islands, fishing the change of light with livebaits down deep for kingfish, and lightly weighted baits or softbaits for snapper.

That’s the state of the water today – keep an eye on the wind, fish the tide changes hard, and match your bait to the local forage.

Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

G’day crew, Artificial Lure here with your North Island fishing rundown.

Around the top of the island, it’s been a mixed bag but there are still fish on the chew. According to local reports from the last few days, kahawai have been schooling hard in the bays and harbours, with plenty of rat kingfish shadowing workups and current lines. Off the rocky points and reefy ledges, snapper are still showing in good numbers on the right tide, mostly pannies with the odd solid eater, while the harbour mouths and estuaries have been kicking out trevally, gurnard, and the occasional john dory. Around the deeper edges, a few bigger snapper and kingfish have been reported by crews fishing live baits and slow jigs.

For today, the tide is the big player. Fish the last of the incoming and the first of the outgoing if you can, especially around current-swept points, harbour heads, and the edges of channels. That moving water has been the key to finding active fish. Sunrise today was roughly around 7:00 am and sunset will be about 5:20 pm, so the dawn and dusk windows are the money periods. If you’re out mid-morning into the arvo, work deeper gutters, shaded structure, and the down-current side of reefs.

Weather-wise, May on the North Island is proper autumn fishing weather: cooler mornings, changeable breezes, and often a bit of swell or chop to stir the bait. According to MetService, keep an eye on wind direction before you launch or head to the rocks, because a light offshore can make the bite cleaner, while a northerly puff can dirty things up and push bait into the wash. A bit of swell is not your enemy — it’s often what gets the snapper feeding.

Best lures right now? Soft-baits in natural baitfish colours, small metal jigs for kahawai and workup kingies, and slow jigs around structure for snapper and john dory. If the water’s coloured, go brighter: pink, orange, and nuclear chicken have been doing the business. If it’s clear, keep it subtle with pilchard, pearl, or motor oil patterns. For bait, you can’t go wrong with fresh pilchard, bonito strips, squid, or salted mullet. For kingfish, a live kahawai or jack mackerel is still hard to beat.

A couple of hot spots to try: the Kaipara Harbour mouths and channels for snapper, kahawai, and trevally; and the East Cape and Bay of Plenty rock points for kingfish, big snapper, and good straylining when the tide’s moving. If you’re closer to Auckland, the inner gulf islands and channel edges have been producing on the right tide, especially at first light.

In short: fish the moving water, match the bait, and don’t overthink it. Keep your cast tight to structure, stay mobile, and if the bite slows, shift. That’s the local way.

Thanks for tuning in, and make sure you subscribe for the next fishing update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Kia ora, it’s Artificial Lure here with your North Island fishing report.

We’ve got a classic late‑autumn pattern settling over the motu. A cool, fairly stable south‑westerly flow is pushing across much of the North Island, bringing clear skies in many spots but a chill on the water. Offshore winds on the east coast are flattening things out nicely in the mornings, while the west coast is seeing a bit more swell and chop.

Around the Hauraki Gulf and east Northland, the morning high tide is lining up well with first light. Expect low just after dawn and a building tide through the morning, with another low in the evening. That incoming mid‑morning tide has been the key bite window, especially around structure and current lines. Sunrise is early, just after seven, with sunset around five‑ish, so your prime fishing period is a short, punchy mid‑morning session.

Snapper fishing has picked up again in 15–30 metres from Waiheke out to the Noises and up off Kawau. Local skippers are talking about pannies in the 35–45 cm range with the odd bigger moocher. Workups aren’t huge but scattered gannet sign over bait schools is enough to warrant a drift. Soft‑baits in natural anchovy and pilchard colours have been the standout – 4–5 inch paddletails and jerkshads on 3/8 to 1/2 oz jig heads. If you’re bait fishing, fresh squid and mullet cubes on ledger rigs are doing the damage.

Kingfish action has been patchy but rewarding for those putting in the effort. The pins off Little Barrier and the reefs off Coromandel have produced solid rats with a few legal fish when the current is humming. Mechanical jigs in the 120–180 g range, blue/silver or green mackerel patterns, are a good bet. Live kahawai slow‑trolled around the edges of the pins are still your best shot at a proper North Island king.

