Sea Perch
Sea perch are a deep-water scorpionfish found across New Zealand's continental shelf and slope. Most recreational encounters happen when bottom-fishing over deep reef and hard ground, where they turn up as a welcome bycatch.
Small but excellent eating, they're a legitimate target for anyone with the gear to reach 150–500 m.
Scientific Name: Helicolenus percoides
Also known as Ocean Perch, Scarpee, Red Gurnard Perch, Jock Stewart, Kuriariki
- Vivid reddish-orange to pinkish-orange body — unmistakable when it comes over the rail; colour fades quickly after death.
- Large spiny head with venomous dorsal and head spines — handle carefully; a careless grip draws blood.
- Typical commercial fish run 13–30 cm and 200–800 g; occasional individuals reach 47 cm and 1.4 kg.
- Closely related Helicolenus barathri is also present in NZ waters and nearly identical in appearance and behaviour.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Found all around New Zealand on the continental shelf and slope, from as shallow as 5 m down to over 1000 m, but most abundant between 100–700 m.
- Commercial catch is concentrated off the East Coast of the South Island and the Chatham Rise, in QMS areas SPE3, SPE4, and SPE7.
- A demersal species — lives and feeds on or close to the bottom over hard reef, rubble, and slope structure.
- Long-lived (up to 59 years recorded) and relatively slow-moving; discrete subpopulations appear to exist across the NZ range.
Key Locations
- East Coast South Island — the primary commercial and recreational deep-water ground for sea perch in New Zealand.
- Chatham Rise — a major concentration area; most commercial catch comes from this offshore plateau east of the South Island.
- Continental shelf edge around the North Island — fish are present but less targeted recreationally than in the south.
Specific Spots
- Hard bottom and reef edges on the continental slope — sea perch hold tight to structure where they can intercept prey drifting past.
- Depth changes and drop-offs in the 150–500 m range concentrate fish; a sounder mark on a hard bottom transition is worth working thoroughly.
- Rubble and broken ground at the base of reef walls hold fish that are sheltering from current while staying close to feeding lanes.
Sea Perch FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Sea Perch?
Cut fish, squid strips, and whole small shrimp fished on the bottom are the most reliable baits, matching the natural diet directly. Deep-water soft-baits and jigs in the 60–150 g range can produce fish when worked slowly just above the bottom, though bait generally outfishes lures at depth.
When is the best time to fish for Sea Perch?
Available year-round, commercial catch records show no strong seasonal closure or peak, and recreational fishing follows the same pattern. Calmer summer and autumn weather (December–April) makes reaching the deep grounds more practical from smaller boats.
How do you catch Sea Perch?
Sea perch are almost exclusively targeted from boats capable of reaching deep water, using bottom rigs dropped to 150–500 m over hard ground and reef edges.
What do Sea Perch eat?
Feed on squid, shrimps, and smaller fish, a mixed diet that makes them receptive to both soft-baits and cut bait fished hard on the bottom. Their internal fertilisation and scorpionfish lineage suggest a sit-and-wait feeding style; baits presented stationary or with minimal movement on the seabed tend to work best.
Where do Sea Perch live?
Found all around New Zealand on the continental shelf and slope, from as shallow as 5 m down to over 1000 m, but most abundant between 100–700 m. Commercial catch is concentrated off the East Coast of the South Island and the Chatham Rise, in QMS areas SPE3, SPE4, and SPE7.
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