Giant Stargazer
Giant stargazer is a bottom-dwelling marine fish endemic to New Zealand — found nowhere else on earth. It supports a small but established commercial and recreational fishery, particularly around the South Island and Chatham Rise.
Most recreational encounters happen when bottom-fishing in sandy or muddy coastal ground, where this odd-looking fish turns up as a genuine table target with firm, pearly white flesh.
Scientific Name: Kathetostoma giganteum
Also known as Monkfish, Stargazer, Bulldog, Puwhara, Kourepoua, Moamoa
- Mottled olive-green or brown on top, white underneath; no scales; large flat bony head with upward-pointing eyes — the feature that gives the fish its name.
- Body tapers from a broad, flattened head toward the tail; mouth is nearly vertical, facing upward, fringed with small fleshy filaments used to lure prey.
- Common catches run 30–50 cm and 2–9 kg; fish can reach 90 cm and live to 20–25 years, so larger specimens are genuinely old fish.
- Juveniles may show faint stripes along the back; adults develop low radiating ridges on the head instead of the fine spines seen in young fish.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Endemic to New Zealand — found on the continental shelf and slope from roughly 30 m down to 600 m, most abundant at 50–500 m on sandy and muddy substrates.
- Most plentiful around the South Island, Stewart Island, and the Chatham Rise; present in coastal waters throughout New Zealand but thinner on the ground further north.
- Three possible stocks are recognised — east, west, and south coasts of the South Island — though stock structure is still being worked out by fisheries managers.
- Spends most of its time buried in soft sediment with only its eyes breaking the surface, waiting for prey to pass overhead.
Key Locations
- South Island east coast (STA3 stock area) — the most heavily fished zone, with sandy shelf ground from Canterbury Bight southward holding good numbers.
- Chatham Rise — deep shelf habitat east of the South Island where stargazers are abundant and support significant commercial trawling.
- Stewart Island surrounds — soft-bottom ground around the island is part of the core southern distribution.
- Pilot Bay (Bay of Plenty) — divers and anglers have reported encounters here, suggesting fish are present in shallower North Island coastal areas too.
Specific Spots
- Flat sandy or muddy bottom in 50–200 m is the core zone for recreational bottom-fishing; stargazers bury into the substrate here and rarely move far.
- Edges where soft sediment meets harder reef or shell ground concentrate fish — the transition gives them cover while prey moves along the boundary.
- Deeper drop-offs (100–300 m) hold larger, older fish; if you're targeting size rather than numbers, working deeper ground pays off.
Giant Stargazer FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Giant Stargazer?
Fresh whole small fish or large cut baits fished hard on the bottom are the most reliable option, stargazers respond to scent and movement directly above them rather than chasing lures at range.
When is the best time to fish for Giant Stargazer?
Available year-round, commercial catches are taken in every month, so recreational fishing is not restricted to a particular season. Commercial catch rates increase between February and June, suggesting fish may be more concentrated or active on feeding grounds during late summer through autumn.
How do you catch Giant Stargazer?
Most recreational fishing for giant stargazer happens from boats over sandy or muddy bottom in 50–200 m, using bottom rigs baited with fresh fish.
What do Giant Stargazer eat?
Feeds mainly on fish up to half its own body length and crustaceans such as crabs, it lunges upward from its buried position to engulf prey passing above. Soft-plastic or rubber lures worked slowly near the bottom, or whole small fish used as bait, match this ambush style well.
Where do Giant Stargazer live?
Endemic to New Zealand, found on the continental shelf and slope from roughly 30 m down to 600 m, most abundant at 50–500 m on sandy and muddy substrates.
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