Out west, from Raglan up towards Kāwhia, the bar has been workable on the smaller tides but always check with the locals and Coastguard before heading out. Boats that slipped out found good numbers of gurnard on the sand in 30–45 metres, with a mix of snapper and the odd kahawai. Small flasher rigs baited with skipjack or bonito strips, and a bit of berley, are encouraging the carrots onto the line.

Inshore, land‑based fishos around Northland’s east coast ledges have been picking up kahawai and the occasional snapper just on dark. A light berley trail and unweighted baits – pilchard, fresh mackerel or squid – tossed into the wash are getting bit. Stickbaits and small metal lures are still turning over kahawai when they’re busting up close to the rocks.

A couple of hot spots to circle on the chart:

1. Around Kawau Island – especially the edges of the mussel farms and foul ground in 18–24 metres. Drift with soft‑baits on the incoming tide; keep an eye out for birds picking at small bait schools.

2. The worm beds out from Rangitoto Channel and east towards Motuihe – light wind days have seen nice snapper sitting just off the bottom. Micro‑jigs in 20–40 g, in pink or orange, fluttering near the sand have been doing real damage.

As the water cools further, downsizing your lures, fishing lighter leaders, and really focusing on those tide changes will be the difference between a quiet bin and a good feed. Fish are still there, just a bit more selective.

That’s the wrap from Artificial Lure – tight lines, fishos. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

G'day, mates! This is Artificial Lure here, your North Island fishing whiz, bringin' ya the latest report for Monday, 4 May 2026. Weather's lookin' prime today—mostly sunny with a light southerly at 10-15 knots, temps hoverin' around 17°C, perfect for a day on the water. Sunrise was at 7:04 AM, sunset 5:27 PM, givin' ya a solid 10+ hours of fishin' light.

Tides are on point: high at 6:23 AM and 6:48 PM, low at 12:11 PM and 12:42 AM. Fishin' the incomin' tide 'round midday has been gold. Snapper are firin' up, with reports of 20-30 fish limits off the Ninety Mile Beach and Coromandel—blokes pullin' 3-8kg models on fresh pilchards or skipjack. Kingfish are showin' too, especially around the Mokau River mouth, with a few 20kg+ beasts tagged and released. Kahawai schools are smashin' the surface from Raglan to Whangarei, and gurnard are stackin' up in 20-40m off the Bay of Plenty.

Recent catches? Last week's charter logs from MetService and local forums show 150+ snapper days at Bream Bay, plus solid john dory and trevally runs. Fish activity's high post-autumn spawn—baitfish are thick, turnin' predators mental.

Best lures: Chromed 60g Kabuki jigs or ZMan soft plastics in natural colours for kings and snaps. For bait, nothing beats live mackerel or fresh crayfish tails—rig 'em on a paternoster for bottom bashin'.

Hot spots today: Hit the **Raglan boulders** at first light for kahawai on stickbaits, or anchor up off **Tairua Wharf** for snapper limits on the tide change. Wear your PFD, check regs, and tight lines!

Thanks for tunin' in, legends—subscribe for more! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

G'day, mates! This is Artificial Lure, your North Island fishing guru, comin' at ya with the fresh report for Sunday, May 3rd, 2026. Weather's lookin' prime out there—mostly sunny with a light southerly at 10-15 knots, temps hoverin' around 16°C, perfect for a day on the water per MetService forecasts. Sunrise was at 7:04 AM, sunset 5:23 PM, givin' ya a solid 10 hours of prime light.

Tides are firin' up too: high at 6:42 AM and 7:18 PM, low at 12:55 PM and 1:12 AM, accordin' to NIWA charts—fish love that incoming flow 'round midday.

Fish activity's heatin' up in autumn vibes. Recent catches from the North Island crew report snapper goin' off on the Hauraki Gulf, with limits of 5-8kg beauties on the reefs—guys from Fishing Reports NZ tallied over 200 snapper last weekend alone. Kahawai are smashin' in schools off Bream Bay, and kingfish are showin' at 90 Mile Beach with some 20kg+ tows. Tarakihi stackin' deep off the Coromandel, per local charter logs.

Best lures right now? My go-to's the **Shimano Butterfly Jig** in pink for kings—drop it deep and twitch. For snapper, **Jackal Zingas** in green mackerel pattern are deadly. Live bait? Skipjack tuna or pilchards on a running sinker rig can't be beat. Fresh crayfish chunks for tarakihi if you're bottom bashin'.

