Bass Groper
Bass groper (Polyprion americanus) — known to record books as wreckfish — is one of two groper species New Zealand anglers target in deep water alongside hapuku.
Growing to 68 kg or more, bass are the larger of the two, found across New Zealand's shelf and slope waters. They're a serious deep-drop target, prized as table fish, and demand heavy-duty gear to pull from the depths.
Scientific Name: Polyprion americanus
Also known as Wreckfish, bass, bass groper
- Deep, robust body; slate-grey to dark brown on the back with blotchy darker mottling — the camouflage-pants look that distinguishes bass from the plainer grey hapuku.
- Large head with a protruding lower jaw, a rough bony ridge across the gill cover, and a broad, square tail with whitish tips on the lobes.
- Adults commonly 80–110 cm; maximum around 200 cm and 100 kg. New Zealand records reach 68 kg (150 lb).
- Juveniles are brownish-grey with irregular pale blotches and a white-margined tail — very different from the uniform adult colouring.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Found throughout New Zealand's mainland and offshore island shelf and slope waters, from roughly 100 m down to 500 m or deeper.
- Adults favour rough ground — rocky reefs, pinnacles, caves, and ledges at the shelf edge. Juveniles are pelagic and associate with floating debris.
- Most fishing effort targets 200–350 m, though bass can appear shallower (60–80 m) under the right conditions, particularly in winter in northern waters.
- Usually solitary; adults prefer caves and hard structure rather than open bottom.
Key Locations
- Throughout New Zealand's shelf and slope waters — bass are found from Northland to Southland wherever deep rocky ground exists.
- Offshore banks and seamounts off the East Coast of both islands hold fish, particularly where the shelf drops away sharply.
- Northern waters see bass move shallower in winter; southern waters see similar movement in summer, following temperature shifts.
Specific Spots
- Pinnacles and seamounts rising from deeper water concentrate bass — the relief gives them structure to hold against and ambush prey moving up the water column.
- Shelf-edge drop-offs and ledges in 200–350 m are the bread-and-butter zone; work your sounder along the contour looking for hard bottom and fish marks close to the reef.
- Caves and grottos in rocky ground hold fish year after year — bass return to the same spots, so a good mark stays productive.
Bass Groper FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Bass Groper?
Whole fish baits, fresh kahawai, mackerel, or blue cod, and large cut baits are the go-to. Fresh bait consistently outperforms frozen at depth. Large knife jigs and slow-pitch jigs in the 200–500 g range, worked close to the bottom, account for plenty of bass.
When is the best time to fish for Bass Groper?
Year-round fishery, but bass move shallower and become more accessible in winter in northern New Zealand waters. In southern waters, summer brings fish into shallower range, following the same temperature-driven pattern in reverse.
How do you catch Bass Groper?
Bass groper are almost exclusively a boat fishery, targeted by dropping heavy baits or large jigs to rough bottom in 200–350 m. Anglers work the sounder along shelf-edge drop-offs and pinnacles to find hard bottom and fish marks, then anchor or drift over the structure.
What do Bass Groper eat?
Bass feed on red cod, tarakihi, blue cod, hoki, and squid, all common deep-water species. This makes whole or large cut fish baits the natural first choice, and heavy knife-style jigs that imitate baitfish work on the same principle. Large crustaceans and cephalopods (squid, octopus) also feature.
Where do Bass Groper live?
Found throughout New Zealand's mainland and offshore island shelf and slope waters, from roughly 100 m down to 500 m or deeper. Adults favour rough ground, rocky reefs, pinnacles, caves, and ledges at the shelf edge. Juveniles are pelagic and associate with floating debris.
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