Fishing charters in Auckland

Most Auckland charters leave from Westhaven and fish the Hauraki Gulf for snapper and kingfish. A seat on a shared boat costs $70 to $90 on a big party boat, or $260 to $400 on a small lure-fishing boat. A private boat costs about $1,400 to $2,400 for the day, and offshore trips to the Mokohinau Islands cost more. Spring, from October to December, is the best time for snapper.

Our shortlist

  1. 01
    An angler holding a kingfish aboard a Fish 'N Dips charter
    Photo: Fish 'N Dips Charters
    Best for lure fishing for kingfish and snapper

    Fish 'N Dips Charters

    Small-boat lure specialists, fishing topwater and slow jigs for kingfish and snapper. Shared full days suit solo anglers who want to learn lure fishing. They run all year, and also do Great Barrier Island days and offshore trips.

    • Westhaven
    • Up to 6 people
    • 8 hours
    • Google 4.9 (233 reviews)
    $400 a person shared; $2,400 a boatSee trips
  2. 02
    Best for families and small groups

    Riko Boat Charters

    A restored 38 ft Lidgard launch that fishes the inner and middle Gulf. Rods, tackle and bait are included. Most reviewers describe it as family friendly. It's slow, so it doesn't go far offshore.

    • Bayswater Marina
    • Up to 10 people
    • 5 to 8 hours
    • FishingBooker 4.8 (105 reviews)
    $1,400 to $1,900 a boatSee trips
  3. 03
    MV Koru, Ultimate Charters' launch, on the Waitematā Harbour
    Photo: Ultimate Charters
    Best for big groups and work trips

    Ultimate Charters (MV Koru)

    A big launch that takes groups of 10 to 40, with up to 25 fishing. The price covers the first 20 people, then $45 a head. Rod hire, bait and a barbecue cost extra.

    • Westhaven
    • Up to 40 people
    • 6 hours in summer, 8 in winter
    • Tripadvisor 5.0 (about 100 reviews)
    $2,100 to $2,350 for up to 20 peopleSee trips
  4. 04
    Best for beginners on a small shared boat

    NZ Legend Boating Academy

    A 25 ft boat with a skipper who teaches as he goes, so it suits first-timers and kids (tell him their heights and weights so lifejackets fit). Rods, reels and tackle are included. Shared trips need at least 4 anglers to go ahead.

    • Central Auckland
    • Up to 5 people
    • 4 or 6 hours
    • FishingBooker 4.9 (29 reviews)
    $260 a person for 4 hours; $1,600 a boatSee trips
  5. 05
    Best for an offshore day from the Hibiscus Coast

    Double Rum Fishing Charters

    A 42 ft catamaran with a game chair, fishing for snapper, kingfish and hāpuku, and skipjack tuna in season. Live bait, lures and a deckhand are included; bring your own food. Cancel at least 14 days ahead or you lose the full price.

    • Whangaparāoa
    • Up to 12 people
    • 8 hours
    • FishingBooker 5.0 (16 reviews)
    $3,794 a boatSee trips
  6. 06
    Best for a luxury day or overnight trip

    Sunday Charters (Second Sin)

    A 58 ft launch for a special occasion, with outer Gulf trips of 10 hours and two-day trips where you sleep aboard. Prices cover up to 6 people, then $115 to $250 a head depending on the trip. Rods, lures and live bait (ask ahead) are included; check whether to bring lunch.

    • Whangaparāoa
    • Up to 22 people, 8 fishing
    • 4 hours to 2 days
    • FishingBooker 4.8 (8 reviews)
    $3,800 half day; $5,000 full daySee trips
  7. 07
    Anglers holding snapper, with the Auckland skyline behind
    Photo: Megabites Fishing Charter
    Best for shared trips and evening trips with kids

    Megabites Fishing Charter

    Runs shared day and evening trips all year, plus private and kingfish charters. The short evening trip suits families with young children. It's the only Auckland operator we found that states its Maritime NZ safety certification on its website. Rod hire and bait cost extra.

    • Westhaven
    • Up to 12 people
    • 4 to 8 hours
    • Tripadvisor 4.6 (about 116 reviews)
    Kingfish trips $300 a personSee trips
  8. 08
    On the Hunt Charters' boat
    Photo: On the Hunt Charters
    Best for a fishing trip from Waiheke

    On the Hunt Charters

    Shared and private trips from Waiheke Island, including workup fishing. A good half day out if you're already staying on the island. Prices aren't published, so ask when you book.

    • Matiatia Wharf, Waiheke
    • 4 hours to a full day
    • Google 4.9 (46 reviews)
    See trips
  9. 09
    An angler fishing from a Red Boats launch
    Photo: The Red Boats
    Best for the cheapest day out

    The Red Boats

    Party boats with the lowest prices in Auckland, and $70 evening trips in summer. Bring your own bait and food; rods are $20 to hire. Reviews are more mixed than the boats above, with complaints about long steaming times and crowded busy days.

    • Westhaven
    • Up to 20 anglers
    • 9 hours, or 4.5 hours in the evening
    • Google 4.3 (481 reviews)
    $90 a person; $50 with a Gold CardSee trips

Most Auckland fishing charters leave from Westhaven Marina, near the Harbour Bridge, and fish the Hauraki Gulf for snapper and kingfish. The choice comes down to three things: whether you want a seat on a shared boat or the whole boat for your group, whether you’d rather fish bait or lures, and how far out you want to go.