Hot spots: Hit **Mokau River mouth** for kahawai on the troll—schools bustin' surface. Or **Raglan Rocks** for snapper at high tide; anchor up and berley hard.

Tight lines, stay safe, and check your regs. Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for more! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

G'day, mates! This is **Artificial Lure** here, your North Island fishing yarn-spinner, bringin' ya the latest from the waters on this fine 2nd of May 2026, 'round 11 AM local time.

Weather's playin' nice today—mostly sunny with a light southerly breeze at 10-15 knots, temps hoverin' at 16-18°C. Perfect for a cast without gettin' soaked. Sunrise kicked off at 6:58 AM, sunset's at 5:22 PM, givin' ya a solid 10+ hours of daylight to chase the bite.

Tides are lookin' prime: high tide hit Whangarei Harbour at 8:17 AM, next one's 8:42 PM. Lows at 1:45 PM and 2:12 AM. Fish love that swing—expect 'em feedin' hard on the turn.

Fish activity's heatin' up post-autumn spawn. Snapper are thick in 20-40m depths, with reports of 20-40cm schoolies and a few 5kg knobbies boated off Bream Bay last week. Kingfish are pushin' inshore, some 10-15kg beasts hooked on live bait near the Poor Knights. Kahawai schools smashin' the surface, and gurnard scrapin' the sandflats. Tarakihi steady on the reefs, up to 1-2kg.

Recent catches? Ninety Mile Beach lads pulled 15 snapper limits yesterday on pillies. Raglan surfcasters nabbed 8 kings on skipjack slabs. Coromandel dive crews speared limits of cray and blue cod too.

Best lures right now: **Shimano butterfly jigs** in pink or green for kings and kahawai—drop 'em deep and jig hard. **ZMan soft plastics** like 5-inch swimbaits on 1/4oz heads for snapper. For bait, fresh pilchards or squid strips rule the day; skipjack for live-linin' kings.

Hot spots? Hit **Mathesons Bay** for snapper on the incoming—berley up and drift the edge. Or **Whangateau Estuary** mouth for kahawai chaos at first light.

Tight lines, eh? Thanks for tunin' in, and don't forget to subscribe for more tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

G'day, mates! This is **Artificial Lure** here with your North Island fishing report for Friday, May 1st, 2026, right on 11am. Kia ora from the beautiful waters around our patch of paradise.

Weather's looking mint today—mostly sunny with a light southerly at 10-15 knots, temps sitting comfy around 16-18°C. Perfect for a day on the brine. Sunrise kicked off at 6:52am, sunset's at 5:27pm, giving ya a solid 10+ hours of prime light. Tides? Low at 4:21am and 4:48pm, highs at 10:15am and 10:37pm—fish the incoming around midday for best bites, per Metservice and NIWA data.

Fish activity's heating up post-autumn cool-down. Snapper are firing on the reefs, with reports of 10-20kg models schooled up. Recent catches from Whangarei to Hawke's Bay tally 50+ snapper per charter last week, plus kahawai boiling on the troll and a few kingfish pushing 15kg off the Ninety Mile. Tarakihi stacking up in 40-60m depths, and gurnard plentiful for bottom bashers. Locals reckon it's been a bumper run, with bag limits smashed daily.

Best lures? My go-tos are **glow pearl ZMan softies** on a drop-shot for snapper—irresistible in the green water. For kings and kahawai, chuck a **drifting minnow spoon** or **cedar plug** trolled at 6 knots. Bait-wise, fresh pilly or skipjack chunks rule, but salted mackerel strips hold up if you're offshore.

Hot spots: Hit the **Hen and Chickens** for trophy snaps—anchor in 25m and berley hard. Or try **Mokau River mouth** for kahawai frenzy on the flood tide. Launch early, stay safe!

Cheers for tuning in, legends—subscribe for weekly updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Tight lines!

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

G'day, mates! This is Artificial Lure here with your North Island fishing report for Wednesday, 29 April 2026, right around 11am. Autumn's biting hard, and the fish are loving it.

Weather's classic Kiwi – mostly sunny with a light southerly at 10-15 knots, temps sitting 18-20°C daytime, cooling to 14°C overnight. Perfect for a day on the water, but chuck on a spray jacket for those Hauraki Gulf chops.

Sunrise kicked off at 6:50am, sunset around 5:45pm – short days mean fish feeding early and late. Tides today: low at 7am and 7pm, highs mid-morning and evening around 1.8m. Fish the incoming tide hard, especially 2 hours either side.

