New Zealand Longfin Eel
The longfin eel is New Zealand's largest native freshwater fish and the only freshwater eel found nowhere else on earth.
It turns up in rivers, lakes, and wetlands from Northland to Southland, and its size alone makes it a target — females can reach lengths that dwarf anything else in the same water.
Māori have fished tuna for centuries, and both customary and recreational fisheries continue today, though the species is under real pressure.
Scientific Name: Anguilla dieffenbachii
Also known as Tuna, ōrea
- Dark brown to black body, thick and muscular; large females can exceed a metre and weigh several kilograms — far bigger than the shortfin eel sharing the same water.
- The key ID feature: the dorsal fin is longer than the anal fin and starts well forward of it. On a shortfin, the two fins end at roughly the same point.
- When the eel bends, the loose skin wrinkles on the inside of each curve — shortfin skin stays smooth. The mouth extends past the eye line.
- Australian longfin eels (a rare North Island visitor) show irregular black blotches on the back and sides; native longfins do not.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Endemic to New Zealand — found on both the North and South Islands, from coastal lowlands to high-elevation lakes and rivers well inland.
- Juveniles are exceptional climbers and push far upstream past waterfalls and other natural barriers, reaching headwater streams and isolated lakes that most fish never access.
- Adults occupy rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Unlike shortfin eels, longfins tend to live well away from the coast in cooler, shadier water.
- Adults can move overland on wet nights, crossing grassy flats between waterbodies — which is why they turn up in isolated farm ponds with no obvious connection to a river.
Key Locations
- South Island high-country lakes and rivers — longfins penetrate well inland through most South Island catchments, including Canterbury and Otago systems.
- Lake Rotoiti (Nelson Lakes) — alpine lake known for longfin eels; fish are visible and approachable at the lake edge.
- North Island hill-country rivers — longfins are widespread through Waikato, Manawatū, and Hawke's Bay catchments wherever cool, shaded water and structure exist.
- Zealandia sanctuary (Wellington) — eels present in the sanctuary stream; a well-known encounter site, though not a fishing location.
Specific Spots
- Under cut banks, submerged logs, and boulders during daylight — longfins rest in cover and are rarely out in open water before dark.
- Deep pools in rivers and the deeper margins of lakes, where cool, shaded water and structure concentrate fish year-round.
- Weed edges and reed beds in lakes and wetlands, where eels hold tight and ambush prey moving through the vegetation.
- At night, fish move into shallower runs and margins to feed — working these edges after dark puts you in front of active fish.
New Zealand Longfin Eel FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for New Zealand Longfin Eel?
Worms are the classic bait, nightcrawlers or garden worms fished on the bottom near structure after dark. Simple, effective, and widely used across New Zealand. Cut or whole small fish (fresh is better than frozen), raw meat, or fish frames work well for larger eels; the scent trail in moving water does the work.
When is the best time to fish for New Zealand Longfin Eel?
Spring and early summer (September–December): glass eels and elvers enter river mouths; not a target season, but adult eels in rivers are feeding actively as water warms.
How do you catch New Zealand Longfin Eel?
Most recreational fishing for longfin eels happens at night from the bank, using bait fished on the bottom near structure, cut banks, logs, boulders, and weed edges.
What do New Zealand Longfin Eel eat?
Smaller longfins (under about 40 cm) eat invertebrates, aquatic insects, worms, and freshwater crayfish (kōura). Soft-plastic worm rigs and small bait pieces imitate this well. Larger fish shift to small fish, freshwater crayfish, and whatever else fits, including frogs, mice, and even ducklings.
Where do New Zealand Longfin Eel live?
Endemic to New Zealand, found on both the North and South Islands, from coastal lowlands to high-elevation lakes and rivers well inland. Juveniles are exceptional climbers and push far upstream past waterfalls and other natural barriers, reaching headwater streams and isolated lakes that most fish never access.
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