Kaikōura
Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand · Deep submarine canyon close to shore
A deep-water trench runs hard against the coast here, so trailer boats fish serious depths minutes from the ramp. One of the most productive small-boat fisheries in the country.
Fishing Kaikōura
Kaikōura sits in Canterbury, South Island and fishes as deep submarine canyon close to shore. The headline species are Groper (Hāpuku), Blue Cod, Crayfish (Rock Lobster), School Shark, and the productive window is year-round.
Access: A small-boat ramp and charter fleet at South Bay. Very deep water lies within a few hundred metres of the beach. If you are travelling to fish here, build flexibility into the trip — weather, water clarity and run timing move around every season, and the anglers who do best plan around conditions rather than dates.
Local tactics
- ▸Electric reels make the 200–300 m groper drops workable.
- ▸Cray pots set along the reef edge in 20–40 m produce consistently.
- ▸The 2016 earthquake lifted sections of coastline — older charts are unreliable inshore.
Licences and rules
No saltwater licence required; strict crayfish and blue cod limits apply. Seasons, bag limits and closures change through the year, so confirm the current rules with Fisheries New Zealand before you fish Kaikōura.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Kaikōura?
Kaikōura holds Groper (Hāpuku), Blue Cod, Crayfish (Rock Lobster), School Shark. A deep-water trench runs hard against the coast here, so trailer boats fish serious depths minutes from the ramp. One of the most productive small-boat fisheries in the country.
When is the best time to fish Kaikōura?
Year-round. As everywhere, the hours either side of first light, last light and a moving tide or current change produce the most fish.
How do you get to Kaikōura?
A small-boat ramp and charter fleet at South Bay. Very deep water lies within a few hundred metres of the beach.
Do you need a fishing licence at Kaikōura?
No saltwater licence required; strict crayfish and blue cod limits apply. Confirm the current position with Fisheries New Zealand before you fish.
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