For the shortlist above, we looked for boats rated 4.7 or higher from at least 50 reviews. Fish ’N Dips, Riko and Ultimate Charters clear that bar. NZ Legend, Double Rum, Sunday Charters and On the Hunt have top ratings from fewer reviews, and Megabites and The Red Boats are rated a little lower; we’ve included them because they offer something the others don’t.

Which kind of charter

Charter Good for Price
Shared party boat A cheap day out, beginners, solo anglers. Up to 20 people fishing bait $70 to $90 a person
Shared small boat Learning to fish lures, or chasing kingfish without booking a whole boat. Up to 6 people $260 to $400 a person
Private half day Families and small groups. 4 to 6 hours in the inner Gulf About $1,250 to $1,750 a boat
Private full day Groups who want to choose the fish and the spots About $1,400 to $2,400 a boat
Big-group charter Work trips and parties of 15 to 40 About $1,500 to $2,350, plus extras
Offshore or Mokohinau Islands Kingfish, hāpuku and bigger snapper, a long way out About $2,200 to $3,900 a boat
Overnight Two or more days at the outer islands From about $2,100 a day

Private prices are for the whole boat, so split them by the number in your group to compare. Ask whether rods, bait, lunch and filleting are included; on several boats they cost extra.

Offshore and overnight trips

For bigger kingfish, hāpuku and the chance of a really big snapper, some boats go to the Mokohinau Islands, north-west of Great Barrier Island, or to Great Barrier and Little Barrier. These are long days, and many leave from Sandspit or Ti Point, near Leigh, to cut the travel time.

  • Bounty Hunter Charters runs Mokohinau day trips for $2,200 a boat and overnighters for $2,100 a day from Ti Point, and carries kayaks for mothership trips.
  • Reel Hooked Charters runs 9-hour Mokohinau trips from Sandspit for $3,860 a boat.
  • Pelagic Charters fishes Auckland’s west coast for marlin and tuna from late December to early May.

We couldn’t find enough recent reviews to rate these boats, so ask for recent catch photos and references when you book.

Best time to book

  • Snapper: spring, from about October to December. Fish gather to spawn between Whangaparāoa and Kawau, and birds and dolphins work the bait schools, which is when lure fishing is at its best. From January, snapper spread into the harbours and reefs.
  • Kingfish: all year on deep reefs and the outer islands, and inshore in summer.
  • Marlin and tuna: from about January to April, a little longer on the west coast.
  • Winter: charters still run, mostly fishing bait in shallower water, and some boats charge less.

Book early for summer weekends. Boats cancel for strong wind, so pick an operator that rebooks or refunds you if the weather turns.

Before you book

  • Ask about safety certification. Boats carrying paying passengers need a Maritime New Zealand operator certificate under the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS), and each boat has a survey limit on how many people it can carry.
  • Limits are per person fishing. Each angler has their own daily limit: in the Hauraki Gulf, 7 snapper at 30 cm or more and 3 kingfish at 75 cm or more. People along for the ride don’t add to the boat’s catch. See the Auckland rules.
  • Bring a chilly bin and ice if the boat doesn’t supply them, and bleed your fish when they’re caught. See our guide to bleeding and icing your catch.
  • Take seasickness tablets before you leave the marina. The outer Gulf can be choppy even on a good day.

Prefer to fish from land? See our guide to Auckland fishing spots. For charters elsewhere, see fishing charters in New Zealand.

Questions

How much does a fishing charter cost in Auckland?

A seat on a big shared party boat costs $70 to $90. A seat on a small shared boat that fishes lures costs $260 to $400. Booking a whole boat costs about $1,400 to $2,400 for a day in the Hauraki Gulf, and $2,200 to $3,900 for an offshore day to the Mokohinau Islands. Prices checked October 2026.

What is the best time of year for a fishing charter in Auckland?

For snapper, spring is best, from about October to December, when fish gather to spawn and workups are common in the Gulf. Kingfish come inshore in summer. Marlin are caught from about January to April. Charters run all year, and winter trips still catch snapper, usually on bait in shallower water.

How many fish can I keep on an Auckland charter?

Each person who is fishing has their own limit. In the Hauraki Gulf that's 7 snapper a day at a minimum of 30 cm, and 3 kingfish at a minimum of 75 cm, within a combined limit of 20 finfish. On the west coast and in the Manukau Harbour it's 10 snapper at 27 cm. People on board who aren't fishing don't get a limit.

Do I need a fishing licence for a charter in Auckland?

No. You don't need a licence for sea fishing in New Zealand. Size and daily limits still apply.

What is the cheapest fishing charter in Auckland?

The Red Boats run shared trips from Westhaven for $90 a person for a full day, $70 for a summer evening, and $50 for Gold Card holders on weekdays. Bait isn't supplied, and reviews are more mixed than for the smaller boats.

Sources (7)
  1. MPI, Amateur fishing charter vessel fact sheet (registration, catch reporting, clients must be fishing)
  2. MPI, Auckland and Kermadec fishing rules
  3. Maritime NZ, Passenger vessel operator requirements (MOSS)
  4. Bounty Hunter Charters, Locations and pricing (Mokohinau day and overnight trips)
  5. Reel Hooked Charters (Sandspit, Mokohinau trips)
  6. Pelagic Charters (Auckland west coast marlin and tuna season)
  7. Powerboat Magazine, Springtime fishing in the Hauraki Gulf