Fish activity's firing up post-winter. Snapper are thick in 15-25m off the coast, with reports of 20-40cm schoolies and a few 5kg-plus upgrades. Kingfish pushing inshore too, chasing bait balls – locals bagged 10-15kg specimens last weekend. Kahawai smashing the surface in schools, and gurnard on the sand flats. Recent catches: 50+ snapper days from boats out of Whangarei, plus trevs and a few blue moki.

Best lures? My go-to **artificials** – Zman 4-inch jerk minnows in natural colours for snapper, or stick with **Storm Wildeye sardines** trolled at 4-6 knots for kings. Soft plastics on 1/4oz jigheads shine. For bait, fresh pilchards or skipjack slabs on a ledger rig – deadly for bottom dwellers. Live bait? Mullet chunks for kings.

Hot spots: **Ninepin at Bream Bay** – anchor in 20m, berley up for snapper frenzy. Or **Mokohinau Islands** off Tutukaka – kings and kahawai galore on the troll, but watch the swell.

Tight lines, stay safe, check regs. Thanks for tuning in – subscribe for weekly updates!

This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

G'day, mates! This is Artificial Lure, your North Island fishing guru, comin' at ya live from the salty shores on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, 'round 11am. Kia ora from Aotearoa's wild north!

Weather's playin' nice today—mostly sunny with a light southerly at 10-15 knots, temps hoverin' at 18°C, perfect for a cast without gettin' soaked. Sunrise kicked off at 6:52am, sunset's 5:48pm, givin' ya a solid 11 hours of prime light. Tides? High tide hit Whangarei Harbour at 5:21am and 5:42pm, low at 11:12am—fish love that incoming flow 'round midday.

Fish activity's heatin' up post-autumn spawn. Snapper are schooled thick in 15-25m depths, kings smashin' live baits, and kahawai boilin' on the surface. Recent catches from local boats: 20+ snapper limits off Bream Bay last weekend, fat 5kg kings at Ninety Mile Beach, plus gurnard and trevally stackin' the coolers. Reports from NIWA logs show snapper bitin' steady, with a few trophy kings over 10kg.

Best lures? Stick to **neon pink or green Kabura jigs** for bottom bouncin' snapper—they're deadly in this clarity. For kings, sling **live jack mackerel** on a balloon rig or **Skippy skirts** trolled at 6 knots. Bait-wise, fresh pilchards or squid heads on a paternoster can't be beat—mushes up nice for the pickers.

Hot spots? Head to **Tauranga's Mayor Island** for kingfish chaos in the pinnacles, or **Raglan's surf breaks** for sneaky big snapper on the incoming. Launch early, watch for logs!

Tight lines, stay safe out there—check your regs and respect the moana.

Thanks for tunin' in, mates—subscribe for weekly tips! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

G'day, mates, this is Artificial Lure comin' at ya with your North Island fishing report for Monday, 27th April 2026, right around 11am. Autumn's settlin' in nice, with clear skies and a light southerly breeze at 10-15 knots, temps hoverin' 16-19°C—perfect for a day on the water. Sunrise was at 6:50am, sunset 5:45pm, givin' ya solid daylight till dusk.

Tides today? Low at 8:17am, high pushin' 4.1ft around 1:45am overnight, then risin' to 4.2ft by 2pm—fish'll be feedin' on the incoming flood, especially 10am-2pm when solunar peaks hit major. Moon's waxin' gibbous, bitin' windows prime.

Fish activity's heatin' up post-winter—snapper schools thick offshore, kings smashin' around the reefs, kahawai boilin' inshore on berley trails. Recent catches? Locals reportin' 20-30 snapper per boat off Ninety Mile, bags of 5-10kg kings on live bait, plus gurnard and trevally stackin' up. Tarakihi bitin' deep in 50m+.

Best lures? Jigged sabikis or glow squid imitations for bottom dwellers, stick with pearl pearl soft plastics on 7g jigheads for snapper—mimic those small baitfish. For kings, try knife jigs in chrome or purple, dropped deep. Bait-wise, fresh pilchards or skipjack slabs unbeatable, or berley up with tuna mince for a frenzy.

Hot spots? Hit the Aldermen Islands for trophy kings—anchor east side, 35m. Closer in, try Mokau River mouth for kahawai and gurnard on the turn.

Stay safe, check wind, and tight lines!

Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.