Fish Species of New Zealand
The essential guide to New Zealand fish and the sea, from species ID and the rules for where you're fishing, to gear advice and the best places to fish and dive.
All species
SaltwaterSnapperChrysophrys auratus
SaltwaterKahawaiArripis trutta
EndemicSaltwaterBlue CodParapercis colias
SaltwaterRed GurnardChelidonichthys kumu
SaltwaterTarakihiNemadactylus macropterus
SaltwaterTrevallyPseudocaranx georgianus
EndemicSaltwaterButterfishOdax pullus
EndemicSaltwaterSand FlounderRhombosolea plebeia
SaltwaterKingfishSeriola lalandi
SaltwaterHāpukuPolyprion oxygeneios
EndemicSaltwaterRigMustelus lenticulatus
SaltwaterJohn DoryZeus faber
SaltwaterHokiMacruronus novaezelandiae
SaltwaterPōraeNemadactylus douglasii
EndemicSaltwaterStargazerKathetostoma giganteum
SaltwaterGolden SnapperCentroberyx affinis
SaltwaterLeatherjacketMeuschenia scaber
SaltwaterPacific Bluefin TunaThunnus orientalis
SaltwaterOrange RoughyHoplostethus atlanticus
SaltwaterBarracoutaThyrsites atun
SaltwaterGemfishRexea solandri
SaltwaterBluenoseHyperoglyphe antarctica
SaltwaterTrumpeterLatris lineata
SaltwaterBlue MokiLatridopsis ciliaris
SaltwaterBlack OreoAllocyttus niger
SaltwaterYellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
SaltwaterYellow-eyed MulletAldrichetta forsteri
SaltwaterLingGenypterus blacodes
Salt and freshChinook SalmonOncorhynchus tshawytscha
FreshwaterBrown TroutSalmo trutta
SaltwaterAlbacoreThunnus alalunga
SaltwaterGrey MulletMugil cephalus
SaltwaterHakeMerluccius australis
EndemicSaltwaterSolePeltorhamphus novaezeelandiae
SaltwaterJack MackerelTrachurus novaezelandiae
EndemicSaltwaterYellowbelly FlounderRhombosolea leporina
Salt and freshWhitebaitGalaxias maculatus
SaltwaterSchool SharkGaleorhinus galeus
SaltwaterSpiny DogfishSqualus acanthias
EndemicSaltwaterCarpet SharkCephaloscyllium isabella
SaltwaterBronze WhalerCarcharhinus brachyurus
SaltwaterMako SharkIsurus oxyrinchus
SaltwaterHammerhead SharkSphyrna zygaena
SaltwaterGreat White SharkCarcharodon carcharias
SaltwaterStingraysBathytoshia brevicaudata
SaltwaterEagle RayMyliobatis tenuicaudatus
SaltwaterBasking SharkCetorhinus maximus
SaltwaterWhale SharkRhincodon typus
SaltwaterManta RayMobula birostris
EndemicSaltwaterPāuaHaliotis iris
SaltwaterCrayfishJasus edwardsii
EndemicSaltwaterKinaEvechinus chloroticus
SaltwaterPipiPaphies australis
SaltwaterOystersOstrea chilensis
EndemicSaltwaterScallopsPecten novaezelandiae
SaltwaterTuatuaPaphies subtriangulata
EndemicSaltwaterCocklesAustrovenus stutchburyi
SaltwaterMusselsPerna canaliculus
No species match that search. Try a Māori or scientific name.
Guides
All guides- GearBest chilly bins NZ: sizes, ice life and prices comparedCompare chilly bins in NZ for fishing, boating and the beach: sizes, ice retention, wheels and price bands, plus how to keep your catch cold.
- PlacesBoat ramps in New ZealandFind a public boat ramp anywhere in New Zealand on one map, from Northland to Southland, with directions and the ramps nearest you.
- GearFish finders NZ: what to buy for a kayak, tinny or trailer boatWhich fish finder suits your kayak, tinny, trailer boat or launch: CHIRP, side imaging, live sonar, transducers and NZ charts explained, with current NZ prices.
- ToolsFish weight calculatorWork out what your fish weighs from its length, or how long a fish of a given weight is, for snapper, kingfish, kahawai and 25 more NZ species, from Fisheries NZ data.
- ToolsFishing calendar and bite timesTide times, moon phase, sunrise and the solunar bite times for 82 NZ tide ports, day by day, with what the science says about fishing by the moon.
- ArticlesFishing knots: how to tie the six knots NZ anglers useHow to tie the uni, snell, palomar, uni-to-uni, dropper loop and improved clinch knots, with step-by-step animated diagrams and when to use each one.
Checked 22 October 2026
Can I keep it? Check the rules for your area.
Size and bag limits by MPI area, each with its source and the date we last checked it.
Check the rules